Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Bridgend (United Kingdom). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Bryngarw Country Park, Coity Castle, and Newcastle Castle. Also, be sure to include Old Bridge in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Bridgend (Wales).
Table of Contents
Bryngarw Country Park
Park in Brynmenyn, Wales. Bryngarw Country Park is made up of 48 hectares and is situated on the west bank of the Afon Garw, at the mouth of the Garw Valley in the Bridgend County Borough, Wales.
The western boundary is marked by the Brynmenyn-Bettws road and the River Garw is its eastern boundary. 18 hectares of open meadowlands, subjects of grazing tenancy agreements and hence not open to the public, surrounds the Country Park. The Country Park and Bryngarw House occupies the remaining 30 hectares of the estate. Bryngarw House and its associated formal gardens (including the lawn, shrubbery, lake and oriental gardens) account for 1.5 hectares of the park. The rest of the park is predominantly wooded (broadleaf, coniferous and mixed woodland) with areas of meadow, wetland and freshwater, formal garden and areas for amenity use.
Bryngarw Country Park's mission statement is “Through the provision and maintenance of a mosaic of habitats, rich natural environments and historic formal gardens, with targeted access and interpretation; to provide a ‘Bridge’ for visitors, linking people and nature, past and present, urban and countryside, heritage and natural history And so to give access to the full range of physical, mental and social health benefits which that connection brings.”
In 2010, the park won its first Green Flag award for providing outstanding levels of conservation, preservation, sustainability and provision of public amenities and services. The park then received the award again in 2011.
Bryngarw Park is a Grade II listed Historic Park and Garden with the house being a Grade II listed building and lies within the Strategic Coalfield Plateau, Landscape Conservation Area, described in local legislation (Ogwr Borough Local Plan and emerging Urban Development Plan). This designation refers to the wooded, gently sloping agricultural and parkland landscape that characterizes the park. In 2010, the park was designated as a Key Strategic Site under the Valleys Partnership Initiative Action Program and is subsequently receiving funding from the Wales Assembly Government (WAG) Environmental Improvement Grant and Bridgend County Borough Council's Strategic Regeneration Fund. The park has also been awarded grant money from ‘One Historic Garden’ Centre of Excellence Scheme and has been designated one of eight ‘Visit Wales Sustainable Tourism, Historic Gardens Centre of Excellence’ sites. This money from both funds will be used in autumn of 2011 to update and expand the existing visitor center, refurbish the café and toilets, improve the existing car park and to significantly enhance the oriental gardens.[1]
Coity Castle
14th-century castle ruins and grounds. Coity Castle in Glamorgan, Wales, is a Norman castle built by Sir Payn "the Demon" de Turberville, one of the legendary Twelve Knights of Glamorgan supposed to have conquered Glamorgan under the leadership of Robert FitzHamon, Lord of Gloucester. Now in ruins, it stands in the community of Coity Higher near the town of Bridgend, in the County Borough of Bridgend. Very close to the castle is the battlemented parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, which dates from the 14th century.
The castle is a Grade I listed building.[2]
Newcastle Castle
Medieval castle with town views. Newcastle Castle is a medieval castle located on Newcastle Hill, Newcastle, overlooking the town centre of Bridgend in Glamorgan, South Wales. It was originally believed to date from 1106 when a ringwork was created at the site by the Norman baron Robert Fitzhamon. Some of the fine stonework survives, but today the castle is ruinous.[3]
Old Bridge
Arch bridge. The Old Bridge is a medieval two arched stone footbridge that spans the River Ogmore at Bridgend in Wales. It is not known who designed or built the bridge, however it was built in approximately 1425. The bridge was repaired in 1775 and restored both in 2005 and 2011. The bridge is a scheduled ancient monument and a grade II* listed bridge.[4]
Ewenny Priory
Monastery in Wales. Ewenny Priory, in Ewenny in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, was a monastery of the Benedictine order, founded in the 12th century.
The priory was unusual in having military-style defences and is widely regarded as one of the finest fortified religious buildings in Britain. Over the centuries the priory has sustained some damage, and following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, was, like many of its kind, converted into a private house, Ewenny Priory House, which is still inhabited by its current owners, the Turbervill family. The priory is not open to the public apart from the church, where restoration work has been carried out by Cadw. The nave serves as the parish church (Church in Wales).[5]
St Mary's Church
St Mary's Church is a Grade I listed church in Coity Higher, Bridgend County Borough, southern Wales. The church is dated mainly to the 14th century, though significant alterations were added in the 16th century. The tower dates to the latter period. The church was extensively renovated by J. Pritchard and J.P. Seddon in 1860. The eastern stained class windows were added by Morris & Co. P.S. Webb was responsible for the patterns while the figures are the work of P.P. Marshall. Among the depictions on these windows are Christ saving Peter from drowning in the sea, Christ miraculously curing a woman, and Thomas the Doubter. The octagonal font dates to the 19th century, while the pulpit was installed in 1942. St Mary's Church became a Grade I listed building on 26 July 1963.[6]
Address: Heol Yr Eglwys, CF35 6BG Bridgend
Aberkenfig
Village in Wales. Aberkenfig is a village located in the County Borough of Bridgend, Wales to the north of Bridgend town. The community population is shown under Newcastle Higher.[7]
Nolton Art Gallery
Art gallery, Museum
Address: 43 Nolton Street, Bridgend
Ewenny Pottery
Bridge
Address: Ewenny Rd Ewenny, Bridgend
Ewenny Priory House
Mansion. Ewenny Priory House is a privately owned Georgian mansion located immediately to the south of Ewenny Priory church, at Ewenny, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. Originally built in 1545 it was rebuilt in the early 1800s. The house is Grade II* listed.[8]
Merthyr Mawr
Address: Mill Yard, Merthyr Mawr, Bridgend