Cowbridge! Oh what a lovely town!
Ian Thomas, October 2015
Have you considered a day excursion or
preserved remains of the town medieval
short stay in The Vale? Have you
considered a visit to the historic market
town of Cowbridge? Preference for the
journey is the local bus whose frequent
wall with South Gate still intact. No visit
would be complete without some time
visiting the walled Cowbridge Physic
Garden. Started as a community project,
service between Cardiff and Cowbridge,
offers scenic views of the countryside and
villages en route. With first view of
Cowbridge being seen as the road
descends into the Valley of the River Thaw.
this place has become popular with garden
enthusiasts and those seeking a moment
of tranquil peace and quiet.
Cowbridge is one of these places where
you can sightsee, shop and still have time
to enjoy a leisurely meal in convivial
company. Romans and Normans both
visited the site of the town, liked what
they saw and stayed. Later the town
evolved into a prosperous centre for trade
and agriculture, which today includes a
livestock market.
Start your tour outside the Town Hall.
Once used as a local prison and court,
today is home to the Town Council and
venue for community events. Nearby can
be seen what I tend to call the ‘historic
quarter’ with the 13th century Holy Cross
Parish Church. Building once used for the
Cowbridge
Grammar
School,
and
High street retail chains may have
discovered Cowbridge, but the town still
offers visitors opportunity to shop in small
boutique and family run shops. Some
housed in buildings whose architecture
dates from Georgian times.
Did you know that the people of
Cowbridge named a pub after a visit made
by the Duke of Wellington? Also during the
17th and 18th century, the Bear Hotel was
which will take you on a journey into the
used as a coaching stop for horse drawn
carriages travelling between places on a
route between London and West Wales.
countryside, through small villages,
woodlands to scenic viewpoints and land
where farming is still a living activity. Each
walk has access to a number of
countryside pubs, ideal for lunch stop, or a
more leisurely summertime evening meal.
Iolo Morganwg, 18th century resident,
Welsh antiquarian, poet, collector and
literary presenter is remembered in a 7
mile walk around the neighbouring
Cowbridge is a good place to eat and drink,
with a choice of traditional pubs, bistro
style restaurants, ethnic restaurants, and
even traditional ‘fish and chips’ to
takeaway. Food lovers flock each year to
the town for the Cowbridge Food and
Drink Festival, as well as other festivals
commemorating music and literature.
Walking and cycling is a growing outdoor
activity, with Cowbridge becoming the
gateway to a number of circular walks
countryside. While for the more
adventurous walkers, access the 62 mile
Vale Millennium Heritage Trail leading to
the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, Wales
Coast Path, and other parts of the rural
Vale
of
Glamorgan
is
possible.