General Chat

Visiting the villages of Brynmenyn, Laleston and Aberkenfig in 2 weeks, Im practically delerious with excitement, its where my great gran and her parents et al lived and many family member are buried in the villages. The house still exists. We're camping with our 3 year old, does anyone have any ideas of things we could do? We'll be there for 4 nights. I have Coity castle written down but not much else. We do have a car, but not looking to travel too far, although we'll be going to the beach at Porthcawl hopefully, if its not all owned by the holiday company who have the caravans there.

Afternoon RS, good to see you:) I dont know the area but sounds like you should have an adventurous time. Hope the weather is kind to you:)
x

Hello Whirls!! Nice to see you too. x Sandie, thanks for that, at least we know we can have a day or two on the beach :-)

Porthcawl can be quite windy, so take a fleece or similar, just in case... Rest bay always used to be quietest, but haven't been out that far for many years now. I always preferred Rest Bay and I found it the least windy...... sandy beach, fairly small, and with lovely rock pools surrounding it, so take a net and clear plastic container.... that is how my then small son developed an interest and went on to study marine biology, lol!! Please put the catches back in their pools before going home, though!!

A bit further away is St Ffagan's Castle, and I am not sure what the park is called these days... I lived quite near there as a child... but they have preserved and transported homes and buildings from throughout the ages... the real McCoy... it can be a little bit much for a 3 year old... but the houses etc are so tiny they aren't in them long, and lots of safe *running space* for them, so boredom tends to be shortlived, lol... my kids loved it when they were little and always wanted to go to the *house place* when we went home on leave!!

Have a wonderful time, wherever you go, and I know the best bit will be visiting those homes and graves of your ancestors.

Loads of love

Daff xxxxx

Merthyr Mawr is full of sand dunes, useful for wearing a 3 years old out (see A48)

I thought Coity Castle was pretty much a ruin but it's round the corner from McArthur Glen the largest designer oulet in Wales (with kids play area) J 36 M4

St Fagan's is a must it's just off J33 of M4 (entry free & a couple of £ to park)

http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/stfagans/

Dyffryn Gardens are nice but may be a bit "old" for a 3 year old

http://www.dyffryngardens.org.uk/

Trip up a lighthouse but check the opening times first

http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/events_and_leisure/visitor_centres/nash_point.html

Thankyou :-) Still carrying on with the deep breathing exercises, Im sooo excited. Those poor unsuspecting locals in Aberkenfig have no idea whats coming their way :-))

Hi Sandie we're camping at Brynhyfryd. :-) My great grans brother Jim Roberts had a small holding near the (then) rail station in Brynmenyn. His son Bill had the shop in Tondu.

i hear cardiff bay is the place to visit these days shopping mc arther glen in bridgend is good shops cinema etc even if it rains google earth you can see rest bay everywhere around

If you go to the beach, watch the tide. It's very fast and has a huge range.
East from Porthcawl over the other side of the river mouth there are wonderful natural beaches, with vast stretches of sand when the tide is out.
It's part of the Glamorgan Heritage coast.

I agree, St Fagans is great, - and free too.
Allow plenty of time, there's so much to see.

If you go westwards and then up one of the valleys Dan-yr- Ogof caves are interesting. Children particularly seem to enjoy the dinosaur display which is on site.

Gwyn