Historic Places in Vale of Glamorgan

Ogmore Castle near Bridgend in the Vale of Glamorgan is a ruined Norman castle in an exceptionally picturesque setting where the River Ogmore flows over a series of flat stepping stones below the castle walls. The castle was founded by William de Londres in the early twelfth century as part of the Norman conquest of the Vale of Glamorgan and remained the principal seat of the de Londres family throughout the medieval period. The substantial remains of the stone keep and enclosure walls, combined with the famous stepping stones and the attractive water meadows of the Ogmore valley, create one of the most visited and photographed castle settings in south Wales. The nearby village of Ogmore-by-Sea and the coastal dune system at Merthyr Mawr Nature Reserve complement the castle visit, and the broader Vale of Glamorgan Heritage Coast provides exceptional walking along the limestone cliffs.

St Quentin's Castle at Llanblethian near Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan is a ruined thirteenth-century castle associated with the de St Quentin family, one of the Norman lords who established themselves in the Vale of Glamorgan following the conquest of the region in the late eleventh and twelfth centuries. The castle is a fine example of a Welsh Marches enclosure castle of the thirteenth century, with the remaining towers and curtain walls giving a clear impression of the original plan. The site is managed by Cadw and freely accessible. The village of Llanblethian and the adjacent historic town of Cowbridge are among the most attractive settlements in the Vale of Glamorgan, with Cowbridge's well-preserved High Street and surviving town walls providing one of the finest small historic towns in south Wales. The Vale of Glamorgan Heritage Coast to the south provides dramatic limestone cliff scenery within easy reach.