The Vale of Glamorgan: Ancient Sites, Market Towns & Coastal Views
A day tour from Cardiff to discover Neolithic burial chambers, a medieval manor house, Welsh market-town life and the dramatic coastline.
Small group tour to the beautiful Vale of Glamorgan, your guide is a qualified Green Badge Tourist Guide for South East Wales.
Discover a side of South Wales that many visitors miss on this small-group tour from Cardiff. Journey through the rural Vale of Glamorgan, in a fully electric modern minivan, on a trip spanning thousands of years. From Neolithic burial chambers and a medieval manor house to early religious heritage, Welsh market-town life and the dramatic coastline.
With your fully qualified driver-guide bringing the stories of Wales to life, you’ll have time to explore each stop, enjoy lunch in Cowbridge and take in the coastal scenery. Spend a day on a journey through the history, culture and landscapes that make this, one of the wealthiest corners of Wales, special.
Tour Itinerary
Tinkinswood Burial Chamber
Discover this remarkable Neolithic tomb, built around 6,000 years ago, roughly a thousand years before the first major construction at Stonehenge. It’s a striking introduction to the ancient history of Wales.
St Lythans Burial Chamber
Just a short distance from Tinkinswood, St Lythans is its remarkable neighbour in a landscape shaped by Neolithic burial traditions. Compare the two ancient tombs and notice their distinct character: at St Lythans, much of the long mound has disappeared, leaving the striking stone chamber exposed. Together, the sites offer a glimpse into how prehistoric communities marked this landscape and honoured their dead.
Old Beaupre Castle
Explore this atmospheric medieval manor house, later transformed with striking Tudor features. Its impressive gatehouse and beautifully carved porch offer a glimpse of the wealth and style of the powerful Bassett family.
Cowbridge
Enjoy a relaxed lunch break in this attractive historic market town, with time to browse independent shops and discover its welcoming local character. You can also visit Cowbridge Physic Garden, a peaceful walled garden featuring plants traditionally grown for medicinal, culinary and dyeing uses.
St Illtud’s Church, Llantwit Major
Often called the “Westminster Abbey of Wales,” St Illtud’s stands on a site associated with one of Britain’s earliest centres of Christian learning. Tradition holds that St Illtud founded a monastery and school here around AD 500, where generations of early Christian leaders (including St David, patron saint of Wales) are said to have studied. The Grade I listed church is home to a remarkable collection of early medieval carved stones and Celtic crosses, offering a vivid connection to Wales’s early Christian past.
Dunraven Bay
Take in the rugged coastline, dramatic cliffs and sea views. Depending on conditions, there may be time to explore the beach, look for fossils and see the remains of Dunraven Castle.
Nash Point Lighthouse
Finish with spectacular views over the Bristol Channel. It’s a memorable coastal finale—and a lovely spot for photographs—before the return journey to Cardiff.
Know before you go:
· Access to Old Beaupre Castle involves walking along a public footpath through farmland and climbing over a stile. The path may be uneven and muddy in places, so visitors should be able to climb over the stile and are advised to wear sturdy shoes and appropriate clothing.
· Most paths on the coastal sections are in good condition, but some stretches may be rocky or uneven underfoot.
· This tour takes place rain or shine, please bring waterproofs or suncream depending on the time of year.
· Not much of Wales is flat! 60% of Wales is 150m above sea level, there might be some short inclines and declines to walk on this tour.
Can tours be organised for groups?
We can schedule guided tours of Wales for small groups up to seven people. From Gower tours to other scenic trips, we can tailor experiences to suit your needs.
Do tour guides provide food?
Tour guides provide the banter, but not the food. However, day-long guided tours of Wales always have stops planned in for lunch, where you can purchase snacks and meals.
Gallery
St Illtud’s Church, Old Beaupre Castle, Nash Point Lighthouse and independent shops in Cowbridge
What's included?
Luxury Transportation
Driver/Guide
Onboard WiFi
Exclusions
Lunch
Snacks
Coffee and/or Tea
Pick up / drop off at accommodation
What do I need to bring?
Walking Shoes
Waterproof Jacket
Warm Layers
Camera
Cancellation policy
Bookings are non-refundable. All sales are final. You can purchase cancellation insurance for this product in the checkout.
We Tour...
The Vale of Glamorgan
Meeting Point
National Museum of Wales Cardiff
Departure
9.30 AM
Reviews
What our customers say about us
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