Gentle parks and promenades...
Porthkerry Country Park, with its elegant viaduct, green expanses and it's own pebble beach, and Cold Knap beach, with it's lake, gardens and promenade, and Romilly Park just around the corner, provide gentle, shoreline, green and woodland walking. The Wales Coast Path too is superb, and almost everywhere those unforgettable sea views...
Barry, the 'Home of Gavin and Stacey'!
Oh! Told you we'd get here. What's occurrin'... is that we in Barry continue to be proud and lucky, to celebrate our town as the 'Home of Gavin and Stacey', the incredibly popular TV show.
Fans will be in their element, seeing, photographing and sharing those favourite Barry filming locations. Gwen and Stacey's home and Uncle Bryn's house are on Trinity Street, watch out for Doris! Smithy's famous quiz night was filmed in The Colcot Arms, and you can even book an official Gavin and Stacy Tour, with a ride on Dave's Coach!
Back at the Island you'll find the world famous Marco's Cafe, where you can take a photo with a life-size mural of the cast. And let's never forget Nessa's Slots! You're going to love it... Tidy...
Barry's modern Innovation Quarter and Sustainable Urban High Street.
Famous for it's TV filming locations for 'Gavin and Stacey' and time-travelling 'Doctor Who', over a century ago, Barry Island was a true island, separated from the mainland by Barry Sound, before the sea was held back to construct the extensive docks.
Now the island is fully connected and quickly and easily reached on foot from the town's Innovation Quarter, where modern and traditional meet as the Goodsheds Barry, purported to be the first New Sustainable Urban High Street in the UK, and the award winning Independent Shopping Quarter, High Street Barry provide first class shopping, eating and drinking for visitors and locals alike.
At Goodsheds, you can have a Good Stay, for a weekend or longer break, go boutique shopping on the urban high street, go to the gym, drink craft beers and spirits, dine at fantastic eateries, or grab a drive-thru coffee. All provided for your pleasure by independent outlets.
Historical sites put Barry on the map...
Barry War Museum opens its doors to the public on regular occasions. An ideally situated museum, located in Barry Island train station.
The Island and town take their name from St Baruc, a 6th century Celtic saint, who tragically drowned in the Bristol Channel, his body washing ashore on the island. The ruins of St Baruc's Chapel, original site of the Holy Well, sit on top of Nells Point.
Long before St Baruc, Cold Knap had a Roman port, and tucked away, a stone's throw from the promenade, are the remarkably preserved ruins of a 'mansio' or courtyarded travellers rest. You see? Barry was popular even in ancient times!
And long, long before the Romans, Bronze Age inhabitants built cairns at Friar's Point. No longer quite so visible, after being excavated in the 19th century, in their day, these would be unmistakable from great distances, and probably used as beacons for seafarers. Another reason to experience the views from Friar's point.
And long, long, long before the Bronze Age, at what is now the Bendricks beach on Barry's northern shore, dinosaurs of the Upper Triassic left their footprints, in one of the most documented of such sites in the British Isles.
You can discover lots more info about Barry's fascinating history at www.Barry.Cymru.
So much to see and do when you visit Barry and Barry Island...
Even with it's veritable bucket-and-spade load of beaches, and modern, urban and historical attractions, there are even more great days out around Barry:
National Trust Duffryn Gardens are a delight. Edwardian lawns and gardens and a walled kitchen garden, with 22 acres of woodland walks around the arboretum. The glass house is home to tropical plants, succulents and cacti, and with 2 natural play areas, a cafe and shop, this is a wonderful visit.
Fonmon Castle, with Jurassic Wales and Dino Dome. What more could you want? A castle and gardens, disk golf, interactive nature walks, dinosaurs big and small, a Step Through Time to the castle's past, the Dino Dig pit, tasty lunches and drinks, and a gift shop to finish your day.
Amelia Trust Farm. A great day out for kids and grown-ups. Come and meet Shetland Ponies, farm and country animals, furry friends and reptiles. With woodland walks, play area, refreshments, and a 19 bed bunkhouse available, you can even bring doggies as long as you keep them on a lead.
Don't forget to have a look at Llantwit Major and the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, and Cowbridge and the rural Vale, and Penarth, and make them all a part of your Vale of Glamorgan experience...
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