About
Vale Trail 9
This circular route takes in the historic market town of Cowbridge, its surrounding fields and wooded paths. The places of interest are linked to one of the Vale’s most colourful characters, Iolo Morganwg (1747-1826). He was a romantic poet, political radical and humanitarian, who was the first to propose that Wales should have its own national institutions.
PLaces of interest
- Old Hall Gardens
- The Physic Garden
- Iolo’s shop (now Costa Coffee)
- The Bear Hotel
- Stalling Down
- St Quentin’s Castle
Who was Iolo Morgannwg?
Edward Williams(1747-1826), better known by his bardic name Iolo Morganwg, was undoubtedly one of Wales’s most colourful and intriguing sons.
During his life, he gathered an extraordinary fund of knowledge about poetry, language, literature, music, theology, philosophy, politics, religion, music, geology, agriculture and horticulture.
Born in the hamlet of Pennon in the parish of Llancarfan, he lived most of his life in a tiny cottage in Flemingston, Vale of Glamorgan. He styled himself ‘Bard of Liberty’ and is known as one of founders of Welsh national consciousness.
