A visit to a coalmine and other Cardiff, United Kingdom Off The Beaten Path Tips

Big Pit: National Mining Museum of Wales is a real coal mine and one of the UK’s leading mining museums. With facilities to educate and entertain all ages, Big Pit guarantees an exciting and informative day out

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Website: http://www.nmgw.ac.uk/bigpit/

Created 350 Million years ago, the National Showcaves Centre for Wales, voted the Welsh Visitor Attraction of the year 2000, is situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park and gives you the opportunity to travel back though time.

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Website: http://www.showcaves.co.uk/

The Newport Transporter Bridge spans across the River Usk The River Usk rises in the mountains of mid-Wales then flows south-east through Abergavenny and the eponymous town of Usk to the Roman legionary fortress of Caerleon and the Bristol Channel at Newport.

Because the river banks are very low at the desired crossing point (a few miles south of the city centre) a bridge would needed a very long approach ramp and a ferry could not be used at low tide.

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Website: http://www.fontb.org.uk/

The abbey is nestled snugly on the banks of the Wye, below the wooded hills made famous by poet William Wordsworth. Originally built by the Cistercians in 1131, Tintern is the most complete of the ruined abbeys of Wales. Much of it was rebuilt between the 13th and 15th centuries at which time it was the largest and wealthiest monastic foundation in the principality.

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Website: http://www.castlewales.com/tintern.html

A quaint old town 4.5 miles south-west of Cowbridge. It has a rugged coastline, perfect work long walks. The beach i svery rocky and there are lots of fossils and caves to be found.

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Website: http://www.llantwitmajorvale.co.uk/

Dyffryn is not just one garden but a series of gardens consisting of a number of outdoor rooms. Each room is enclosed within clipped yew hedges and has its own distinct character. The gardens rooms are set among broad sweeping lawns, a croquet lawn with an arboretum and wild garden.
The gardens are currently being restored to the picture that Thomas Mawson, landscape architect designed for John Cory in 1906.

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Website: http://dyffryngardens.org.uk/

This 250-metre-long pier was built of cast iron and timber construction in 1894. Following an extensive refurbishment programme ending in 1988, it prides itself on being one of the best remaining Victorian piers in Britain, and is certainly one of the best of its type in Wales.

There are magnificent views, plenty of seating, a refreshments area and amusements for the children. You get all this here, as well as the bracing sea air.

Make sure you try the famous Thayers ice cream, which is made with fresh cream and comes in a host of delicious flavours. The pier is open all day through the summer months.

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Phone: +44 29 2070 8212
Website: http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/piers/penarth%20pier.htm

At the Welsh Hawking Centre you will see over 200 Birds of Prey including Eagles, Owls, Hawks, Falcons and Buzzards. They can be seen and photographed in the mews, weathering ground, breeding and if you are fast enough, flying! We pride ourselves on the personal contact we have with our visitors, so please ask any of the staff any questions or help you may need

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Phone: +44 (0) 1446 - 734687

At Cosmeston Lakes Country park you will find over 90ha of lakes, woodlands and meadows open to the public all the year round. A place you can relax, walk and take a closer look at nature. The park was formerly a Limestone quarry, when quarrying ceased in 1970, under ground springs flooded parts of the area, creating lakes and wet lands. The quarry spoil areas were landscaped and together with the lakes form the main features of the park which you can see today. Why not take the opportunity to explore the contrasting wildlife areas? Walk along the boardwalk through tall Bulrushes and Reed beds or through a fine broad-leaved woodland seeing a variety of birds, also foxes grey squirrels and many other animals may be seen in their natural habitat.

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Website: http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/cms/layouts/xq/asp/idocid.1248/qx/default2.htm

Barry Island is very much the traditional seaside resort with its long sandy beach, amusement arcades and fun fair, attracting visitors from far afield. Seafront shops will tempt your taste buds with ice-cream, candy floss and fish and chips. And in summer months weekends are buzzing with street theatre and live music.

The pleasure park has over 50 rides and attractions, for all ages including the Log Flume, Viper Ride, Pirate Ship, Galloping Horses and many others.

The nearby Barry Island Railway Heritage Centre provides a glimpse of the Age of Steam, with exhibits of memorobilia, and restored locomotives and rolling stock.

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Website: http://tinyurl.com/352w7