Walk around Cowbridge
This attractive market town is located in the Vale of Glamorgan near to Cardiff and Bridgend. The town has a number of interesting independent shops and a pleasant riverside park to visit. In 2017, The Sunday Times crowned it the 'Best Place to Live in Wales'.
This circular walk around the town visits the Physic Garden and the River Thaw. The walk starts at the Physic Garden in the town centre. Here you'll find a wonderful collection of medicinal plants and herbs, typical of physic gardens from centuries past. From here it is a short stroll down to the River Thaw which runs through the town. There's nice surfaced footpaths running along the picturesque tree lined river here. After exploring the park you can then turn around and follow alternative paths back through the town.
Cowbridge Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Cowbridge Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Cowbridge OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Cowbridge Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
The Duke of Wellington is a good choice for some post walk refreshments. There's a very good menu and a landscaped patio to enjoy here. You can find it in the town centre on the High Street at postcode CF71 7AG for your sat navs.
There's also The Bear which has a nice old country pub feel to it. There's open fires and a lovely beer garden here too. You can find it at postcode CF71 7AF.
Dog Walking
The area is nice for a stroll with you dog. The Duke of Wellington and The Bear mentioned above are also dog friendly. The nearby Hensol Forest has some nice woodland trails which are good for dog walking too.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Head south from the town and you can visit the nearby town of Llantwit Major. Here you can enjoy a fine coastal walk to the photogenic lighthouse at Nash Point. You can also pick up the Glamorgan Heritage Coast Walk in this area.
The long distance Vale of Glamorgan Circular Walk passes through the town. The epic trail visits several of the area's settlements and includes coastal and riverside sections too.
Head east of the town and you can explore the Hensol Forest, where there's miles of peaceful trails and a tranquil lake to see.
Bridgend is also not far away where you can try the Bridgend Circular Walk. It explores the area around the town, passing close to Bryngarw Country Park at the northern tip. There's great walking trails here taking you to woodland, gardens, and an ornamental lake. Here you can also pick up the Garw Valley Railway Path. The shared cycling and walking path starts in the park and heads north along a disused railway line to Blaengarw alond the River Garw.
Cardiff is also nearby where you can pick up the popular Taff Trail and enjoy river walks along the Taff.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
The Physic Garden - Cowbridge One of the plant beds, this one exhibiting plants considered beneficial in childbirth.
Trees lining bank of River Thaw in Cowbridge Park.
The Physic Garden
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The River Thaw
River Thaw in full flow July 2008
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The park, and this stretch of the river terminate here at Mill Park.
Footbridge over the river. One of three footbridges cast at Butterley in Derbyshire in 1811 and erected over the Maud Foster Drain. Designed either by John Rennie or William Jessop, Vauxhall Bridge was replaced by a road bridge in 1924 but Hospital Bridge in Boston remains
Aqueduct, which carries the Stonebridge Drain over the Cowbridge Drain