Bridgend

Bridgend county pairs a lively coastline with quiet inland villages, giving visitors a genuine choice of pace. Porthcawl is the obvious base for a seaside trip, with its long promenade, sandy beaches and harbour drawing families and walkers alike, especially in the warmer months when the town takes on a proper holiday buzz. Pyle sits close by and makes a practical, low-key alternative for those wanting easy access to the coast without the crowds.

Inland, Pencoed offers a more settled, everyday sort of town, useful for those exploring the wider county or breaking a journey along the M4 corridor. Further north, Blackmill is smaller still, set among the valleys and better suited to those after peace and quiet or a starting point for walks into the surrounding countryside. Together these places show the contrast between Bridgend's busy coast and its calmer, greener interior.

Bridgend's places to stay divide roughly between the town itself, handy for the M4 and its outlet shopping, and Porthcawl on the coast, where guesthouses and B&Bs cater to seaside visitors. Options in Bridgend and Pencoed tend towards practical stopovers such as the Premier Inn Bridgend M4 J35 or The Wyndham Arms-Wetherspoon, useful for travellers passing through South Wales or working nearby.

For something with more character, Court Colman Manor and The Great House Hotel offer a grander take on a night's stay, while smaller B&Bs like Mairs Bed and Breakfast, Olivia House and Mary House 46 suit those wanting a quieter, more personal base. North Cornelly and the villages around Bridgend add further B&B choices for anyone touring the county rather than settling in one town.

Bridgend county pairs a bracing stretch of Glamorgan coast with quieter inland spots, so days out here can go either way depending on the weather and who you're bringing along. Porthcawl is the obvious base for the beach crowd, with Rest Bay drawing surfers and walkers, while Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes nearby offers a wilder, more dramatic version of the coastline for those happy to climb rather than sunbathe.

Inland, Bryngarw Country Park and Parc Slip Nature Reserve give families and dog walkers proper woodland and wetland trails without needing a long drive, and Bridgend Miniature Railway adds a low-key novelty for younger children. Wet weather is well covered too, with Jump Jam Trampoline Park, Sadie & Franks Playcentre, Dizzys Castle and the ODEON in Bridgend all clustered close to town, plus South Wales Karting Centre for something faster-paced.

Bridgend's dining scene runs from valley pubs to seafront cafés, with the town centre offering the biggest concentration of choice. The Farmers Arms and similar spots serve as reliable local pubs for a pint and a proper meal, while places like SANNA and Gusto Coffee House cater to those after something a bit more relaxed over coffee or brunch.

Families heading out to Bryngarw Country Park will find the café there a handy stop, and chain names such as KFC, Harry Ramsden's and Caffe Carluccio's sit alongside independents like Asiad and Crumbs! for quicker bites. Further into the Ogmore Valley, options thin out but venues such as the Ogmore Valley Life Centre give walkers and visitors somewhere to refuel.

With such a spread across the county, it is worth deciding whether you want a sit-down pub meal, a fast lunch, or a café stop before choosing where to go.

Bridgend covers a compact but varied stretch of South Wales, and its campsites and glamping spots reflect that mix of coast and countryside. Around Porthcawl and North Cornelly you're within easy reach of the beaches and dunes at Merthyr Mawr and Rest Bay, making sites like Dan-y-Graig Holiday Park handy bases for a seaside break, while Candleston Woods sits closer to that same coastal landscape of dunes and pine.

Inland, towards Blackmill and the Bridgend valleys, the setting turns to farmland and hills, with places such as Tal-y-Fan Farm and Bryn Glamping offering a quieter, greener alternative. Fishing and touring options feature too, from White Springs Fishery to Brodawel Camping and Touring Park, alongside smaller glamping ventures like Holistic Concepts and Three Golden Cups for those after something a little different from a standard pitch.

Bridgend's self-catering cottages suit a coastal or a rural break equally well, with the county stretching from the Glamorgan Heritage Coast at Ogmore and Southerndown inland towards quieter villages. Properties such as The Dunes and Bay Cottage put you close to the beaches and cliff walks, while Wick Cottage and Morwood Cottage sit further inland amid farmland and small lanes.

Group travel is well catered for too, with The Crofters Cottages offering Meadow Croft and Penny Croft alongside each other for parties wanting separate cottages within reach of one another. Elder Cottage, Court House, Oaks and Secret Spot round out a mix that ranges from period buildings to more contemporary conversions, so it is worth deciding first whether a coastal outlook or a village setting matters more to your stay.