The Castles of Bridgend:
dating back to the Norman conquest of South Wales 12th Century, these three castles were build to provide a "defensive triangle".1. Newcastle Castle, dramatically positioned on the hill overlooking the town centre, accessable via a set of stairs on Tondu Road opposite the Brewery Field. Entrance is free. The area around Newcastle is a conservation area that includes period properties and various other listed buildings of interest including St Illtuds Church.
2. Coity Castle, located in the village of Coity about 2 miles to the north east of the town. Free entry.
3. Ogmore Castle, located about 3 miles south of Bridgend near the estuary of the River Ogmore. There is a footpath from nearby Merthyr Mawr and the castle can be accessed by "stepping stones" over the river. Care must be taken when using the stepping stones. Free entry.
The Old Bridge
from which Bridgend got it's name. Not as spectacular as the original bridge but an important and iconic local landmark.Merthyr Mawr
An idyllic village with authentic, traditional thatched roofs. Nearby are the famous Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes. This is a large network of dunes, amongst the largest in Europe. This area was used to film the movie "Lawrence of Arabia". It's also well used for cross-country running, wildlife spotting and even live action role-play! There is a charge to use the car park.Glamorgan Heritage Coast
This consists of the coastline streching from Porthcawl to Aberthaw in the Vale of Glamorgan. It includes some spectacular cliff faces, sheltered beaches and a collection of small villages. There is a coastal footpath following the coast. The Glamorgan Heritage Coast Centre is located at Southerndown, around 7 miles from Bridgend.Newbridge Fields
is a large, maintained open space in the centre of Bridgend and is popular with dog-walkers and anglers.