St. Athan Tourist Information

St. Athan is situated in the rural Vale of Glamorgan. It is close to the small towns of Llantwit Major and Cowbridge.

It benefits from two pubs, both comfortable to sit and reflect on life over a drink. It is close to the coast, and although Aberthaw power station is on the coast, there are beautiful walks with views over the water to Somerset, and plenty of wildlife ranging from polecats to kestrels and curlew on the common land ranging along the coastal path.

St. Athan comprises of the village, a pretty country location, and also the air force base with residential areas situated just outside the village. You may catch the occasional Jet coming into land and various flights into Cardiff airport may appear daunting, above your head from time to time when directly under the flight path.

Valeways' Millennium Heritage Trail runs just East of St. Athan. These walks take you through the undulating local countryside and pass through neighbouring villages.

Lovely for biking riding as there are numerous lanes to cycle, with ever increasing diameters depending on the length of ride required. From St Athan, there are plenty of lovely villages to pass through with varying interests from churches, pubs and castles. You have to take care at rush hour however as cars pass through some lanes at speed, to/ from Cardiff and Cowbridge. However there are plenty of quiet lanes where hardly a car will be seen, especially at the weekend.

Beapre Castle (a fortified Elizabethan mansion) lies just north of St. Athan on the Cowbridge Road, and can be accessed along a lovely short walk alongside a stream.

Description by Maxine Levett