1. Magical two-day Christmas Market in Cowbridge:
Set within the picture-perfect market town of Cowbridge, this two-day celebration brings the main high street alive with twinkling lights, artisan stalls and live music. The market forms part of the wider Cowbridge Christmas Weekend, transforming the town centre into a hub for slow shopping and seasonal fun. Visitors can browse local crafts, sample Welsh produce, admire the reindeer parade and enjoy the festive atmosphere of one of South Wales’s most charming market towns.
- Dates: 29 & 30 November 29 and 30, 2025
- Free entry
2. Festive family fun at Dyffryn Gardens:
Escape the stress of the festive season and reconnect with nature with a peaceful winter stroll through the beautiful Edwardian grounds at National Trust’s Dyffryn Gardens. Children will love this year’s festive trail – searching the 55 acre gardens for Father Christmas’ missing wooden reindeer. Inside the manor has been adorned with sweet handmade decorations, from knitted mice to recycled-wood ornaments. Finish the trip with christmassy colouring in the cosy second-hand bookshop and a hot chocolate in the Gardens Cafe.
- Dates: The reindeer trail runs from December 6 to January 4. Dyffryn Gardens is open daily, 10am-4pm
- Entry Fee: Christmas trail is free to enjoy, normal National Trust admission fees apply
3. Christmas Fayre inside the ‘Welsh Hogwarts’, St Donat’s Castle:
A short drive away on the coast near Llantwit Major, the Christmas Fayre at St Donat’s Castle opens its doors for one weekend only, hosting over 70 stalls of artisan crafts, local food and drink and handmade gifts, set within its grand halls and courtyards. Visitors can wander through beautifully decorated rooms, enjoy live festive entertainment, meet Santa and soak up the 12-century castle’s fairytale ambience, all against the backdrop of the dramatic Glamorgan coastline.
As the longest continually inhabited castle in Wales, St Donat’s is normally home to pupils from the prestigious UWC Atlantic College including young royalty, and is nicknamed the Welsh ‘Hogwarts’. Rarely open to the public, this buzzing castle market is one of the Vale’s standout Christmas events.
- Dates: December 6 and 7, 2025
- Entry Fee: £3 on foot, £14 per car. Choose from two entry sessions per day by clicking here
4. Take a festive dip in the sea with the Dawnstalkers:
Fancy starting your day with a buzz? Join the Dawnstalkers, Penarth’s very own wild swimming group who take to the sea everyday at sunrise. This lively collective meets at first light, whatever the weather, on Penarth’s picturesque esplanade next to the restored art-deco pier.
This winter Hot2Cold Sauna Co.’s wood-fired barrel sauna will return to Penarth seafront, providing hot-cold therapy across the festive period. It’s not just about the icy swim – it’s the sense of community, the post-dip coffee and the incredible endorphin boost to kickstart your day!
Stay close to the action in the newly reopened Holm House, a luxury 1920s coastal hotel located on Penarth’s famous Marine Parade and also home to new neighbourhood restaurant Silures.
- Dates: Everyday at dawn
- Free entry
5. Bracing winter walks on the Vale Trails:
With 10 waymarked trails, the Vale offers some of the best walking in Wales – a diverse mix of rugged coastal routes and atmospheric forest trails. Winter favourites include Vale Trail 2, exploring the secluded Monknash Beach home to stunning gushing waterfalls, rock pools and golden cliffs under a low winter sun. The daring can even brave a winter swim in this scenic wild swimming spot.
‘Salmon Leaps’, or Vale Trail 6 includes one of the best woodlands for winter walks; the trail follows the Writstone Brook and includes a number of interesting milestones including a glacial valley, Iron Age hill fort, ancient villages and a viewpoint for seeing leaping salmon.
6. Stargazing and dark sky escapes on the Heritage Coastline:
If you’re seeking locations with minimal light pollution, Wales has one of the highest percentages of land designated under Dark Skies status globally. The views from the cliff tops of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast make the perfect base for stargazing, especially in the longer, darker winter nights.
One of the most loved spots by locals is the area between Nash Point and Dunraven Bay, which offers incredible angles of true dark skies over Nash Point lighthouse. Park at the Nash Point carpark, and beware of the wind on Monknash Bay – but the views are sure to blow you away!
