The 7 Best Hidden Gems Things to do in Bridgend County, Wales

Bicycle hire for all the family and Fat Bike hire and guided rides for the adventurous and adrenaline seekers.

Porthcawl Museum's objectives are, for the benefit of the public, to gain knowledge and encourage research into contemporary life and the history of Porthcawl and its surrounding areas of Newton and Nottage. Exhibitions and Events that are held throughout the year are geared for the family and lovers of history.

The 247 acre Parc Slip Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve with its brand NEW VISITOR CENTRE has something for everyone: A variety of different habitat types supporting many different species for wildlife enthusiasts. A safe area for families to discover and enjoy nature. For cyclists, well-maintained traffic-free cycle tracks, including a 4km stretch of Sustrans National Cycle Route 4. Over 10km of tracks for dog walking, with water and free dog waste bags available at the Visitor Centre. Accessible paths on the Nature Reserve for wheelchairs, walking sticks and for those with sight problems. The Centre and Coffee Shop are fully accessible. ACCESS into and throughout the Reserve is exceptional; with dipping platforms near the Visitor Centre, access-for-all pathways, cycle ways, natural pathways, bird hides and picnic benches. And some Events put on here take you deep into some normally hidden parts of the Reserve. The Visitor Centre with its large free car park is set in open countryside but right by the road, and just a few miles from Bridgend. Northern Wetlands HideNorthern Wetlands Hide. NEW FOR 2013 is the freshly reopened Parc Slip Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre with Coffee Shop and upstairs Discovery Room, which is available for hire. A new events programme, with activities including wildlife surveys and guided walks, is running from the Visitor Centre. And there are many exciting developments planned for the Nature Reserve, such as the new arable crop field to provide a seed crop for breeding birds.

Formerly known as The Hospice, St John's House is the oldest habitable dwelling in the town, c.1511. Described by the Royal Commission as: "A Hearth Passage house, the crenellated beams at The Hospice are the only known domestic examples in Glamorgan; the architectural detail is not only of high quality but increasingly lavish timber detail signals the hierarchy of rooms." The house is open on the second Sunday and last Saturday of each month (except December): 11am - 3pm.