Outdoor adventure while the sun’s shining
Beach Academy
Explore, experiment, identify and enjoy discovering and learning with the Beach Academies education programme! Based at Rest Bay Watersports Centre, Beach Academy provides fun for the whole family with their huge array of beach-based and outdoor activities. With family-friendly adventures including ‘Dolphin Days’, ‘Crab Encounters’ and the chance to discover cool pool predators, Beach Academy definitely deserves to be on your summer holiday bucket list!
Bryngarw Country Park
With over 113 acres to explore, kids will love wandering Bryngarw Country Park’s well-marked walking trails and biking the many cycle paths. There are plenty of options to keep the little ones busy, whether that’s joining a pond dipping session to uncover the underwater creatures of Bryngarw pond, sketching their own postcards or seeking out the iconic and interactive ‘Keepers’ of Bryngarw.
Parc Slip Nature Reserve
Parc Slip Nature Reserve offers up 300 beautiful acres of grassland, woodland and wetlands - all restored from what was once an opencast coal mine. Kids will love trying to spot the wild and wonderful wildlife that call Parc Slip home including the endangered great crested newt, harvest mice and many more. There’s also a 4km cycle route as well as 10km of well maintained walking trails. The coffee shop is well positioned to keep the family well-fuelled and ready for adventure.
Kenfig National Nature Reserve
Kenfig National Nature Reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest thanks to its wide variety of wildlife, not to mention the Fen Orchid - one of Britain’s rarest plants. This is also one of Wales’ top sand dune reserves and kids will absolutely love getting to explore the dune system. Why not try the Beach Academy's barefoot beach walk while you're here. Glamorgan's largest natural lake, Kenfig Pool, is a top spot for seeking out birds and insects.
Coney Beach Pleasure park
Overlooking glorious Sandy Bay, Coney Beach Amusement Park has all the attractions you will ever want from a traditional seaside fair, with arcades, shooting gallery, side shows, dodgems, the Sizzler Twist and lots more thrill, family and children’s rides. As well as the fair there are hot doughnuts, ice cream, fish and chips, in fact everything for a fun filled day out.
All-weather family-friendly activities
Jump Jam
Who wouldn’t want to spend their summer jumping at Wales’ biggest trampoline, climb, rodeo bull and inflatable super-park? There’s a vast area of trampolines to choose from including angled walls, tumble tracks, parkour, stunt zone, cardio wall height challenge, dodgeball and a battle beam - all of which means there’s never a dull moment at Jump Jam Trampoline Park. Bring the whole family for an experience that will quickly become a firm favourite for everyone, not just the kids!
Wiggleys Fun Farm
A great option for animal-loving youngsters, Wiggley’s Fun Farm offers the opportunity for children to get up close and personal with ponies, goats, sheep and pigs. There’s also an adventure play area that is suitable for all ages, a ball game area and a woodland walk complete with a duck pond. If the weather turns, the huge indoor play area includes a four-lane wavy slide, tube slide, rope bridges, crawl tower, toddlers play, babies barnyard and a Didi car race track!
Trecco Bay Holiday Park
Already considered one of Bridgend County’s top family-friendly attractions, Trecco Bay Holiday Park has announced a number of exciting new attractions for 2021 including a brand new sports dome, high ropes course, arts and crafts den and much more. There’s also bowling, an indoor pool and mini golf - making Trecco Bay a one-stop-shop for all-weather adventure. The golden sands of Trecco Bay Beach are also just a short stroll away once you’re done enjoying Trecco Bay’s many family-friendly attractions.
Porthcawl Museum
This museum is located in the Old Police Station at the very heart of the community. Having very recently reopened its doors to the public, Porthcawl Museum is now home to over 8,000 items that offer a unique insight into the history of the town and surrounding areas, as well as showing kids how families in the area used to live. Special items from the Samtampa and Stalheim disasters and the Porthcawl Railway are a significant part of the collection.
McArthur Glen Designer Outlet
McArthur Glen Designer Outlet is a one-stop-shop for family-friendly adventure this summer. When you’re not wandering the 80+ shops hunting out the latest bargains, or eating at one of the numerous restaurants and cafes, kids can spend time enjoying the play area. There’s even an ODEON cinema where you can spend a couple of hours watching one of the latest releases on the big screen.
Ashmore Skate Park
This 10,000 square feet indoor skatepark was built and is owned by local skaters from Bridgend, but skaters of all ages and abilities are welcome to attend open sessions and unleash their inner skater Throughout the school holidays there are midweek and weekend sessions for under 10s while the course itself is a compilation of street spots, transitions, jump ramps and lots more. We all know that keeping the youngsters entertained on holiday keeps the whole family happy. There’s plenty to do without leaving Bridgend County. From seeking out rare and wonderful wildlife in Bridgend County’s natural spaces and nature reserves to exciting all-weather attractions such as Jump Jam and Ashmore Skatepark - here’s how to guarantee that your holiday whizzes past in a fun-filled flash!
