As spring returns and the natural world revives and reinvigorates after the frosty winter months- so should we leave hibernation and reconnect with the flora and fauna Penarth and surrounding South Wales have to offer. We’ve found some of the countless beautiful spring spots for you to reconnect with the natural beauty that is Wales and join spring in its renewal this year.

The ocean mist and the humming of its waves.

The Vale offers unique and breathtaking scenery along the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, perfect for a slow Sunday stroll. Stretching from Cowbridge to Bridgend lie beautiful beach trails and grand bays.

Not far from Penarth, Monknash Beach offers a quiet tranquil atmosphere, with wide sandy beaches- perfect for a breezy dog walk or pensive roam. Following the coastal path eastwards, you encounter Nash Point Lighthouse with a charming cottage and Cliff Top Café nearby.

Ambitious wayfarers can walk along the coastline westwards towards the ruins of Dunraven Castle and its impressive Bay- the cliff tops provide spectacular panoramic views and are ideally situated for afternoon picnics, while the beach reveals rock pools at low tide perfect for fossil hunting!

Finally moving further west towards Ogmore-by-Sea, a small town with wide flat beaches tailor-made for a family getaway. With food vans on-site, and lots to explore with the little ones on the long stretch of beach with caves, rock pools and nearby sheep fields. This spot gets particularly lively in the summer months.

The blooming blossoms and buzzing bees.

Besides the impressive coastlines and beaches connecting us to the rough but breathtaking natural landscapes of Wales, if you’re looking to immerse yourself in the Vale’s and Great Britain’s flora, the Gardd Berlysiau’r Bont-Faen (Cowbridge Physic Garden) is a must-visit!

Exclusively carpeted with local plants, the garden is devoted to the formal, functional, and aesthetic, and truly blooms during these springtime months. With audio-guided tours and weekly plant sales, this garden invites all from history enthusiasts to curious botanists.

The small market town offers other plant nurseries specialising in cottage garden plants, and even hosts annual food and drink festivals in late spring- a lovely location for a day trip.

Beyond the Vale- boundless and undisturbed bloom.

Wales is known for its rugged coastline, but also for its mountainous national parks overlooking the lush countryside. Brecon Beacons National Park is just an hour’s drive from Cardiff and the Vale, and grants wonderful pilgrimages with seemingly endless vistas. Some mountain peak destinations include Pen y Fan, Llyn Cwm Llwch and Cribyn– overgrown with dainty bluebells, wood anemones, and blossoms in the springtime. The surrounding woodlands nurture the Welsh fauna: birds, frogs, and otters slowly awaken as winter ends. A place to reconnect with oneself and nature, returning to the uncomplicated and natural sceneries so often lacking in the hustle and bustle of our towns.

Offering a range of family-friendly attractions, hiking trails and other activities, the Brecon Beacons National Park is a must-visit during all seasons of the year!

It can be easy to lose sight of all the natural beauty Wales offers in our day-to-day routines populated by work, family, and other obligations. But we must not forget the intrinsic bond between man and the natural world- as spring arrives and replenishes the flora and fauna, we should too harness its essence and rejuvenate in body and mind.