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St. Brides Major is a friendly and attractive, small village in the beautiful Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales. Lying approximately three miles south of Bridgend on the B4265 between the villages of Ewenny, Wick and Southerndown, it boasts a number of amenities for the benefit of villagers and visitors alike.

There is the Parish Church of St. Bridget's and the Church in Wales School which caters for children up to the age of eleven.  The Village Shop sells a wide variety of goods and provisions as well as housing the Post Office.  Penuchardre Farm provides comfortable and affordable bed & breakfast accommodation for anyone wanting to stay for a few days. 

Photos from left to right: Sports Pavilion; Church Hall; Scouts Hall; War Memorial (photo courtesy of James Heard)

A football field with sports pavilion, Church Hall and Scouts Hall are the venues for many clubs, groups and organisations to hold their meetings, helping to keep villagers fit & active or entertained. Very often there are horse riders on their way to the common and who have to cross the main road to follow some bridleways.

St. Brides Major

If it's something less strenuous you seek then the village pubs, The Fox and Hounds and The Farmers Arms provide tasty fayre and excellent beer!  Both are situated on the main road through the village.

At the junction of Southerndown Road, Ewenny Road and Wick Road is a small green where a Village Sign depicting the area also records the award of Best Kept Village in 1993.  The War Memorial is also here; the base is made from Sutton stone and the names of the fallen are on Portland stone.  There are also two seats where you can pass a quiet hour and watch the world go by.  Across the road are the premises of the local Funeral Directors.   

As you go through the village in the direction of Wick and Llantwit Major you will pass Pool Farm and the pond where until recently a pair of swans returned annually and nested, rearing many young much to the delight of young and old alike.  Just before you leave the village, Pitcot Farm is on the right.   

Castle-upon-Alun is a small hamlet to the east of St. Brides Major.  It can be reached by taking the road opposite the pond (by the Farmers Arms) then turn right at the crossroads, travelling slightly uphill, and the left fork at the next junction. 

Alternatively, when travelling from Bridgend take the second turning left after the cattle grid and immediately left again to go along Blackhall Road.  Go straight across the crossroads (shown below) and take the next left fork. 

Looking towards Castle-upon-Alun from Blackhall

However, by going down the hill at the crossroads (left in the photograph above - it should be noted that this is a very narrow single-track road that widens in parts) you will come to Daffodil Wood (Coed-y-Bwl) on the left and pass an old slab footbridge known as Packhorse Bridge (which is now classed as an ancient monument) on the right.  This was also called Clapper Bridge owing to the sound of the horses and donkeys hooves on the stone.  Carrying on further, you will come to the ford at Pont-y-Brown.  The River Alun dries up in summer but in winter can be too deep to cross.  The stepping stones here are known as Stepsau Ddion and many small children have stood on them to fish for minnows and sticklebacks.   

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