Four places to visit this October half term

Half term is a great time to get out of the house and do something different.

Sultan the Pit Pony at Parc Penallta. Picture: Caerphilly County Borough Council

Luckily in South Wales there are plenty of places to visit, and lots of events happening during the week.

From exploring the outdoors to visiting museums and galleries, we’ve put together some free and low-cost ideas to help you have a fun and enjoyable half term.

Parc Penallta, Caerphilly

Sultan the Pit Pony at Parc Penallta. Picture: Caerphilly County Borough Council

With stunning views across the South Wales valleys, impressive sculptures and walking trails, Parc Penallta is well worth visiting.

The country park is well-known for having one of the largest earth sculptures in Wales, known as Sultan the Pit Pony.

Carved from a former coal tip, the sculpture extends over 200-metres and honours the pit ponies that lived and worked in the old Penallta Colliery.

As well as Sultan, there is also much more to discover at Parc Penallta, including a wetlands area with boardwalks, lakes and three marked trail walks.

Barry Island

Whitmore Bay in Barry. Picture: Vale of Glamorgan Council

Planning a visit to the seaside?

Barry offers a choice of several beaches! This includes Whitmore Bay, perfect for sandcastles, rock pools or even a cool autumn dip in the sea, if you are brave enough.

There are also cafes, amusement arcades and fish and chip shops nearby.

Jackson’s Bay offers a smaller, quieter beach, while Watchtower Bay is known for its scenic views and Cold Knap Bay has a long stretch of pebble beach.

Barry Island Pleasure Park also offers fun for the family with fairground rides and games for those seeking some more excitement.

Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal

The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. Picture: Torfaen County Borough Council

If you are looking for a bike ride or a peaceful walk, you’ll love the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal.

Passing through stunning countryside, the canal offers a great way to explore the local area.

There are also lots of places you can visit along the canal – such as the Fourteen Locks Canal & Heritage Centre near Newport, Goytre Wharf in Monmouthshire and Pontymoile Basin in Torfaen.

For those looking for a longer bike ride, the canal also offers popular cycle routes from Brecon to Newport, passing through the Brecon Beacons National Park.

National Museum Cardiff

A mammoth on display at National Museum Cardiff. Picture: National Museum Cardiff

With art, geology and history collections, there is so much to see at the National Museum Cardiff.

Families can go on a journey through time, by visiting The Evolution of Wales galleries. Starting in space with the Big Bang, the journey takes you on a 4,600 million-year journey of Wales’ history, with film, sound, light and spectacular specimens telling the story.

There are also natural history galleries and one of Europe’s finest art collections, with 500 years of artwork from Wales and across the world.

There is something to interest everyone, making it an ideal place to visit especially if it is a rainy day.