Colwinston to Cowbridge - 5 Miles

This is a short walk that is unusual in that it is possible to do it on a Sunday. It takes in three pubs, more if you decide to have mini pub crawl in Cowbridge at the end. If you do the walk on a Sunday then I'd recommend the Red Fox for a roast dinner.

Map

Start at Cardiff Bus station and get the First X2 from stand B5 (timetables). The bus is every half an hour on Saturday and every two hours on Sunday. You need to buy an all day pass which will cost £5.75.
Stay on the bus for around 40 minuets resisting the temptation to get off in Cowbridge. After Cowbridge the bus goes on to the A48 and after 3 minutes goes goes though Penre Meyrick. Wait until the bus has gone past a another junction before pressing the button to be dropped of at Colwinston Turn bus stop.
Walk back up the hill (back in the direction the bus came from) after 50 yards turn right down the road signposted "Colwinston Tregolwyn". Continue down this road for 300 yards and turn right down the road once again sign posted as "Colwinston Tregolwyn 1". Continue on this road for half a mile until the road enters the village and does a sharp turn to the left. Here there is a brown sign pointing towards the "Sycamore Inn". This is the first stop (photo). Unfortunately this is a Brains pub. But as Brains pubs go it is one of the better.
After leaving the pub turn left and rejoin the main road through the middle of the village. As you walk through the village try not to think how much the houses here must cost; it will only make you cry. After 200 yards you come to the edge of the village. Turn right down the road signposted "Llysworney". Almost immediately take a left turn down what looks like someones drive (photo). There is a footpath sigh here with the yellow arrow but it is well hidden (photo). After 40 yards you enter a large field. Continue in the same direction following the rocky debris of some old road. At the far edge of the field continue over the stile. Keeping the farm to your right continue across another field. When you have passed the farm go over a double set of stiles (with the yellow arrows, see photo). Head towards to far right corner of this field and from here you join a small road (photo). Stay on this road for most 1 mile until you enter Penre Meyrick.
Cross over the busy A48 and follow the yellow arrow sign post down the road sign post "St Marys Hotel". Turn off to the right after 150 yards down the road signposted only with a yellow arrow. Continue for 500 yards until you enter the village of Penllyn. Here turn left past the church. After 100 yards you will come to the Red Fox pub (photo) which is the second stop. The Red Fox is a good pub if a little posh. The food here is good but if you're planning on having Sunday lunch here you should book ahead.
Once you've left the pub turn left and head back though the village. Turn left though the metal gates immediately after the church. After 100 yards a friendly sign (photo) tells you to turn off the drive and onto the footpath, which leads you into a large field. Head for the far left corner. Go over the stile and then head for the corner of the wall. Go over the stile marked with a yellow arrow and walk towards the far right of the field. If it's a clear day head towards the radio transmitter you can see in the distance. The woods to the right of this field are used for paint balling so don't be surprised if you hear some shouting and shooting coming from them. At the far side of the field the paths goes down a step hill. Climb over the difficult stone stile with metal bars across in and descend down the steep stony hill. Climb over the stile. Here you can turn use the footpath over the field, but the going is tough. Instead take the road the runs directly to the right of the farm buildings. This road is new and (at the time of writing) is not on any of the aerial photo's I use for my maps. Follow the road past the farm and after 300 yards you will come out on a busy road. Turn right and follow the road under the M4 and into Cowbridge. Continue for 200 yard until you are in the centre of Cowbridge.
Here you can choose from the many pubs including The Bear and the Duke of Wellington, but I would recommend the Vale of Glamorgan. This is a lovely pub with and open fire, nice court yard beer garden and a good range of beers.
Use the bus stop outside Lloyds to get the X2 bus back into Cardiff.