What to do and see in Bridgend County, Wales: The Best Free Things to do

Porthcawl RNLI Lifeboat Station is an operational inshore lifeboat station where the volunteer crew provide an on-call 24/7 search and rescue lifeboat service. The station houses both a D Class and an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat. The station has a gift shop which is open daily and it's possible to view the lifeboats and tractors from the shop (when they're housed within the boathouse). On weekends the main boathouse is often open to the public with volunteer visit guides on hand to answer any questions. The lifeboats are launched on training exercise most Sunday mornings between 10am-12pm. Porthcawl RNLI was Wales' busiest RNLI station in 2018, launching 112 times - assisting 144 people, saving 8 lives. The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea.

Maple is a family run business with six shops in John Street, Porthcawl. We sell a fabulous selection of products to suit every budget and occasion. At Maple chocolates we stock a huge selection of luxury handmade chocolates and gifts from East of India and Jellycat among others. Maple Gifts is home to jewellery brands including Nomination and Clogau; Emma Bridgewater pottery and a large range of gorgeous glassware, there is even a cookshop upstairs! Beautiful children's clothes & toys are available at Little Maple and a massive range of cards, candles, balloons & gifts are always in stock at Robyns Nest and Greetings. Last but certainly not least we have a year round eclectic mix of all things unusual and from October there is a 'not to be missed' Christmas selection at Seasons.

The 247 acre Parc Slip Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve with its brand NEW VISITOR CENTRE has something for everyone: A variety of different habitat types supporting many different species for wildlife enthusiasts. A safe area for families to discover and enjoy nature. For cyclists, well-maintained traffic-free cycle tracks, including a 4km stretch of Sustrans National Cycle Route 4. Over 10km of tracks for dog walking, with water and free dog waste bags available at the Visitor Centre. Accessible paths on the Nature Reserve for wheelchairs, walking sticks and for those with sight problems. The Centre and Coffee Shop are fully accessible. ACCESS into and throughout the Reserve is exceptional; with dipping platforms near the Visitor Centre, access-for-all pathways, cycle ways, natural pathways, bird hides and picnic benches. And some Events put on here take you deep into some normally hidden parts of the Reserve. The Visitor Centre with its large free car park is set in open countryside but right by the road, and just a few miles from Bridgend. Northern Wetlands HideNorthern Wetlands Hide. NEW FOR 2013 is the freshly reopened Parc Slip Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre with Coffee Shop and upstairs Discovery Room, which is available for hire. A new events programme, with activities including wildlife surveys and guided walks, is running from the Visitor Centre. And there are many exciting developments planned for the Nature Reserve, such as the new arable crop field to provide a seed crop for breeding birds.

Formerly known as The Hospice, St John's House is the oldest habitable dwelling in the town, c.1511. Described by the Royal Commission as: "A Hearth Passage house, the crenellated beams at The Hospice are the only known domestic examples in Glamorgan; the architectural detail is not only of high quality but increasingly lavish timber detail signals the hierarchy of rooms." The house is open on the second Sunday and last Saturday of each month (except December): 11am - 3pm.