About
Lanlay is a small fragment of pre-war farmland beside the River Ely at Peterston-super-Ely in the Vale of Glamorgan, five fields that escaped flail trimmers and fertilisers and have lain unchanged for decades. Sprawling hedgerows meet gnarled old oaks, scattered veteran trees and their fallen boughs shelter birds, bugs and bats, and the river along the northern edge is home to otters and kingfishers. Two footpaths wind from east to west through hay meadows that fill with colour in early summer, across Rhos pasture, a nationally rare habitat, and into open scrub slowly returning to woodland; a volunteer-run community orchard adds a pond and willow shelter. Reviewers call it tranquil and rugged rather than manicured, warning of deep mud at the stiles after cattle, loose barbed wire and a herd of horned cows in the fields. Tips from visitors: park on the road beside the meadows and expect no toilets. Dogs are welcome on leads. The footpaths link to the village's public footpath network.
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- CountrysideDawn to dusk
Opening times may change at short notice.
Open countryside from dawn to dusk every day; the Trust's calendar shows every day to 31 December 2026 fully open.
No toilets and no car park. Access is through kissing gates, stiles and unmade footpaths with narrow boardwalks; uneven walking, not suitable for prams or wheelchairs.
Dogs are welcome on leads. Cattle graze the fields and reviewers report deep mud around the stiles and loose barbed wire, so watch dogs and footing.
Photo: the National Trust gate and Lanlay sign at the entrance to the meadows. Alan Hughes, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lanlay_-_National_Trust_-_geograph.org.uk_-_5205222.jpg. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0. Resized and cropped for display; derivatives retain the source licence.
Dogs at the location: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs are welcome across the meadows on leads.
Dog walks in the grounds: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs on leads along the two footpaths through the meadows; cattle graze the fields and the stiles can be deep in mud. Free access, no ticket needed.
Leads: On leads throughout; cattle graze the fields.
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Walking routes1 route
Lanlay meadow footpaths(opens the full route on the National Trust site)
WalkDogs, with restrictions
