Merthyr Mawr is populated with charming thatched houses (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Nestled in the rolling green hills of Vale of Glamorgan, this easily accessible village is like stepping into a fairytale, fit with beautifully thatched cottages and stunning historical sites.

The Welsh village of Merthyr Mawr looks more like it belongs in the Cotswolds than a spot just a ten-minute drive away from Bridgend . With a modest 300 residents and no high street, this village is postcard perfect , and is in fact out of a film, with its famous nearby dunes used in the 1962 classic Lawrence of Arabia, as per Discover Britain.

A babbling brook winds its way through ancient forest land and Shire horses populate the blooming fields- and as a bonus - this hidden gem often has no crowds

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