FAMILIES can have a whale of a time with the winter of fun at Vale of Glamorgan coasts.

The events are delivered by Beach Academy Wales, on behalf of Vale of Glamorgan Council, with funding through the Welsh Government winter of wellbeing programme.

Places are free but limited, so they must be booked in advance for each person attending – with children to be accompanied by an adult.

Here’s what is lined up in Barry as part of the festivities:

Whale trail

  • On Saturday, February 19 - the day before World Whale Day - youngsters can head to Whitmore Bay, Barry Island, to learn more about these creatures with the whale trail. This will be from 10.30am to midday, then from 12.30pm to 2pm.

Barry And District News: Whitmore Bay (Picture: Vale of Glamorgan Camera Club member Kathy Edwards)Whitmore Bay (Picture: Vale of Glamorgan Camera Club member Kathy Edwards)

  • Alternatively, on World Whale Day - Sunday, February 20 - the whale trail will be at Porthkerry Country Park from 11.30am to 1pm.

Seashell discovery

  • Later in the month, on Saturday, February 26, there will be seashell discovery at Porthkerry Country Park. Children can learn about the top 20 shells and the animals which made them between 10am and 11.30am.

Barry And District News: Porthkerry Country Park (Picture: Vale of Glamorgan Camera Club member Christopher Davies(Porthkerry Country Park (Picture: Vale of Glamorgan Camera Club member Christopher Davies(

Seals of South Wales

  • On Sunday, March 6, the International Day of the Seal will be celebrated with the opportunity for people to learn more about these marine mammals. The afternoon session is fully booked, with some spaces (at the time of publication) for 10.30am to midday.

How to book your free place

To find out about events across the Vale of Glamorgan as part of this programme go to www.visitthevale.com/events/winter-of-fun

To book your free slot for any of the events visit or see what else Beach Academy Wales has to offer visit www.beachacademywales.com/whatson

As demand for tickets is high people are asked to be considerate when booking and make every effort to attend the session that they order tickets for. Ticket holders who are unable to attend are asked to e-mail beachacademywales@gmail.com so spaces can be re-allocated.