[1] Go from Cosmeston car park to the nearest lakeside. Turn left and take boardwalk passing behind the café. After the end of the boardwalk follow the path along the lake side straight ahead until you get to a wide cross track just before the second lake.
(A) Cosmeston Country Park contains two lakes created by flooding disused quarries and they attract large flocks of waterfowl which include impressive numbers of mute swans, mallards and diving birds such as the great crested grebe. Situated within the country park is a reconstructed 14th century medieval village which surrounds the remains of a medieval dovecote.
[2] Turn left, following track for 100 metres, passing the first kissing gate which is opposite a metalled lane, and then go through the second kissing gate on your right with a waymark on it, opposite a wooden gate that is the entrance to the medieval village.
[3] Bear slightly left and uphill, keeping just to the right of some hedges. Then go through gateway ahead at field corner. Keep to the left edge of field as it curves to the right and then to the left. There are views on the right over woods and Cosmeston lakes. Look out for partly hidden stile on the left about 100 metres before fence at end of field. Go over stile to left then immediately turn and go over second stile which brings you into corner of next field.
[4] Now head diagonally left uphill towards some small hillocks on skyline. Pass to the right of these. Two gates are now ahead. Go through the one on the right. Then keeping to left field edge, walk to the right of the barns and leave farm at stile in corner of field, near farmhouse. Walk down farm entrance drive to road.
[5] Cross to road opposite (Cog Road), signposted "Sully ¾ -Barry 3". Walk along this road for about 500 metres to Sully. There is no footpath, so take care, especially on bends. Continue on this road (Cog Road), through the village for about 750 metres, ignoring side turns. Look out for Sully Inn on the left then turn left past the church.
[6] Walk past the bus shelter and, about 40 metres beyond it (opposite the end of the old school), cross the road and take the signed footpath at the kissing gate.
[7] Take this path to sea front.
[8] Go left in front of houses on the coastal path past an old boat slipway. Keep to the coast path for about 1km as, on the landward side, you pass houses, sports field, boatyard and more houses. A large sports field is ahead. Keep to the perimeter path of this, above the beach.
(B) The attractive view ahead now shows three islands; from the left, Flat Holm, Sully Island and Steep Holm.
[9] For the sure-footed, just before the fenced caravan park look out for a gap in the hedge on your right and take a steep path down the bank on to the beach. Turn left and walk for 200 metres over fairly flat, but broken and in parts slippery, rock and then go up stone steps to cafes, a pub and Swanbridge car park.
If the tide is high or you wish to avoid a beach section, keep to sports field path, pass to the left of caravan park and join road where fence ends. Go right and then down road to cafes, the pub and Swanbridge car park.
It is possible to walk over to Sully Island from here at low tide. But check tide times carefully, the island is usually only accessible for about 2 hours either side of low water and the incoming tide is very dangerous.
[10] Walk east across the car park keeping to coast until you reach a small gateway which takes you onto coastal road. Follow this road for about 1.5kms to the B4267 Penarth-Sully road. Cross this road to track opposite, where there are Cosmeston Park notices on a gate. Walk on and the recreated medieval village soon appears on the right. Take the metalled (concrete) lane on right, signed to the village, and then, unless you want to visit the village, go left at village entrance, over bridge and boardwalk to regain car park.