Beaches in Bridgend County Borough
Bridgend County Borough has seven beaches. All are in the Porthcawl area on the south west coast, and most are sandy, as well as easily accessible. Porthcawl is a well-known, busy holiday resort with several seaside amenities. These include a funfair, amusements, and plenty of accommodation.
Beaches to visit
This beach is our most easterly, and a ten minute walk from the picturesque village of Newton. It is sandy, rocky, and popular with windsurfers, jet skiers as well as power boat users.
Features
There are miles of sand there, although it is very rocky in parts. It is possible to walk through the Newton Burrows Dunes to the Ogmore’s mouth. The beach itself is next to the Merthyr Mawr dunes, which are the second largest in Europe. Many Welsh sports people train on one especially large dune which is known locally as ‘The Big Dipper’, and visitors often sled down it.
Lifeguard cover
Volunteer lifeguards patrol at certain times. However if there’s no flag, there’s no patrol.
Facilities and shops
There is a slipway, which the local boat club uses. Otherwise there are no facilities or shops, but Trecco Bay Holiday Park is a few minutes’ walk away with an array of refreshments and entertainment.
Child friendliness
There are no facilities on the beach for children. However Trecco Bay Holiday Complex has an amusement arcade, mini golf, swimming pool, Jungle Jims, park and various amusements to keep kids entertained.
Toilets
The closest toilets are in Trecco Bay Holiday Complex.
Parking
There is a pay and display car park.
Public transport
The beach is a ten minute walk from Newton village, which is easily reached by bus services to or from Porthcawl. First Bus run various direct services from Bridgend, Cardiff (X2) and Swansea. For the beach, alight at the Globe garage, and see Traveline Cymru’s website to plan a journey.
Pets
Dogs are allowed on the beach, but please collect and dispose of your dog’s waste.
Location
This is a quiet beach, which is popular with locals and surfers.
Best Features
The beach has golden sand with rocks and pebbles at the top. The shoreline itself is rocky, and there is an outcrop of pink stone, with many pebbles having the colour too. On nearby Sker point, there is a monument to the crew of the Mumbles lifeboat and the S.S. Santampa which is visible at low tide.
Lifeguard cover
There is lifeguard cover from early July to the end of August. If there’s no flag, there’s no lifeguard.
Facilities and shops
There are none.
Child friendliness
There are no facilities for children.
Toilets
The closest toilets are a 30-minute walk away at Rest Bay.
Parking
There are no close car parks as access to the beach is by foot. Rest Bay has the nearest car park.
Public Transport
First Bus runs bus services to Porthcawl. Various direct services go from Bridgend, Cardiff and Swansea. As Rest Bay is several miles from the town centre bus stop, you will either need to walk or use the road train. The latter goes from Porthcawl Promenade and stops at various points up to Rest Bay. Visit Traveline Cymru’s website to plan a journey.
Pets
Dogs are allowed on the beach, but please dispose of your dog’s waste.
Location
The beach is a 15-minute walk from Rest Bay alongside the Royal Porthcawl Golf Club.
Porthcawl.
Bridgend.
CF36 3PJ.
This is a popular Blue Flag beach with lots of golden sand and very few rocks. It is very popular for water sports, surfing, canoeing, kite/wind surfing and body boarding and rockpooling. Please don’t use jet skis.
Features
There are miles of fine, golden sand here. It is very good for walking, as you can go along the Wales Coast Path to Pink Bay and beyond.
Lifeguard cover
There is lifeguard cover from May to September. However if there’s no flag, there’s no lifeguard.
Facilities and shops
Rest Bay Watersports Centre houses a Surf Academy, a Beach Academy and Restaurant and Café bar. Toilets, showers, beach shop and first aid can also be found here. Read more about Rest Bay Watersports Centre.
Child friendliness
There is a lost children point.
Toilets
Toilets are situated at the Rest Bay Watersports Centre.
Parking
There is one pay and display car park next to the beach, and several parking bays for disabled drivers overlooking it.
Public transport:
First Bus runs bus services to Porthcawl. Various direct services go from Bridgend, Cardiff and Swansea. Rest Bay is several miles from the town centre bus stop, so you will either need to walk or join the road train. This starts at Porthcawl promenade and stops at various points en route. Visit Traveline Cymru to plan a journey.
Pets
No dogs are allowed on the beach from 1 May to 30 September.
Location
Porthcawl.
Bridgend.
CF36 3QB.
This is a popular beach with lots of golden sand and very few rocks.
Features
The beach has fine, golden sand.
Lifeguard cover
There is lifeguard cover from May to September. However if there’s no flag, there’s no lifeguard.
Facilities and shops
The beach is in front of a large fairground and seafront area with shops, cafés, fast food outlets and bars. Deck chairs are available. Also an open market operates during peak season. It is very close to Porthcawl harbour, where the pleasure steamers Waverley and Balmoral embark for the Bristol Channel and the Devon coastline.
Child friendliness
There is an entertainment complex with bowling, a food outlet, and amusements. Also the beach has donkey rides, and there are sometimes trampolines and bouncy castles.
Toilets
The entertainment complex has toilets with baby changing apparatus, and the Hi Tide bar has toilets too.
Parking
There are two car parks. One is beside the beach and the other is a few minutes’ walk away.
Public transport
First Bus runs a service to Porthcawl. Various direct services go from Bridgend, Cardiff and Swansea. See Traveline Cymru’s site to plan a journey.
Pets
No dogs are allowed on the beach from 1 May to 30 September.
Location
Mackworth Road,
Porthcawl,
Bridgend.
CF36 5BT.
This beach was partly tarmacked over in the 1980s to repair sea defences. Swimming is prohibited as the beach is very dangerous at certain stages of tide. In some places, the rocks are very sharp.
Features
It is great for exploring rock pools.
Lifeguard cover
There are no lifeguard patrols as swimming is prohibited.
Facilities and shops
This beach is close to all the town centre amenities such as cafés, toilets, shops, bars, and the Grand Pavilion. The latter offers a café bar and entertainment. A short walk along the promenade takes you to the harbour and RLNI boat station.
Child friendliness
There are no facilities on the beach. However, Coney beach and its fair and amusement arcade are a ten-minute walk away.
Toilets
The closest public toilets are in the Grand Pavilion. Also, there are some are a few minutes’ walk away in John Street in the town centre.
Parking
There is limited parking on the seafront and two pay and display car parks in Porthcawl.
Public Transport
First Bus runs the bus service to Porthcawl. Various direct services run from Bridgend, Cardiff and Swansea. Visit Traveline Cymru’s website to plan a journey.
Pets
No dogs are allowed on the beach from 1 May to 30 September.
Location
Beach Road,
Porthcawl.
CF36 5NE.
This beach is our most westerly, and is only accessible by walking from Rest Bay or Kenfig National Nature Reserve.
Features
It is mostly sandy and flat. The beach is largely used by locals, which makes it one of Porthcawl’s quieter beaches. It is very good for walking. At low tide, a plaque in memory of all the lives lost on the S.S. Santampa and the Mumbles lifeboat is visible. At very low tides, wreckage can still be found.
Lifeguard cover
Volunteer lifeguards patrol at certain times, but if there’s no flag, there’s no patrol.
Facilities and shops
There are none.
Child friendliness
There are no facilities for children.
Toilets
The closest toilets are a 40-minute walk away at Rest Bay or at Kenfig nature reserve.
Parking
There are no close car parks as access to the beach is by foot. The nearest car park is at Rest Bay or Kenfig Nature Reserve.
Public transport
It is not easily reached by public transport. First Bus runs services to Porthcawl, and various direct services run from Bridgend, Cardiff and Swansea. See Traveline Cymru’s website to plan a journey.
Pets
Dogs are allowed on the beach, but please dispose of your dog’s waste.
Location
It is reached by a 20-minute walk from Rest Bay along the Royal Porthcawl Golf Club.
Porthcawl.
Bridgend.
CF36 3RT.
This beach is next to Sandy Bay (Coney Beach) and a five minute walk away from Trecco Bay Holiday Park, which has excellent entertainment facilities.
Features
This is a large sandy Blue Flag beach with excellent water quality. Although only a few minutes from the Holiday Park, it is relatively quiet.
Lifeguard cover
Lifeguards patrol from May to September, but remember that if there’s no flag, there’s no patrol.
Facilities and shops
There are no facilities or shops. However the Trecco Bay Holiday Complex is a few minutes’ walk away and offers a variety of refreshments.
Child friendliness
There are no facilities on the beach for children, but Trecco Bay Holiday Complex is nearby. It has an amusement arcade, mini golf, Splashland swimming pool, Jungle Jims, park and various other amusements.
Toilets
The closest toilets are in Trecco Bay Holiday Complex.
Parking
There is no designated car park, but there is a small car park behind the rear of the holiday complex close to the beach.
Public transport
The beach is a ten minute walk from Newton village, which is easily reached by public transport. First Bus runs services to and from Porthcawl, and passengers should alight at the Globe Garage. Various direct services run from Bridgend, Cardiff (X2) and Swansea. Visit Traveline Cymru’s website to plan a journey.
Pets
No dogs are allowed on the beach from 1 May to 30 September.
Location
Trecco Bay can be reached either via the Trecco Bay Holiday Complex or by walking from Newton beach, which is a few minutes’ walk away.
Porthcawl.
Bridgend.
CF36 5DB.
Water quality
Natural Resources Wales assesses water quality at chosen sites in Wales. From May to September, weekly tests measure water quality, and at several sites, there are daily pollution risk forecasts. Annual ratings class each site as excellent, good, sufficient or poor based on readings taken over four years.