places to visit near porthcawl wales

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Get Away from It All with a Stay at a Self Catering Cottage in Wales

When it comes to getting away from it all and enjoying some rest and relaxation, there is no better place than a self-catering cottage in Wales. With its stunning landscapes, vibrant culture and friendly locals, Wales is the perfect destination for a peaceful getaway. Here’s why you should consider booking a self-catering cottage in Wales for your next holiday.

The Natural Beauty of Wales

Wales is renowned for its beautiful landscapes, with rolling hills, lush green forests and stunning coastlines. From the Brecon Beacons to Snowdonia National Park, there are plenty of opportunities to explore the great outdoors and take in the breathtaking scenery. Whether you’re looking for an active holiday or just want to relax and enjoy the views, a self-catering cottage in Wales is the perfect way to experience all that this stunning country has to offer.

The Local Culture and Cuisine

Wales has a rich culture that can be experienced through its traditional music, art and language. There are plenty of festivals throughout the year that celebrate Welsh culture, such as the National Eisteddfod and the Hay Festival. And if you’re looking for something more low-key, you can always visit one of the many local pubs or restaurants for some delicious Welsh cuisine. A stay at a self-catering cottage in Wales gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in this vibrant culture.

Peaceful Accommodation Options

A self-catering cottage in Wales provides all the comforts of home while giving you total privacy and peace of mind. Whether you’re looking for a romantic retreat or just want to get away from it all with your family or friends, there are plenty of options available to suit your needs. You can choose from cosy cottages nestled in rural villages or luxurious properties with spectacular views of the countryside – whatever your preference, there’s sure to be something that will make your stay extra special.

So if you’re looking for an unforgettable holiday experience, why not book a self-catering cottage in Wales? With its beautiful landscapes, vibrant culture and peaceful accommodation options, it’s sure to be an unforgettable trip.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

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Things to Do in Porthcawl, Bridgend County - Porthcawl Attractions

Things to do in porthcawl, tours near porthcawl.

Top Attractions in Porthcawl

1. Porthcawl Museum

2. Rest Bay Beach

3. The Grand Pavilion

4. Newton Bay Beach

5. Porthcawl RNLI Lifeboat Station

6. Wales Coast Path boardwalk

7. Adventures Activity Centre

8. St. John The Baptist Church

9. Coney Beach Amusement Park

10. Royal Porthcawl Golf Club

11. Town Beach

12. St. John's Well

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Cardiff Castle

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Rhossili bay Beach

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Gnoll Country Park

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Traditional seaside fun.

Come and catch your breath at Porthcawl, anytime of year. Get adventurous at our new Watersports Centre, or test your skills at one of the world’s finest golf courses, Royal Porthcawl. Enjoy funfair rides, ice cream and spectacular sunsets in summer, or cosy up in a seafront café after a winter walk along the beach.

Just behind the seafront Esplanade, you’ll find an exciting range of independent shops and cafés, alongside high street brands. On the harbour is the RNLI station and Wales’ oldest listed bonded warehouse, the Jennings Building, which is now a bustling waterside spot with cafés and restaurants.

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September 14, 2023

Take an American trail through Bridgend County

Inspired by this month’s Elvis Festival and Visit Wales’ Year of Trails, we’re taking you on a star-spangled journey through Bridgend County that delves into some intriguing connections with the USA, forged in history and still existing today! Come along on our American trail through Bridgend County

Activities and Attractions in

Adventures Outdoor Activity Centre

Beach Academy Wales

Blast Kiteboarding

Grove Golf Club

Coney Beach Pleasure Park

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Grand Pavilion Theatre

Sight Seeing

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Porthcawl - Newton Beach

19 Mary Street (The Place To Stay Wales)

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30 Locks Lane

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39 John Street (The Place To Stay Wales)

Ballas Farm Country Guest House

Brodawel Camping & Caravan Park

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Porthcawl Green Top Market - November

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Places to Visit In and Around Porthcawl

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Things to do in Porthcawl

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Bryngarw Country Park

Set in over 100 acres of parkland, Bryngarw Country Park is a glorious sanctuary for both people and wildlife alike.

Coed-Y-Mwstwr Golf Club

18 hole golf course in Bridgend, South Glamorgan.

JumpINGym Soft Play at Maesteg Sports Centre

Looking for indoor fun to entertain the kids?JumpINGyms offer a great day out for little ones to explore, meet new friends and jump the day away.

South Wales Miners' Museum

Wales' first volunteer run miners' museum. Find us in the Afan Valley Forest Park north of Port Talbot.

Toots Play Centre and Balloon Emporium

Toots play centre is a play centre in Neath for children of all ages. Softplay ages 0-10 and trampolines for all ages.

Gnoll Country Park

230 acres of parkland. Voted the best picnic spot in Wales in 2010.

Bracelet Bay Beach

Beautiful Bracelet Bay beach is just around Mumbles' head. Its rocky shoreline is award winning, and it's great for ice cream.

Swansea Marina

Swansea Marina is situated in the perfect location between the beach and the city centre.

Swansea Castle

Swansea's medieval fortress has withstood siege, rebellion and the Blitz - a true survivor at the heart of the city.

Plantasia Tropical Zoo

Crawl through the brush and come face to face with pythons and tarantulas. Dare to soar with the birds up in the canopy! Explore this magical world!

Tenpin Swansea

Our entertainment centres are brimming with thrilling activities, whether it's a birthday party, a night out with friends, or a family gathering.

Grosvenor Casino Swansea

Perfect day and night desintation with a resuarant, bar, poker and much more.

Langland Bay beach

Langland Bay beach is family friendly and offers a great range of facilities. Explorers can also enjoy the coastal clifftop walk around to Caswell Bay.

Warren Mill Farm Park

Come and see Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Rare breeds of Sheep, Goats, Pigs and piglets, Miniature Ponies, Donkeys, Alpacas and our laughing Kookaburra!

Lazy Frog Floatation Centre

Floatation Centre, Sensory Deprivation Floatation Tanks, infra-red sauna and therapies.

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Local Attractions

Tourist attractions in the area include sandy beaches, a theatre known as the Grand Pavilion, Coney Beach fun fair (modelled on Coney Island in New York) along with a Museum and three golf courses and much more.

Porthcawl Promenade

Built in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, Porthcawl’s promenade runs along the seafront from Lock’s Common in the west to the harbour, before joining the Eastern Promenade and leading to Coney Beach and Griffin Park. The promenade was restored in 1996. There are many cafes, bars, restaurants and hotels along the promenade, which offers views across the Bristol Channel.

Harbour Quarter

Porthcawl Lifeboat Station, purpose-built in 1995, is situated near the harbour. The station operates an Atlantic 85-class lifeboat and a D-class IB1 inflatable lifeboat. ‘Cosy Corner’ is currently being re-developed by Bridgend County Borough Council, which over the years has housed a theatre, cinema, roller skating rink and ballroom.

The Jennings Building, built in 1832, is a grade II listed building and Wales’ oldest maritime warehouse. The building was identified as a potentially important facility as part of the Porthcawl Regeneration Strategy. It now houses three hospitality businesses, each unique in their own right.

At the end of Porthcawl jetty stands a white lighthouse built in 1860. The lighthouse is currently in use as a navigational aid. Porthcawl Lighthouse was the last coal and gas-powered lighthouse in the UK. It switched to being powered by North Sea gas in 1974, before becoming powered by electricity in 1997. The jetty and surrounding area are popular spots for sea fishing.

Further information on local attractions, places to visit, accommodation and events in Porthcawl and the surrounding areas can be found at:- https://www.visitbridgend.co.uk/market-town/porthcawl https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/visit-us/

How to spend 48 hours in Porthcawl

There's more to the seaside resort than donkey rides and fun at the fair

• 12:03, 23 APR 2017
• Updated 13:12, 23 APR 2017

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One of the great British seaside resorts in its heyday, miners came from the Valleys to Porthcawl for their summer holidays.

And while the era of Punch of Judy may have passed, the town still pulls in the visitors today.

There are seven beaches, an esplanade, traditional fairground, town museum and the Grand Pavilion theatre . And if you like the outdoors, you'll be spoilt.

Where is it?

The town is on the South Wales coast between Swansea and Cardiff, in the county borough of Bridgend.

How do I get there?

The bad news is there’s no railway station - you can travel to Pyle (four miles away) and Bridgend (seven miles) - but your best bet is to drive.

There are also First Cymru bus routes from Swansea (two stops) and Cardiff (the direct X2 takes around 90 minutes), and it’s a 45-minute drive from Cardiff Airport.

Where to stay

There’s no shortage of places to stay, whatever your budget.

For a start, it's home to the massive Parkdean Holiday Park at Trecco Bay, where you can stay in a caravan or lodge.

If you like camping, sites to park up your motorhome or pitch a tent include the Hi-Tide at Sandy Bay, where they host free fireworks displays in the summer and are known for tribute and cabaret nights.

Or for a more peaceful setting, try Brodawel Camping Park, on the outskirts of Nottage.

Prefer a hotel? You’ll get some of the best views across the Bristol Channel at the three-star Fairways Hotel (West Drive, king with breakfast from £90) from its recently refurbished orangery.

Or stay at a luxurious guesthouse like Foam Edge (9 West Drive, double with breakfast from £90), which has a top Tripadvisor rating, great views and well-rated breakfasts.

Closer to town, boutique bed and breakfast Olivia House (44 Esplanade Ave, double with breakfast from £85) is an Edwardian townhouse, where you could land yourself a roll top bath.

Air BnB offerings include charming 200-year-old cottage the Nook (From £99 per night), with inglenook fireplaces and stone floors, accommodating four guests.

What to eat and drink

Definitely fish and chips. There are plenty of outlets competing for your custom - and every local will have their own favourite.

Join the queue at Beales (2-3 Eastern Promenade), stroll up Station Hill to Finnegans (16 New Road), or if you’re in town, there’s Well Street Fish & Chips (13-14 Well Street).

For Italian gelato, head to Pietro’s (32 Esplanade), or enjoy a cappuccino with a view from inside the glass Piccolo Bar on the seafront itself.

When the sun’s shining, bag a seat on the terrace of the Waterfront pub (27-29 Esplanade), which is a great spot for people watching.

When night draws in, head a few doors up to Cosy Corner Lounge (33 The Esplanade) for a bespoke G&T. The restaurant and cocktail bar is winning rave reviews for dishes like Welsh lamb, rib-eye steaks and fish. They also do a good breakfast and Sunday lunch.

While at 19 Mary Street , there’s traditional Spanish tapas from boquerones and piquillos peppers to braised ox cheese and albondigas, and a drinks menu specialising in mojitos and sherry.

If you’re in the mood for a curry, there’s only one option but it’s a good one, the Jaipur (34 Esplanade).

Where to shop

If you love rooting through charity shops, head to the main shopping street, John Street.

You'll also find independent boutiques like The Closet (3 Well St) for women's fashion, Koko (20 Well Street) for jewellery and Bliss (50 John St) for homeware.

At surf shop Porthcawl Marine (20 New Road), you'll find all the gear for surf life, from wetsuits to boards, as well as the local tide times.

If you’re putting together a picnic, Home and Colonial (64 John Street) sells homemade treats from Welsh cakes to scrumptious scotch eggs.

A recent addition to town is seafood deli The Fishmonger's Cat (14 John Street).

Other shops to visit include the RNLI shop (Eastern Promenade, near Porthcawl Pier) for nautical gifts and clothing sold to support the charity.

And if you're a keen gardener check out the The Vineries nursery (263 New Road), run by local florist AJ Guttridge.

Elvis fans should visit on September 22-24 during Porthcawl Elvis Festival when the town goes ballistic for the King and you’ll find an impersonator crooning on every corner. If you’re not, then stay away!

If you’re planning a visit over Christmas, head to Coney Beach mid-morning to watch the locals take their traditional dip in the chilly sea.

The Christmas morning swim has been running for 50 years come snow or rain, and if you’re brave enough, you're welcome to join them.

Newton beer and pop festival is the town’s biggest outdoor music event. It’s held on the village green and in 2017, it’s happening during the summer bank holiday, August 26.

Things to do

1. Walk the Wales Coastal Path

There are plenty of walking routes, and you can head east or west along the rocky coastline.

For an afternoon walk, it's three miles from the prom to Sker Point, over grassy Locks Common (check out the Miami-style houses on your right), through surfers' favourite Rest Bay, along a wooden boardwalk to Pink Bay, named after the glow of pebbles sloping down to the sea.

Sker Point is the town’s most westerly sands and at low tide you can see a memorial to the crew of the SS Santampa and Mumbles Lifeboat at Sker Point.

There are also great walks from Newton Beach to Ogmore, and at Kenfig Nature Reserve.

2. Tee off at one of the UK’s best golf courses

You can see the sea from every hole at the prestigious Royal Porthcawl , where you could be tested by the wind.

Built in the late 19th century, it has hosted the Walker Cup and Welsh Championship. There are time frames every day when visitors can play (18 holes from £130).

Also welcoming visiting players is the Grove (18 holes from £16pp) and scenic links course Pyle and Kenfig (from £60pp).

3. Spend an afternoon at the beach

From sandy to rocky, and bustling to remote, there are seven very different beaches to explore.

Fly a kite, search for crabs in the rock pools or ride the waves on a bodyboard.

Busier Coney Beach has donkey rides for children and is in front of the fairground, whereas surfers and locals tend to head for the golden sands of Rest Bay, which has been awarded Blue Flag status.

At Newton Beach, you'll see powerboats and jetskis, and its long sands are a popular place for dog walkers and horse riders.

There's also Trecco Bay, Sker beach, Pink Bay and the seafront beach, known locally as "the Tarmac" because its flood defences.

4. Take a surfing or paddle board lesson

Lessons are held all year round. A two-hour lesson including equipment with Porthcawl Surf School at Rest Bay starts from £30pp.

You can also have a go at trickier stand-up paddle boarding in the calmer waters of Coney Beach and Newton Bay.

5. Join the parkrun

It has grown in popularity, and now you'll spot hordes of runners along the seafront every Saturday morning at 9am for a 5km race against the clock.

It's free and suitable for all levels of fitness, but they do ask that you register first .

6. Take a #benchselfie

Yes, Porthcawl is home to the world’s first selfie bench.

At least that’s what the council claimed to bemused locals, when they installed two seafront benches with great views of… the road.

Don’t forget to hashtag your pictures on Instagram with #selfiebench.

7. Walk the pier

Obviously not when there are gale force winds.

You'll recognise this iconic landmark from the national newspaper front pages.

Photographers flock to Porthcawl to capture spectacular pictures of the waves breaking whenever there's a storm.

On a calmer day, take a walk right to the end, where it's likely you'll find some fishermen. In the height of summer, you'll spot local children "pier-jumping" when the tides in.

8. Sink a pint on a village green

If it's a sunny day, spread out on one of the town's village greens.

Nottage, easily walked from town, is surrounded by three historic village pubs, the Rose and Crown , the Swan Inn and the Farmers Arms . All serve food.

While at Newton Green, you'll find the Jolly Sailor and Ancient Briton .

Here, the green sits in front of the beautiful, medieval St John's Church.

There's also a children's playground with an historic well that's said to be "magical", and it's a two-minute walk to Newton beach.

9. Explore the coast on a fat bike

A shared cycle path now runs all the way from Rest Bay to Sandy Bay.

But you can also go off-road on a fat bike. It has oversized tyres to make it easier to ride on soft, unstable terrain like sand and mud. It's a great way to explore the coastline.

Porthcawl Bike Hire (Buccaneer Complex, Mackworth Road) offer fat bike hire as well as guided tours for half or full-day adventures (£20 for half-day hire or £55 for a half day tour).

10. Travel on the world's last seagoing paddle steamer

The Waverley has been sailing across the Bristol Channel for 70 years.

You can take a day trip from Porthcawl pier to the Devon seaside town of Ilfracombe this September.

Check the timetable at Waverley Excursions .

11. Visit one of Wales' best wildlife habitats

See a wide variety of rare and endangered species of plants and animals at Kenfig Nature Reserve , including rare orchids, golden plovers and tufted ducks.

There are bird hides, a large natural pool and a visitor centre.

There are plenty of huge sand dunes to sledge/roll down, which are said to hide a lost medieval town and castle below.

Plus it's opposite thistoric 16th century inn, The Prince of Wales .

And if you've got children...

Bring your scooters as the promenade is lovely and flat, with plenty of ice-cream stops.

You’ll probably have no choice but to visit Coney Beach funfair (seasonal), once your little ones spot the flashing lights of the Beach Party swinging back and forth, as you drive into town.

It's a small fairground, a little faded compared to what it once was, but you'll find the classics like bumper cars and waltzers to a ghost train.

Treat yourself to a bag of fried doughnuts and look out for value deals for days when rides cost £1.

Crafty Little Creations (2 Esplanade House) is a cafe where you can join in pottery painting experiences and craft sessions.

There’s playgrounds at Griffin Park and a skate park at Heol-y-Goedwig, which caused a stir because of its interesting shape .

You can also use facilities as a day visitor (payable) at Parkdean Holiday Park inlcuding a pirate-themed indoor swimming pool, an outdoor splash pad, Jungle Jim's soft play area and adventure golf.

Further afield?

Margam Country Park, with its castle, orangery and deer park, is a 15-minute drive away.

As is Bridgend Designer Outlet , where you can pick up designer labels like Ted Baker, Tommy Hilfiger, Levis and Calvin Klein Jeans at discounted prices.

You're within easy distance of Swansea and Cardiff for day trips, as well as the Glamorgan Heritage Coast for more beautiful coastline.

Are you a Porthcawl local? Or a frequent visitor? We've love to hear your recommendations. Just comment below.

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