15 Beaches Near Cardiff You Should Visit For A Calming Week
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Beaches Around Cardiff

Three Cliffs Bay Beach,  Splott Beach,  Sand Bay, Pebble Beach, Rest Bay Beach,  Penarth Beach,  Aberavon Beach, and many more.

If you are looking to spend some quiet time away from the city, its busy life and the hustle-bustle, then simply head over to the many beaches around Cardiff. You can relax and unwind at the backs of the beautiful beaches around Cardiff lined with golden, glistening sands and listen to the sound of the waves, reaching the shore and crashing against the rocks. 

If you are planning to indulge in some adventurous water sports then you should head to Rest Bay Beach for some surfing lessons. Try Kayaking, rafting, or canoeing at the Cardiff International White Water or the Barry Island Beach. Geology enthusiasts can spend some time spotting fossils from the past at Pebble Beach, Penarth Beach, and Llantwit Major Beach. Some of the most picturesque sites here are found at the Three Cliffs Bay Beach or the Splott Beach and get beautiful pictures clicked to step up your Insta game.

Here are some of the best beaches near Cardiff:

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01

Rest Bay Beach

  • Rest Bay Beach is located at Porthcawl and is one of the most popular beaches near Cardiff.
  • The waters here are surrounded by golden sands, rock pools, and low cliffs.
  • To the north of this beach lies the towns of Port Talbot and to its west you can find Ogmore.
  • This beach is recognized as the site that commemorated Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee back in 1887.
  • You can take a stroll at this beach or visit the many cafes, bars, restaurants, and hotels along this beach.
  • For adventure lovers, this is also a popular spot for water sports.
  • You can also take your out time for surfing lessons from the local experts at the Porthcawl Surf School.
 
Location: Lock’s Common Road, CF36 3UP, Porthcawl, Wales

Opening Hours: 24 hours

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02

Pebble Beach

  • Pebble Beach gets its name from the long stretch of steep pebbles that surrounds the water of the beach.
  • This beach is more famously known as Cold Knap Beach and is located a mile’s distance from the beach resorts at Barry.
  • This is a peaceful and quiet beach where you can spend some time away from city life and its hustle-bustle.
  • You will definitely feel a sense of calmness surrounding you as the gushing wind will hit your face and engulf you in its breeze.
  • If you are a geology enthusiast then you can explore different sediments found in the cliffs at the western end of the beach.
 
Location: Cold Knap Way, Barry CF62 6SQ, United Kingdom

Opening Hours:
Open 24 hours

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03

Sand Bay

  • This is one of those perfect beaches around Cardiff where you can spend a day out in the sun with your entire family.
  • This beach gets its name from a long sandy strip which is interestingly called  ‘Weston-super-Mare’s hidden gem.’
  • This beach is a forty-five minutes drive from the Bristol Channel in South Wales.
  • It makes a perfect place to enjoy the summer season in Cardiff and unwind with your family.
  • A few of the best things that make this place different from other beaches near Cardiff is that here, you can go horse-riding, take your dog for a walk or a swim, and feast on some treats from the ice cream van. 
 
Location: Weston-super-Mare, United Kingdom
 
Opening Hours: Open year-round

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04

Three Cliffs Bay Beach

  • How does a scenic beach with a golden shoreline and rock pools sound to you? The Three Cliffs Bay Beach is one of the most spectacular beaches near Cardiff.
  • The credit for its name goes to the three limestone cliffs in the backdrop of the beach that you will not be able to take your eyes off.
  • This beach is perfectly lined with sand dunes, salt marsh and also has the Pennard Pill stream running through it.
  • Once you are here you should definitely try to take as many photographs as possible for your social media.
  • This beach is also one of the great spots for a picnic.
  • However, owing to high tides and strong currents, people are advised not to engage in watersports and games here.
 
Location: Penmaen, Gower, SA3 2HB

Opening Hours:
Do check out the tide timings before visiting

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05

Bendricks Beach Cardiff

  • Located close to the Barry resort in South Wales, Bendricks Beach is lesser-known among the other beaches near Cardiff.
  • It’s a small section of sand and sediment of rocky pebbles which are exposed during low tides.
  • It is believed that fossilized dinosaur footprints can be found in the rocks here.
  • Some of these rocks have even been excavated and are now at the Cardiff Museum.

Location:
Barry CF63 3DH, United Kingdom

Opening Hours:
Open 24 hours

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06

Splott Beach Cardiff

  • Sandwiched between the Bristol Channel and the Tremorfa wastewater treatment plant lies Splott beach.
  • Unlike the other golden beaches around Cardiff, this is a white sandy beach that is a nature retreat for locals and tourists.
  • This beach is usually quiet and less crowded which makes it the perfect go-to spot if what you are craving is some peaceful time with nature and away from life’s stress.
  • This is a great spot for photographers as there is a fascinating jumble of an array of industrial objects here that can be photographed.

Location:
FVF5+5V, Cardiff, United Kingdom

Opening Hours
: Open 24 hours

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07

Penarth Beach

  • If you are looking for popular beaches near Cardiff then the Penarth resort lies just to the south of the city.
  • This beach is filled with pebbles that along the path turn into sand.
  • This beach is quite popular among the locals and you can find a lot of people swimming in the blue water of this beach.
  • You can take a walk along the beach and try to find fossils on the way.
  • Spend some time here while you spot famous attractions like Bristol Channel, Weston-super-Mare, and the Steep Holm and Flat Holm islands.
  • There are also several restaurants around this beach and this place is well-equipped with parking spaces and toilets.
 
Location: Penarth, United Kingdom
 
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours

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08

Barry Island Beach

  • The Barry Island beach offers a great seaside experience and is a picturesque spot.
  • Barry island covers several distinct bays including Whitmore Bay, Nell’s Point, Jackson Bay, and the Old Harbor beach.
  • Owing to this, Barry’s beach is a large expanse of sand visible during the low tides.
  • You can indulge in swimming or trying out delicious fish and chips, ice-creams, and sundaes.
  • You can also play sports like volleyball, snorkeling, windsurfing, sea-kayaking, and fishing at this beach.

Location:
Barry, Wales

Opening Hours:
Open year-round for 24 hours

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09

Llantwit Major Beach

  • Llantwit Major Beach around Cardiff is famous for the fossils that can be found here on the cliffs.
  • This is one of those beaches near Cardiff that is filled with pebbles and rocks.
  • Due to this one has to make sure that they can manage to climb through slippery rocks.
  • You can look at the scenic views of the Bristol Channel, Minehead, and Exmoor, you can also avail the services of car parking along with a beach café selling food and drinks.
  • Don’t forget to buy a souvenir for your friends and family back home. This beach is also famous for hunting crabs and dog walking.
 
Location: Llantwit Major, CF61, Wales
 
Opening Hours: Open24 hours

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10

Nash Point Beach

  • Nash Point Beach is one of the most stunning beaches around Cardiff.
  • It owes its beauty to a large bedrock, fertile rock pools, stunning rugged cliffs, and rock formations.
  • Adding to its beauty is the majestic Nash Point Lighthouse that makes this beach one of a kind.
  • Like many other beaches near Cardiff, you can find the bedrock filled with fossils.
  • You can choose to spend some time here or just make a pit stop for the mesmerizing views from this beach.
  • Make your visit to this beach better by trying out the Nash Welsh cakes and other refreshments from the café at this beach.
 
Location: St Donats, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom
 
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours

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11

Dunraven Bay Beach

  • The Dunraven beach is also popularly known as the Southerndown beach, owing to the name of a nearby village.
  • This beach looks like a spot straight from a movie because of its walled gardens and Dunraven Castle ruins.
  • This is a popular beach and one of the great beaches near Cardiff for a fossil hunt.
  • It has some great rock pools and a large car parking facility.
  • Do not forget to stop by the Dunraven Gardens when you visit this beach.
 
Location: Southerndown, Vale of Glamorgan, CF32, ORP
 
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours

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12

Aberavon Beach

  • Aberavon seafront is one of the longest beaches in Wales.
  • It overlooks Swansea Bay and is a popular choice among the other beaches around Cardiff for a family day out.
  • This is one of the kid-friendly beaches near Cardiff as it has a skate park, aqua splash playground, and children’s play areas.
  • Elder people can also access this beach comfortably due to the grassed areas present alongside the beach.
  • This beach is the ideal location to engage in some water sports like yachting, kitesurfing, and fishing.
  • There is a widely recognized beach festival that takes place here every week.
  • If you wish to explore cafes, restaurants, and pubs during your visit to this beach, then head to Port Talbot, the largest town near this beach.

Location:
Aberavon, Neath Port Talbot, SA13 1PJ

Opening Hours:
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

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13

Trecco Bay Beach

  • Trecco Bay Beach is a Blue Flag Beach that is situated at the edge of Trecco Bay Holiday Park.
  • This is one of the cleanest beaches near Cardiff which has also been awarded for its excellent water quality.
  • This also makes it a great place for swimming and paddling.
  • This is one of those beaches around Cardiff that is a part of Porthcawl’s 7 Bays.
  • This beach is filled with glistening golden sand and is a great spot for family picnics. 

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14

Swanbridge Beach

  • Situated in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, Swanbridge Beach is generally rocky with sand exposed during low tide.
  • Have a relaxing time by the beach or take your dog for a walk on the beach and enjoy the serene weather of the beach. 

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15

Jackson’s Bay

  • Jackson’s Bay faces the Tasman sea to the North and faces the Alps to its South.
  • On your visit to Jackson’s Bay, get ready to be mesmerized by the breathtaking vistas of the sea as well as the mountain range.
  • You can relax by the sea and see the sun going down the horizon and capture the memory to cherish for a lifetime. 

Location:
Porthcawl, CF36 5DB

Opening Hours:
8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

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People Also Ask About Cardiff

  1. What are the best beaches to visit near Cardiff?

    1. Rest Bay Beach: Surrounded by golden sands, rock pools, and low cliffs Porthcawl Rest Bay Beach is one of the most popular beaches near Cardiff. You can indulge in various activities here from taking a stroll at this beach and visiting the cafes to taking surfing lessons from the local experts at the Porthcawl Surf School.

    2. The Pebble Beach:
    More famously known as the Cold Knap Beach, this beach gets its name from the long stretch of steep pebbles that surrounds its waters. It is located a mile’s distance from the main resort beach at Barry and is a peaceful and quiet beach to spend some time away from city life.

    3. Sandy Bay:
    Interestingly called Weston-super-Mare's hidden gem, this is among some perfect beaches around Cardiff to enjoy with your family. When you are exploring beaches near Cardiff, engage in horse riding, take your dog for a walk or a swim, and feast on some treats from the ice cream van. 

    4. Three Cliffs Bay Beach: 
    Three Cliffs Bay Beach is one of the most spectacular beaches near Cardiff. It has three beautiful and mesmerizing limestone cliffs in the backdrop of the beach. This beach is perfectly lined with sand dunes, and salt marsh and also has the Pennard Pill stream running through it.

    Know More: Fun Things To Do In Cardiff
  2. What are the best adventurous things to do in Cardiff?

    1.  Go white water rafting in Cardiff International White Water: Made of artificial rapids, the Cardiff International White Water is where you can try your hands on white water rafting, canoeing, kayaking, and indoor surfing

    2. Watch a sports event at Principality Stadium:
    Originally known as the Millennium Stadium, the Principality Stadium is the national stadium of Wales and is well-known to host exciting sports events such as boxing, motorsport, concerts, and conventions. This place has also been a film set a few times. 

    3. Play at Treetop Adventure Golf:
    Head to a place that has ‘adventure’ right in its name. Get ready for some epic minigolf adventures at Cardiff’s greatest rainforest. Here, you will challenge ancient spirits, make temples crumble, and reign as the winner of mini golf games. 

    4. Spend some family time at the Llanelli Wetland Center:
    One of the best things to do in Cardiff is to explore the 450 acres of wetlands at the Llanelli Wetland Center. This is a wide-open space where you can spend time nestled in nature among incredible animals and birds. 

    5. Explore sites with the Cardiff Codebreaking Walk:
    Cardiff has a plethora of attractions to visit and what’s better than exploring them on foot? Make walking and exploring fun by going on a Cardiff Codebreaking Walk. This walk will take you on an adventure around quirky landmarks, odd sculptures, and rich history around Cardiff City Center and Brute Park.

    Check This Out: Things To Do In Cardiff For Couples
  3. What is so special about Cardiff?

    This city is famous for its blend of Victorian architecture with modern innovation. Not just this, Cardiff is actually known as the City of Arcades as it has the biggest concentration of indoor shopping arcades in Britain. Some of the famous hotspots here are Cardiff Castle – which stands atop a small hill as a reminiscence of the Second World War, Castle Quarter – the main shopping hub of Cardiff, Bute Park – The United Kingdom’s largest city park, The Royal Arcade – for the Victorian era shopping enthusiasts and the Cardiff Central Market and the beautiful beaches around Cardiff.

    Also ReadFun Things To Do In London This Weekend
  4. How Far is Cardiff from London?

    Cardiff is 151 miles (243 kilometers) away from London. The easiest way to travel between the cities is by bus. If you are looking for budget travel even then a bus would be the best option for you. You can also drive in your car for flexibility.

    Suggested Read: Monument In London
  5. How To Reach Cardiff?

    1. By Flight: Cardiff Airport is located 16 km away from the city center, in the town of Rhoose. Being the only international airport in Wales, it serves destinations across Europe.

    2. By Train:
    It is very easy to get to Cardiff by train as there are direct services to Cardiff Central railway station from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and other major cities.

    3. By Bus:
    There are many direct services between Cardiff Central bus station and UK’s major cities including London, Swansea, Newcastle, and Manchester. 

    4. By Road:
    Owing to the M4 corridor, road access to Cardiff is quick and easy. You can book a cab or ride in your own car to travel to this city.

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