Vale of Glamorgan Tourist Information

Porthcawl Seaside Holidays

Porthcawl has it all! Situated on the sublime Glamorgan Heritage Coast, Porthcawl offers both an excellent base for South Wales family seaside holidays and great surfing at Rest Bay and adjacent is the renowned Kenfig National Nature reserve, a haven for migrating birds and wildlife. A choice of walks abound along the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, or within the town of Porthcawl itself. Pick up heritage walk leaflets from the Tourist Information Centre on John Street! Interesting buildings on the town trail include the Old Police Station dating from 1881.

One of Porthcawl's key attractions is its pretty 19th century harbour, once a bustling harbour but overtaken by bigger ones at Barry and Port Talbot. Note Porthcawl's lighthouse which was built around 140 years ago. South Wales family seaside holidays are on the menu here with nicely flat and sheltered beautiful sandy beaches plus accompanying family attractions such as the Coney Beach Pleasure Park. Ride the Megablitz rollercoaster! Tel: 01656 788911 for details. Porthcawl has been a popular seaside holiday town since the Victorian period, and many old Victorian hotel buildings (many are now luxury flats) give this seaside holiday town an edge on the character side. Porthcawl's promenade is great for strolls, and all your favourite seaside pastimes are here including ice cream, deck chairs and amusements.

Checkout the choice of attractive historic villages around Porthcawl too, including the 7 mile circular walk around Kenfig Nature Reserve - one of the most important conservation sites in the UK. Nearby Newton is crammed with historic sites such as its Norman church and St John's Well. There's quite a few ancient wells, once sacred sites for many a pilgrim.

Porthcawl Tourist Information Centre, The Old Police Station, John Street, Porthcawl CF36 3DT. Tel: 44 (0)1656 786639.

Glamorgan Coast Path Walking Holidays

Conveniently situated at Southerndown (exit junction 35 off the M4, A473, B4524 down to the coast), the Glamorgan Heritage Coast Centre is a good starting point for all your information on coastal walking on this heritage coast stretch of South Wales.

The Vale of Glamorgan offers some superb walking, hiking and rambling opportunities, both inland via circular trails and the Valeways Millennium Heritage Trail, and on the coast via the Glamorgan Coastal Path. Checkout the walking Glamorgan weblinks to the right for more details, plus information on guided walks available in the area.

Valeways, Unit 7, Barry Community Enterprise Centre, Skomer Road, Barry, South Glamorgan, South Wales, CF62 9DA. Tel: 01446 749000. (weblink right outlining the choice of walks and guided walks across the Vale of Glamorgan).

Glamorgan Heritage Coast Centre, Dunraven Park, Southerndown, Vale of Glamorgan, CF32 ORP. Tel: (01656) 880157.

Seaside Family Holiday Attractions Porthcawl, Barry Island and Butlins Memories at Barry Island

The choice of South Wales holiday attractions and days out in the region of Glamorgan, both on the seaside coast and inland, is immense. You've everything from nature reserves to theme parks to ancient villages crammed with historic churches, castles and more.

For families the traditional seaside feel of Porthcawl is perfect. There's a big theme park here too - Coney Beach Pleasure Park. Further along the coast towards Cardiff you've another theme pleasure park at Barry Island. The Barry area has long been a favourite for seaside family holidays - there was a huge Butlins Holiday camp here at Barry Island which opened in 1966 and closed officially in 1986. (see Butlins Memories weblinks right).

Barry Island is as good as ever for seaside family holidays. Barry Island Pleasure Park faces onto the delightful golden sands of Whitmore Bay. The amusement park itself contains over 50 rides and has restaurants and other entertainments on-site. Barry Island Pleasure Park, Barry Island, Vale of Glamorgan CF62 5TR. Tel: (01446) 732844.

More family holiday attractions in the region include Warren Mill Farm (website right), the Welsh Hawking Centre, Weycock Road, Barry. Tel: 01446 734687 and checkout the indoor play area Triassic Towers also in Barry at The Upper Hall, Esplanade Building, Friars Road, Barry Island, Vale of Glamorgan CF62 5TJ. Tel: 01446 733344. Glorious family holiday beaches abound along the Glamorgan coast too, including popular Blue Flag beach Whitmore Bay, Barry Island.

Surfing Holidays Porthcawl and the Glamorgan Coast

Portcawl's golden sandy beach from Newton Bay on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast towards Sker Bay to the north of Porthcawl is prime surfing territory. Check the surfing weblinks right for details on surfing lessons and surfing tips in the area. There's a choice of surf schools offering surf equipment hire and surfing lessons. Rest Bay beach at Porthcawl is a blue flag beach and has a lifeguard station, toilets, adjacent car park and refreshment outlets on-site.

More surfing hotspots along the Glamorgan coast include Llantwit Major at Colhugh beach. Expect big swells here so beginner surfers are generally discouraged from this surfing location. Another surf hotspot is Dunraven Bay at Southerndown, particularly in winter when the waves come from a north easterly direction. Ogmore By Sea is a river mouth break, angain popular in Winter for its north easterly winds/waves. Check the surfing Glamorgan coast weblinks right for details on safety and surfing lessons.

Llantwit Beach Shop, Llantwit Beach. Llantwit, Vale of Glamorgan.