Bridgend County Borough reveals its coastal side in the south, where 12.5 miles of coastline and beaches stretch out. All seven of its beaches are in the Porthcawl area on the southwest coast; most are sandy and easily accessible. From here, a region unfolds where coastal scenery, nature reserves and historic sites offer different sides of a trip.
Porthcawl: Beach and Seaside History
Porthcawl promenade was built in 1887 to mark Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. Attractions there today include traditional amusement rides, the 1930s Grand Pavilion Theatre, as well as cafés, ice cream parlours, restaurants and bars. The Porthcawl Elvis Festival brings together more than 30,000 fans each year for several days of Elvis music and themed entertainment. Dates and visitor numbers can vary from year to year; check the current festival dates if you would like to plan your trip around them.
The Rest Bay Watersports Centre hires out surfing equipment, offers courses throughout the year and runs stand-up paddleboarding sessions. Its programme also includes cycling tours of attractions in the Porthcawl and Newton area, as well as a tour of the Kenfig dunes. Check the latest operating details and tour availability before your trip.
Dunes, Wetlands and Trails
Kenfig National Nature Reserve covers around 1,300 acres of managed sand dunes and wetlands on the South Wales coast between Porthcawl and Port Talbot. This habitat is home to a significant population of the extremely rare fen orchid. The reserve also includes Kenfig Pool, a 70-acre natural lake considered the largest natural lake in South Wales. The dunes, wetlands and lake each give the area its own distinctive landscape character.
At the 300-acre Parc Slip Nature Reserve, you can spot dragonflies, butterflies, birds of prey and deer, among other wildlife. Circular trails are suitable for walking and cycling; from a bird hide, you can look out over the northern wetlands. The site’s industrial history is also part of a visit: a discovery trail tells the story of the 19th-century Parc Slip Colliery and the industrial past of the site.
Another striking landscape is Merthyr Mawr Warren National Nature Reserve. It includes the Big Dipper, described as Europe’s highest sand dune. Covering more than 100 acres, Bryngarw Country Park features woodland trails, colourful gardens, an adventure playground, a café and a discovery room. These different places offer different ways to experience nature and the landscape, without requiring a single outing to cover every theme.
For those interested in trails, Spirit of Llynfi Woodland has signposted running routes that offer an introduction to trail running. The Llynfi Valley Trail, a Sustrans route suitable for all ability levels, also runs through the lower part of the woodland. An activity trail features five stations, including a tunnel, hurdles and a log-balancing path. The route and the running trails have different focuses: one is a designated cycling route, while the others are running trails with individual activity stations.
Castles and History in the County Borough
Coity Castle tells a story of several building phases: around 1100, it began as a motte-and-bailey castle; the stone keep and curtain wall were added in the late 12th century. After Owain Glyndŵr besieged the castle during his rebellion, it underwent extensive alterations in the 14th and 15th centuries. Newcastle Castle is a Norman fortress that Henry II had refortified in the 1180s; it can be reached via historic Newcastle Hill. Together with Coity Castle and Ogmore Castle, it once guarded important river crossings that controlled access to Glamorgan.
For an insight into local history, the Bridgend Town Centre Heritage Trail connects 28 historic sites in the town centre. QR codes along the route provide access to an interactive online map. The Old Bridge is also part of Bridgend’s history: built around 1425 as the first major bridge over the River Ogmore, it gave the town its name.
St John’s House is open on the last Saturday and the second Sunday of each month from 11 am to 3 pm. Volunteers lead tours of the house; admission is free. Check the specific dates before your visit. Two miles south of Bridgend on the A48 is Ewenni Priory, a free-to-visit Cadw site. The church, presbytery and transepts are considered particularly well-preserved examples of Norman Romanesque architecture in this part of Wales. Maurice de Londres founded the site in 1141 as a daughter house of Gloucester Abbey.
Getting There and Planning Your Trip
Bridgend station offers services on the South Wales Main Line to Cardiff Central, Swansea and London Paddington, as well as on the Maesteg Branch Line and the Vale of Glamorgan Line. All platforms are step-free and connected by a footbridge with lifts. If you need assistance, check the latest information before travelling. For walking, Bridgend County Borough also has a network of more than 808 public rights of way, with a total length of just over 612 kilometres; conditions on individual routes and any closures may change.
Discover more destinations: Porthcawl, Coychurch, Bridgend, Pencoed, Sarn, Pyle, Tondu, Llangynwyd.
For the main travel overview: Wales.
