Best Beaches in South Wales: Our Top 10 Picks

South Wales boasts a breath-taking coastline made up of some of the best beaches in the UK! You’re spoilt for choice, from vibrant promenades to calm and hidden coasts; so we’ve put together a list of the best beaches in South Wales to help make your decision on which to visit easier.

Home to thriving cities, the UK’s only coastal national park and a whole host of unique seaside destinations, there’s plenty for you to discover from these South Wales beaches. Look forward to vast and beautiful views across the Atlantic, rugged cliff tops and swathes of golden sand.

Whether you’re on a family holiday, travelling with friends, or on a romantic break, there’s a wealth of South Wales beaches to choose from.

Keep reading to find out our favourite 10 best South Wales beaches…

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• The 10 Best Beaches in South Wales
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10 Best Beaches in South Wales

1. Ogmore Beach, Ogmore-by-Sea

First on our list of the best beaches in South Wales is Ogmore Beach. Located along the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, Ogmore-by-Sea is a popular shingle and sand beach that attracts visitors from across the country. The mouth of the River Ogmore flows over the beach and into the sea from north of the town, welcoming wildlife along the way.

The beach is also dog-friendly, allowing for your canine buddy to play freely on the sands and dip their paws into the sea. Ogmore Beach also has a lifeguard service, making it a great place for a family trip.

Type of beach: Sandy and pebble
Parking: Parking available
Parking Charge: Up to 2 hours – £2 | All day – £8
Dogs Friendly: Yes, all year round
Postcode: CF32 0PB

2. Penarth Beach, Penarth

Penarth is a renowned tourist destination located just south of Cardiff, making it a great Cardiff beach option. This pebbled shore turns into a sandy haven, as you get closer to the sea at low tide.

Discover this South Wales beach bordered by a lovely esplanade, featuring restaurants, restrooms, and a charming pier. The pier houses a small cinema and a bustling cafe, while the beach is perfect for walking and fossil hunting.

Penarth Beach is a beautiful spot and is truly one of the best beaches in South Wales.

Type of beach: Sandy and pebble
Parking: Parking at Cliff Parade (CF64 5BP)
Parking Charge: Free
Dogs Friendly: Dogs are not permitted, at any time of year
Postcode: CF64 3AU

3. Whitmore Bay, Barry Island

Located ten miles along the coast from Cardiff lies Barry Island, resting near the extreme southernmost edge of Wales. Located between two limestone headlands, the golden sands of Whitmore Bay attract sunbathers and swimmers alike to this famous swimming and beach destination.

The renowned Pleasure Park features amusement arcades, crazy golf, an indoor climbing wall, and horse and carriage rides, there is plenty of activity to keep the kids entertained. Find this gorgeous seaside spot along a memorable South Wales coastal walk, starting at Limpert Bay and travelling through a lively promenade.

This fantastic South Wales beach might even look familiar to TV fans as it was used heavily as a filming location for Gavin and Stacey! Stroll along the promenade and grab fish and chips or an ice cream or a coffee from the setting of Marco’s Café you can even try your luck in Nessa’s Slots Arcade – with all of this nostalgia, it’s unsurprising that Whitmore Bay made our list of the best beaches in South Wales.

Type of beach: Sandy
Parking: Parking at either Harbour Rd or Nell’s Point
Parking Charge: Up to 2 hours – £2 | All day – £8
Dogs Friendly: Dog restrictions apply between May–September
Postcode: CF62 5TQ

4. Rhossili Bay Beach, Rhossili

The three-mile-long sandy shoreline of Rhossili Bay lies on the southwestern tip of the Gower Peninsula. The National Trust looks after this fantastic beach, which is often hailed as one of the best beaches in South Wales, the UK, and even one of the top ten beaches in the world.

Not only is this beach breathtaking but it also attracts swathes of surfers as it is considered one of the best surfing beaches in Wales! Its exposed setting put this South Wales beach at the mercy of Atlantic swells, perfect for those hoping to catch the next big wave!

Additionally, this Gower beach‘s seashore is noted for its landmarks. The Helvetia, which shipwrecked here in 1887, can be seen on the beach when the tide is out. At low tide, brave beachgoers can cross a rock causeway to the tidal island of Worms Head.

Type of beach: Sandy
Parking: National Trust Rhossili Bay Car Park
Parking Charge: Up to 2 hours – £4 | Over 2 hours – £8
Dogs Friendly: Yes, all year round
Postcode: SA3 1PL

5. Barafundle Bay, Stackpole

Barafundle Bay, a small but exquisitely sculpted beauty of the Pembrokeshire coast and the popular South Wales beach is considered one of the UK’s most exotic beaches!

This little bay is backed by dunes and pine trees and is about a half-mile walk from the nearest car park. With golden sands and beautiful waves, Barafundle has been awarded one of the best beaches in Britain and the globe! This unspoiled beach has no facilities, so everything you take must be returned up the cliffs. However, it is also recognised as one of the best dog-friendly beaches in Wales, with ample space for your pooch to run around.

If you fancy a walk which incorporates the beach, start at the Bosherston Lily Pads, making your way to another beach, Broad Haven South Beach, the coastal walk then takes you to the top of the cliff faces along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path and then down some steps to Barafundle Bay. The walk then heads along the Stackpole Quay to the Stackpole National Trust estate and back to the Lily Ponds. The walk is around 6 miles long altogether but Barafundle Bay is the perfect location halfway around the walk to take a break and enjoy the golden sands.

All of this and more easily makes Barafundle Bay one of the best beaches to visit in South Wales!

Type of beach: Sandy
Parking: National Trust Stackpole Quay Car Park (1/2 mile from beach – SA71 5LS)
Parking Charge: 3 hours – £3.50 | All day – £7
Dogs Friendly: Yes, all year round
Postcode: SA71 5LS

6. Three Cliffs Bay, Pennard

The Three Cliffs Beach near Swansea is a picturesque, sandy beach bordered by three limestone cliffs with a beautiful shoreline of sand dunes, salt marsh, and rock pools. Stop for a rest at this awe-inspiring spot along the Welsh Coastal Path for a scenic picnic with loved ones.

The bay is formed from a number of beaches which are separated at high tide, at low tide the bays are then connected, allowing you to walk along the beaches, these connected bays are Pobbles Bay and Tor Bay.

It’s among the most photographed spots in Gower, with the Pennard Pill stream flowing along the beach and aerial shots from the cliffs. The Three Cliffs Beach has been cited as both Britain’s best beach and Britain’s best view on multiple occasions, what more could you want?

Type of beach: Sandy
Parking: Parking available in the Gower Heritage Centre
Parking Charge: If longer than 15 minutes it is £5 per car – tickets available at the Heritage Centre Shop
Dogs Friendly: Yes, all year round
Postcode: SA3 2HD

7. Rest Bay Beach, Porthcawl

Rest Bay is a golden beach on the fringes of Porthcawl, surrounded by low cliffs and the Royal Porthcawl Golf Club. Take advantage of Rest Bay’s café, or choose to bike or walk a mile into Porthcawl’s town centre for more amenities. Porthcawl has a promenade with stunning sea views, as well as restaurants, cafes, shops, and hotels.

The beach faces southwest, resulting in huge waves that are ideal for surfing and wind/kite surfing. During low tide conditions, fishing, bathing, and canoeing are popular activities, while rock pools offer a variety of marine life.

There is a new water sports centre close to the beach which offers surfing lessons throughout the year by Porthcawl Surf School, as well as hiring surfboards and paddle boards for anyone looking to try this thrilling sport for the first time.

Type of beach: Sandy
Parking: Parking available – Rest Bay car park
Parking Charge: 1st October to the 31st March – All day £1 | 1st April to the 30th September – Up to 1 hour – £1/ All day – £4
Dogs Friendly: Dog restrictions apply between May–September
Postcode: CF36 3UP

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8. Dunraven Bay, Southerndown

Another of the best beaches in South Wales is Dunraven Bay, a popular tourist destination also known as Southerndown Beach. Encompassing the beach are walled gardens and the ruins of Dunraven Castle, surrounded by cliffs on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast.

Swimming, canoeing, and surfing are popular watersports on the beach, whilst rock pools offer fossil hunting at a low tide. Rural countryside envelopes the beach, with a lone path along the cliff tops, delivering exceptional views of the Bristol Channel – this hidden UK beach, should definitely be on your must-visit list!

Type of beach: Sandy & Pebble
Parking: Parking available at Beach Road Car Park and Dunraven Car Park
Parking Charge: Up to 1 hour – £1 | All day – £6
Dogs Friendly: Dog restrictions apply between May–September
Postcode: CF32 0RT

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9. Freshwater West Beach, Pembrokeshire

Next on our list of best beaches in South Wales is Freshwater West Beach, a long stretch of sand spearheaded by Broomhill Burrows’ robust dune system. It’s a fascinating location with a rich history where smugglers used to hide their loot making it undoubtedly one of the best beaches in Pembrokeshire.

Situated on Wales’ exposed west coast, Freshwater West Beach captures all of the Atlantic swells, making it a prominent surfing spot. This wonderful hotspot is recognised as a filming location for movie hits including Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood, Their Finest, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.

The remote and rugged nature of this beach adds to its charm making it one of the best South Wales beaches.

Type of beach: Sandy
Parking: Parking available at two small car parks
Parking Charge: No charge but these car parks can fill up fast
Dogs Friendly: Yes, all year round
Postcode: SA71 5AH

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10. Aberavon Beach, Port Talbot

Rounding off our guide to the best South Wales beaches is Aberavon Beach. Located on the edge of Port Talbot, Aberavon Beach is one of the lengthiest beaches in South Wales, home to a contemporary esplanade with spectacular views of Swansea Bay. There’s so much to do at this beach; including an Aquasplash playground, children’s play areas, and an Apollo Cinema by the promenade.

If you’re looking for an incredible surf spot with a reputation for having large swells at any time of year, Aberavon is one of the best beaches in South Wales. As well as surfing, this beach is also perfect for kayaking and paddleboarding and is a quieter alternative to the nearby Port Talbot Beach which gets incredibly busy during summer months.

Type of beach: Sandy
Parking: A number of beaches along the seafront, from Scarlet Avenue car park and Ocean Way
Parking Charge: Flat rate in the summer of £4 all day – Ocean Way is £2 all day in the winter
Dogs Friendly: Dog restrictions apply between May–September
Postcode: SA12 6QP

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Best Beaches in South Wales Map

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After taking a look through our favourite South Wales beaches, are you still searching for even more popular beaches? Check out our list of the best beaches in Wales. Alternatively, for more holiday inspiration, search this catalogue of South Wales cottages and use our extensive Wales Travel Guide.