Porthcawl is a seaside resort on the south coast of Wales located between the towns of Port Talbot to the north and Ogmore by Sea to the west. The resort has an extensive promenade and several beaches stretching from Sker Point through to Ogmore.
Rest Bay, a European Blue Flag beach, is a long sandy beach with golden sands and rock pools backed by low cliffs. It faces south west and is a favourite with surfers due to the large waves coming off the Atlantic Ocean.
Trecco Bay and Sandy Bay sit between the rocky headlands of Porthcawl Point, with it's lighthouse, Rhych Point and Newton Point. With golden sands and excellent quality of water both beaches are popular for swimming and paddling and being close to the Amusement Park and Holiday Park they can be busy at peak periods.
As with many Welsh holiday resorts Porthcawl flourished between the wars but those days are long gone. However fashions change and once again British seaside resorts are having a revival. The promenade was restored in 1996 and today there are many hotels and guest houses as well as a funfair called Coney Beach.
Porthcawl still offers a wide range of traditional activities for you to enjoy. The Grand Pavilion built in 1932 offers a Ballroom with a sprung dance floor and a variety of top class entertainment for tourists and residents alike. Children's activities, paddling on the beaches and rock pooling have never lost their attraction, and traditional Ice Cream Parlours run by the south Wales italian families have never lost their popularity.
Fishing from the shoreline is ever popular but you might also like to try your chances on a personal sea fishing trip. During the summer months the pleasure steamers Waverley & Balmoral visit Porthcawl's harbour to embark passengers for cruises along the Bristol Channel.
Golfers are well catered for with a number of golf courses close to hand including of course the Porthcawl Royal Golf Course. But Porthcawl also offers some of the more extreme activities demanded in the 21st century.
Surfing at Rest Bay, abseiling, and scuba diving are all catered for in Porthcawl and indeed expert tuition is available for novices. Visit the indoor skateboarding centre right on the harbour or try sand kiting with the largest kite centre in Britain.
Try your hand at Go-Karting, or maybe a leisurely cycle ride along the coast paths Just a short walk from Porthcawl is Kenfig Pool a large natural lake and part of the Kenfig Nature Reserve an important site for nature conservation. Kenfig is one of the last remnants of a huge sand dune system that once stretched along the coast of South Wales from Ogmore to the Gower peninsula. Guided walks can be arranged for organised groups.