Agree with Cloudwood's review, the tarmac is a bit of a blot, but you don't notice it really and…read morethe overall location is excellent. Huge sea views, fantastic westerly facing to capture the sun in the afternoon. Long promenade ideal for kidies and more mature folk to toddle along (reasonably well constructed and refurbished a few years ago with upper and lower walkways). Little kiosks with seating areas selling ice cream and coffees - plenty of bench seats to park down. Selection of drinking/coffee establishments along the front for convivial socialising or people watching - great atmosphere on a hot sunny day. Plenty to see; walk right round the headland to Rest Bay and watch the surfers; explore the old harbour and sea walls; walk round the other side towards Coney Beach and all the way to Danycraig. Also worth a visit in the colder wintry months for gale force winds that want to carry you off up the Bristol Channel given the chance. Gets 4 stars for location. Well worth a day trip out. Hope this is helpful.

Seafront Beach, also known as Town Beach, is a rocky beach in the centre of Porthcawl. The beach…read moreruns along the esplanade, and can be accessed via steps from numerous points on the promenade. The beach is mainly composed of rocks, apart from a small area of sand. This sandy area sits next to a part of the beach which was tarmaced over in the 1980s in a terrible misguided plan to repair sea defences and attract sand. It's fair to say thta the sand has not been attracted. There is also a further bit of tarmac in the rocky area - where salt water swimming pools were filled in during the 90s. Swimming is not recommended at the beach and although you do see surfers theconditions are only suitable for the experienced, because of dangerous tides and sharp rocks. Food facilities are available on the promenade, the closest public toilets are in John street - although there are plans to build new toilets near the lifeboat station. The beach is nice enough for viewing from the prom, or strolling along - but there are far superior beaches in Porthcawl for swimming or sunbathing.

ABSOLUTELY TRASH. Spiders watching your EVERY move, spider eggs, mother mosquitos, not only that…read morebut also a FLOOD in one of the rooms. Staff speak to you HORRIBLY and the activities are more dangerous than you think! This place is NOT what you think it is. Food? Tastes disgusting. Cold, horrible tasting meals which I wouldn't even call meals! No good options either and the best you think taste horrible too! Can't even stand the food. This place is absolutely horrible and is not recommended. 1 star for sure. I don't recommend going at all and they can't even be bothered to make your bed for you either. All these hour lasting activities for hours. To tiring and as I said some dangerous activities, staff speak to you rudely and food. Hell no. Chefs also have an attitude and don't even ask what toppings you would want on something. DONT HAVE ANY GOOD FOODS. Total waste of money. Not to mention, a lot came with and I can tell this is just trash. Total TRASH. did I mention trash? Also, if you end up going and know what I mean just jump out the window and leave. Wall marks to it just keeps getting worse don't forget about the flood I told you about in one of the rooms. Squeaky beds, squeaky doors, horrible place. 1 second and you wanna leave. Waste of money as someone who stayed for more than a day.

Woooah this is SUCH a fun idea (although even a few days later I still have bruises and my muscles…read morestill ache a bit!!) I took part in the "ultimate wipeout course", but we saw signs for surf school, mounting biking, zorbing, laser tag ...and we walked past the "ultimate high course," although that looked pretty hideous to be honest!! For our course we had to turn up with bikinis and waterproof shoes, and they gave us wet suits, helmets and shorts to help us making it round safely. The staff showed us around the course once...and then let the speedy folks do a timed lap...while a few of us went around again at a more leisurely pace having extra giggles on all of the slides(!) The plunge pools after each slide are FREEZING and are all greeny-brown in colour but it is still really fun sliding into them and doing your best to zoom around all the obstacles and climbing sections. I wasn't keen on just how much cargo netting we had to climb along (I think most of my bruises were from that, and I did scrape off sections of my arms...oops...) The highlight is easily the giant balls that you have to bounce off into the plunge pools. I managed to bounce, flail, hit my head on the next ball and then pull off a spectacular belly flop onto my back. This makes it sound hideous, but it was soooo funny! I also LOVED the rocket launcher slide - Actually I really enjoyed all the slides. So yeah, if you are planning a hen/stag event or just want to have a giggle with your friends, this is a really fun option.

There is nothing so liberating than taking of ones clothes and running into the sea and swimming…read moreand splashing around and having fun with your nearest and dearest, especially when it is in such a lovely spot it is deeply invigorating and is something everyone should do at least once. I would definitley recommend Wild Pear Naturist Beach you'lle love it.

I love Nash Point. It's situated in Monknash and is very popular with ramblers for its cliff side…read morewalks and fantastic views. It's something of a local secret and even at the height of summer doesn't get that busy. From here you can either walk to the nearby Monknash beach, which is one of the most picturesque walks I've been on, or head the opposite way and check out the lighthouse. The lighthouse was the last manned lighthouse in Wales and became automated as recently as 1998. There are tours available here for just £3.50. I've been here when the horn has been sounded but as far as I'm aware it only sounds a couple of times a month. It's pretty loud though so not for sensitive ears! I wouldn't recommend the walk past the lighthouse for kids as you're walking fairly close to the edge of some huge cliffs. It's an amazing view though straight out to sea and I go here to chill out whenever the stresses of inner-city life drive me mental. Last time I visited there it was getting dark and there was nobody around except a lady who was extremely extravagantly dressed sat looking out to sea playing quite a slow song on a cello. It was incredibly eerie and I haven't been back since!

This was my first surf lesson, this was my first attempt at surfing, this was my first time trying…read moreto squeeze myself into a wetsuit and the first time I have had to take a cold shower in the middle of a public car park (that last one may not be true, but if I have done that in the past, I can see why I would want to forget it). It was ACE! Carlo, you were fantastic, thanks so much for the tuition, for the encouragement and for the use of your newest gear (always nice to think that a limited number of people could possibly have peed in that wetsuit I wedged myself in). Not only is this blue double decker bus a funky surf school office, it was totally fitted out by Carlo and his mate in a couple of weeks. It has space to chill out and to change, and also has a remarkable level of privacy to do so too. A short walk and you are on the beach, walking through rock-pools and making your way to the water's edge. Carlo seems to know everyone on the beach but that doesn't take away form the attention he gave to each of his students so that they both got the most out of the time in the water. If anyone wants to know, or even cares, yes I stood up and rode the waves to the shore during my first lesson! But if you don't stand up on your first lesson, there is also the offer of the next course being free as compensation. Love this surf school, the very best of luck to all involved with it!

The coastline near Cardiff that's known as the Glamorgan Heritage Coast is a wild and ruggedly…read morebeautiful coastline that's well worth exploring if you visit or live in Cardiff. It's easiest if you have your own transport, so you can stop off along the way when something catches your eye. Situated in Dunraven Park at Southerndown, the Heritage Coast Centre itself offers information about the coastline and its features, and incorporates a small shop as well. It isn't amazing in itself, but it is a good starting point for exploring some of the highlights of the heritage coast, which stretches for 14 miles from West Aberthaw to Porthcawl. Overlooking the Glamorgan Heritage Coast Centre itself are the ruins of Dunraven Castle, which was actually not really a castle but a 19th century mansion - sat above banded sandstone cliffs. From there, on your journey along the coast you get to see some beautiful low cliffs, Celtic hill forts, and lots of sand dune areas (mainly in the west), including some of the largest dunes in Europe at Merthyr Mawr Warren. For swimming, Southerndown is a good spot, and about halfway along the coast is medieval St. Donat's Castle, now a school, which offers guided tours in the summer months when school's out. Footpaths snake along the coast for walkers - but sometimes suffer landslips, so watch out.

Useful place to pick up leaflets on the area including ones describing walks along the nearby…read morecliffs. There is also a good range of postcards and greetings cards, and some inexpensive gifts with 'Glamorgan heritage Coast' on the side (pens, pencils - only 50p each) Friendly staff too. There's a disabled toilet (radar key) outside in a separate block and disabled parking bays immediately outside.

Absolutely excellent surf shop really well stock with products to suite all pockets. Really cool…read moreinternal to the shop these guys have obviously put a lot of effort into providing the best possible surf shop in the area. We went in to ask about a replacement fin for a second hand board we had bought elsewhere. We knew the type of fin was an Australian type that was difficult to get. The guy he hind the counter spent 10 mins ringing around contacts asking if they could help us , because he didn't have any. No one else did either so he found a web site for us to order some from. How's that for customer service. Use these guys they are great

great surf shop. the best in area. knowledgable staff know what they are doing and talking…read moreabout.huge selection of everything surf. from boards to sandals to hire boards. located in the middle of village next to a great cafe, and carpark. ideal!

A huge WOW for Saunton Sands. An unspoilt, endless run of beach for surfers, paddlers, dogs &…read moregrokels like me! Truly beautiful - wild, great light & so peaceful. Perfect.

Beautiful calm and quiet beach which few tourists visit but known by all the locals. Accessed via…read moreBraunton Burrows you come over the top of the sand dunes to a mass expanse of beach. Dogs allowed all year round and perfect to sunbathe in peace. I miss North Devon!