If you live in Cardiff and fancy escaping the city for some fresh sea air, you don't have to travel far. Here's our pick of the best beaches and seaside walks within 40 minutes of Cardiff.
Whitmore Bay, Barry
Barry Island's principal beach is a generous stretch of golden sand, bookended by vibrant beach huts, with a climbing wall at one end and Marco's Café alongside two outstanding chip shops at the other. From Cardiff, expect the journey to take roughly 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Get there: Barry Island, Vale of Glamorgan, CF62 5TJ
Dunraven Bay (Southerndown)
One of the Vale of Glamorgan's most treasured locations, this stunning spot offers breathtaking sunset views from its clifftops or its rocky and sandy beach – depending on the tide. It forms part of the celebrated Glamorgan Heritage Coast. Journey time from Cardiff can reach up to 40 minutes depending on traffic.
Get there: Southerndown, Vale of Glamorgan, CF32 0RP
Cardiff Bay Barrage
A walk along Cardiff Bay Barrage provides sweeping views across the Bristol Channel. Encounter multiple iconic landmarks including the Millennium Centre, the red brick Pier Head building and the Norwegian church. This paved route provides sweeping vistas across the Bristol Channel and the islands of Flatholm and Steepholm. Traverse the embankment to discover a children's play area, a Skate Plaza and an outdoor gym. Sunsets prove spectacular here.
Get there: Barrage Car Park, CF64 1LQ
Penarth
Pebble beach, pier and channel views – this brief excursion 20 minutes from the city centre offers one of the simplest ways to reach the sea from Cardiff. For vibrant photographs, schedule your walk to arrive at the pier during sunset.
Get there: The Esplanade, CF64 3AU
Ogmore-by-Sea
Boasting rock pools, sandy stretches and scenic coastal paths, Ogmore-by-Sea ranks among the most frequented beaches in the area. It features a spacious clifftop car park with street food vendors, coffee stalls and various amenities. The beach also forms part of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast.
Get there: Ogmore-by-Sea, Vale of Glamorgan, CF32 0PD
Merthyr Mawr
Expansive sand dunes await exploration at Merthyr Mawr Warren National Nature Reserve. A coastal walk from Candleston car park spans approximately 2.4 miles return journey. The location is roughly a 35-minute drive from Cardiff.
Get there: Merthyr Mawr, CF32 0LR
Monk Nash Beach
Monk Nash could be what you're looking for if you fancy a change from your usual beach. Thanks to the relative difficulty of accessing this secluded bedrock beach, it's rarely busy. You can only reach the beach by walking down a footpath through woodland beside a stream called Nash Brook. This coastal spot will take around 40 minutes to get to.
Get there: Monknash, Vale of Glamorgan
Llandegfedd Reservoir
The beautiful Llandegfedd Lake, on the border of Monmouth and Torfaen, offers a range of open-water swimming sessions with lifeguard-trained staff in attendance. The watersports centre also offers canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, raft building and sailing. You'll also find a modern café and visitor centre on-site.
Get there: Llandegfedd Reservoir, Pontypool, NP4 0SY
Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs
The centre includes a hub for water activities on the wildlife-rich reservoir, including open-water swimming, canoeing, paddleboarding, and sailing. Paddleboards and kayaks can be hired from £20 for 90 minutes. The on-site visitor centre has a great cafe with floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto a balcony.
Where: Lisvane Road, Lisvane, Cardiff, CF14 0BB
Rest Bay, Porthcawl
This beach is part of a glorious sweep of coastline from Sker Point to Ogmore. Rest Bay is a popular spot for swimming, surfing, and coastal hikes. Toilets, showers, a beach shop and first aid can be found above the beach. There's also Rest Bay Cafe and the Hikalto sauna overlooking the shores, right on the Bridgend Coast path.
Get here: Porthcawl, CF36 3UP
