The breakfast was 34 minutes late. There was skids in my toilet and hair all over the room that I…read morehad to clean myself. The hash browns were burnt. The tea pot didn't fit on the tray in my room and Tom is very rude.

A real highlight on our Road Trip…read more One thing first: The walk from Southgate to Three Cliffs Bay and the Bay itself has some of the most beautiful views and landscapes we've encountered on our Road Trip this year. And not just among the very top this year....among the very best we've seen in general. We were staying in Swansea (Uplands), so this place was just about a 15min drive away. But feels like a complete different world. The parking area in Southgate is very big, so finding a spot won't be a problem. Be sure to pay! And also: Last chance to visit the restroom, since there are none on the way and at Three Cliffs Bay. Something I should've done :) The walk itself is already impressive. Along the coast and the cliffs with lots of space and green lawns. Vista points every few meters.... the whole walk we coulnd't get enough of this amazing place and stopped a lot to take in the scenery. You will meet some cows on the way too....so be also aware of their "belongings" on the ground. They are friendly though....except my dog was scared of them a bit. Three Cliffs Bay is a fantastic beach. Depending on the path you took it might be a bit of a steep way down, Flip-Flops might not be the best idea. The Bay / Beach is incredibly big and wide. Wonderful soft and clean sand. Cliffs to cllimb on, lots of space for sunbathing and picnics. There is nothing to buy / shop here, so be sure to bring at least some drinks. It also has lots of space for kids and dogs to play (thankfully it's pet-friendly). Even there was quite a number of visitors, it never felt crowded, since the area is that big. It has some really nice (hidden) spots, be sure to walk around a bit and explore the bay. We stayed at lot longer than planned, it was such a lovely, warm and sunny day. And our dog had a blast! So did we. We took the same path back later on, enjoying the views along the way one more time. Of course you could park at Oxwich, where you get faster and easier access. But you would miss out on the fantastic little walk leading here. Southgate was the perfect spot / start to visit Three Cliffs Bay. Like I said, one of the very highlights on this years Road Trip. Highly recommended!

This is a great place for walkers and families about seven miles south of Carmarthen. The beach is…read morelarge with lovely soft sand and there are nice views across the estuary and River Towy to the village of Ferryside. Swimming is prohibited however because of the tides and mud flats. There is an official car park and also another gravelly and grassy area where one can park for no charge. Besides the main car park are toilets and a shop and cafe. Overlooking the beach is the huge ruin of Llansteffan Castle, also well worth a visit.

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.

Posiibly the greatest beach in Britain. Smooth golden sand meets the clear blue sea. Divine views…read moremake for picture postcard scenes and the open beach is perfect for a family day out. An abundance of inspiration for artists and photographers alike and has even been known to have good surf on windier days I have been here many a time and it has never failed to disappoint. A definite must-see if you are in the area with something for everyone.

Barafundle Beach is, for me, the best beach in Wales - And I'm not the only one who thinks it's…read moreamazing - It was voted by the Times and the Good Holiday Guide as one of the top 10 beaches in the whole world. Barafundle is a sandy beach, surrounded by limestone cliffs - you therefore have to be prepared for a bit of a hike along the cliffs to get to the beach (about 1K) - not a difficult walk, but steep steps at both ends. You can park in the National Trust car park for a few quid. This whole estate (Stackpole) is National Trust, and therefore beautifully preserved - This obviously limits facilities. There are tea rooms in the car parks near the beach - but no facilities at all once you walk there. This is to the great benefit of the beach - it is truly natural and wonderful. The 'desert island' experience is well worth the walk. The water quality is fantastic - it is crystal clear. There are no rocks or dangerous currents - so bathing is very safe - Although you must be careful because there is no lifeguard cover here. This beach is perfect - See my Stackpole review for some more of the attractions at this National Trust site.

The walk down to beach is the highlight. Interesting to see how pebble beach turns to large stretch…read moreof sandy beach .

This is a wonderful beach to spend the afternoon. The best thing about this beach is the walk down…read moreto it. A beautiful short walk down a hedged road full of honeysuckle brings you to a public footpath to the beach. You pass through peaceful woodland, a stream below you through the trees, and even a ruin of an old building in the dappled valley. Soon you climb out onto the beach and it's a lovely sight, of course. This is a great place to walk dogs and/or children. Bring a picnic and enjoy a day soaking up the sun. It's a whole lot less busy than some of the other beaches in the area, but it also doesn't have any of the facilities that other have to offer. The nearest toilets and watering hole are in the nearby pub, The Plough and Harrow, which is a great place for a seaside drink. There is usually a local field open for parking, donations politely requested. This beach is not wheelchair accessible, unfortunately.

Whitmore Bay is what most people think of when they talk about Barry Island, and has all the…read moreameneties you'd expect for a suburban resort: amusement arcades and fish'n'chips abound. Just behind is a small fairground, which I recall visiting when I was a small child - I used then to think it was quite impressive! The bay has also now been made famous by featuring extensively in the TV series 'Gavin and Stacey'. Up until the 1960s, however, it used to be packed during Bank Holidays with people coming on day trips from the mining communities in the valleys: newsreel footage shows every inch of sand covered with families! It's rather quieter than that, now, but still popular for day trips.

The larger of the two beaches on the island, this is very popular with holiday makers and local…read morewalkers. It's a surprisingly huge beach with soft golden sand and long headlands on either side. Ideal for families throughout the season for swimming and sunbathing. There is usually a coastguard presence. There are horse and carriage rides along the beach in summer, and many tourist and beach shops, cafes and fast food outlets around the promenade. The famous Pleasure Park lies behind the beach. The island railway station is fairly close (by foot) and you can journey to Cardiff from here.

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!

I wish I could say I came here to rock climb, but mainly I just visit Ogmore-by-Sea with my beloved…read moreand his two-year-old daughter (which explains the my photo of a stuffed cow on the grassy knoll). Even on cold, dreary days, you'll find surfers of all ages here. When the sun emerges, be prepared, as this beach gets crowded with picnickers and lovers walking hand in hand. This was my first excursion to a Welsh beach (I ignorantly thought all seafronts in the world were lined with soft sand), so it was a pleasant surprise to find jagged cliffs and smooth rocks in place of fine white grain. I think Ogmore is the ideal spot for a picnic, with spectacular views, ample car parking and pretty clean bathrooms for a beach spot (there was even soap and loo roll!). Be careful during certain times of the day, as the tide comes in much faster than you'd expect - we set up our blanket and within 15 minutes had to move it to back!

I grew up in Ogmore by Sea, and lived pretty much right on the beachfront until I was about 15…read more Stupidly, I've probably been to the beach here more in the 6 years since moving away than in the entire 15 years I lived there! This is one of the nicest and most popular beaches in the area, and one of the largest. When the tide's out there's plenty of space here and there's also some really interesting caves all along the front stretching down to Southerndown. These were used by the famous smugglers of the area. Their modus operandi would be to attach lanterns to the local sheep. Passing ships would then come in towards land and get wrecked on the many submerged rocks in the area. The smugglers would then loot the wreckages and store their various goods inside the caves. There are even rumours that when the smugglers' local tavern was demolished (on the banks of the River Ogmore) a concealed tunnel was found, stretching about a mile to Southerndown. They would use this to make a quick escape. There's plenty of history here and there are many more interesting stories emanating from the local area, adding further mystique to the beach itself. Quick word of warning though - keep your eye on the tides as you can get stranded if it catches you unawares When the tide's in, the only area accesible is pretty rocky. I'm no expert (as the next few words will demonstrate) but there are many cool looking rocks to be found here (!). I've found plenty of fossils - some of them pretty large. Apart from the beach itself, in the summer there are burger vans and ice cream vans to keep you refreshed. It's a great part of the South Wales coast and it's teeming with history. You can walk pretty much all the way around the coast as well, around to Southerndown and Nash Point. If the sun's out, I would highly recommend it as there's some truly breathtaking views to be had along the way.

This beach, also known as Aberavon Sands, is a lovely wide three mile stretch of fine sand. It's…read morepopular with walkers, holiday makers and families and swimmers too as it is a Blue Flag beach. There were about 20 people swimming in the sea today, while we were on the Promenade, despite the cool weather, no sun and icy water!! At times there are very large waves and then you'll see droves of surfers (or whatever the collective noun is). A lot of money (almost £4m) has been put into facilities, repairs and renovation projects over the past few years and we've seen a considerable improvement during that time. There are many parking facilities along the Promenade near the beach, both pay and display car parks and free parking bays. My video is from a year or two ago: Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6r43vmWFf4

Great place for a family day out!…read more This is a long flat promenade - onto a huge stretch of sandy beach. The promenade is flat and accessible to all, and there are steps down onto the beach. It's a favourite place for our family - the dog loves to walk on the beach (but only allowed October to May - I think!), and the Council litter wardens patrol quite often, so remember to pick up your doggie poos! There's great children's playground, a paddling pool and a skateboard area, along with fish and chips and ice cream sellers. There's also a lovely little cafe on the prom - Remo's, which is well worth a visit. Plenty of free parking is available close by, as well.