Southerndown Beach (Dunraven Bay)

  • Southerndown Beach - Glamorgan
    © Capt' Gorgeous and licensed for reuse under this Licence
  • Southerndown Beach - Glamorgan
    © Dai Lygad and licensed for reuse under this Licence
  • Southerndown Beach - Glamorgan
    © Richard Szwejkowski and licensed for reuse under this Licence
  • Southerndown Beach - Glamorgan
    © Capt' Gorgeous and licensed for reuse under this Licence
  • Southerndown Beach - Glamorgan
    © Dai Lygad and licensed for reuse under this Licence
  • Southerndown Beach - Glamorgan
    © Mick Lobb and licensed for reuse under this Licence
  • Southerndown Beach - Glamorgan
    © Capt' Gorgeous and licensed for reuse under this Licence
  • Southerndown Beach - Glamorgan
    © Jeremy Bolwell and licensed for reuse under this Licence
  • Southerndown Beach - Glamorgan
    © joncandy and licensed for reuse under this Licence
  • Southerndown, also known as Dunraven Bay, is a predominantly sandy beach, with rocky areas exposed at high tide. It is located along the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, and is enclosed by spectacular cliffs.

    The beach itself is popular for swimming, and watersports such as canoeing and surfing. It has some excellent rock pools which can be explored at low tide. The rocks here are rich in fossils, and it is one of the best beaches in the area for fossil hunters.

    The beach is surrounded by open countryside. A path runs along the cliff tops towards Ogmore to the North West, offering good views out over the Bristol Channel. Care should be taken when walking here as there are no safety barriers. A short walk in the other direction leads to a castle and hill fort.

    A car park, with toilets, sits above the beach, from which the shore can be accessed down a short ramp. The Glamorgan Heritage Coast Visitor Centre is located very close by, offering plenty of useful information on the locality.

    Pubs can be found in the nearby village of Southerndown. Further facilities can be found in Ogmore-by-Sea, or Bridgend.

    Also known as:

    Dunraven Bay

    Type of beach

    Sand & pebble

    Lifeguard service

    Yes

    Dogs friendly beach?

    Dogs are banned from 1st May to 30th September

    Glamorgan dog friendly beaches »

    Activities

    • Kayaking/canoeing
    • Swimming/bathing
    • Rock pooling
    • Surfing

    Facilities

    • Toilets
    • Shop

    Nearest town

    Porthcawl

    Postcode

    CF32 0RT

    OS grid ref.

    SS 8848 7285

    Parking

    car park next to the beach. a fee applies. This can get busy when an overflow is availbale a short walk away.

    Water quality

    Water quality star rating

    Awards

    Marine Conservation Society Recommended

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    Southerndown Beach Reviews

    Jul 11th 2019

    simply great just no words for the breathtaking scenary

    Jul 09th 2019

    I went here with my school and it was fun. There is a lovely walk and lots of rock pools for kids to go crabbing in. It was fun and it wasn’t that dangerous the dangerous parts had signs so you don’t go there.

    Southerndown

    May 31st 2021

    Dangerous cliffs. It’s a private beach with car parking charges. Quite a steep walk to the village, not suitable for people with mobility issues. Only one pub in village. Problems with traffic movement in village when beach car park full. No dogs allowed on beach in summer.

    Juni
    Aug 20th 2019

    Wonderful beach, I just don’t understand why the ramp ends at an ‘assault course’ of slippy rocks that you have to climb over making this inaccessible to disabled and those less nimble. I saw a young mum holding a baby slip trying to get to the ramp and my heart was in my mouth.
    Other than that, very picturesque.

    Stunning

    Chris
    Jun 04th 2022

    Southerndown is a wonderful beach. It’s unspoilt and is exactly as it was when I visited as a child. The scenery/geology is breathtaking and there’s the added bonus of a little shop and loos. The beach itself has a gentle slope and lovely sand at low tide. There are ancient rocks in the sand surrounded by pools and plenty to explore. Cliffs can be dangerous if too close and check tides for swimming. Car park is well organised - if the lower one is full - there’s a grassy overflow. £5 for the day is great value!

    Unbelievable

    Jun 16th 2021

    Southerndown beach is what it is. There are rockfalls which add to the rocky part at the start of the beach, so please don’t get close to the cliff face. The tide can cut people off, and no dogs are allowed in the summer. Ignorant people are ignoring the signs, and not checking what’s available before going there. RNLI are having to rescue people cut off by tide, unnecessarily wasting time for urgent call-outs. People are going dangerously near edge on top of cliff. But it can be beautiful if safety is thought about. Please take your rubbish home, and use toilets at the bottom of road (if open) to urinate or defecate .

    Richard Evans
    Mar 27th 2021

    My favourite beach in the world. But the ramp access to the beach is becoming an embarrassment. How an earth are disabled and elderly people supposed to access the beach with the assault course of rocks. Not really good enough when you charge 5 pounds each for parking.

    Exactly what a Beach should be!

    Dec 18th 2020

    This is an outstandingly beautiful beach. As it is on the Welsh coast and not the Amalfi coast it comes with rocks, rock pools and seaweed, so wear appropriate footwear. Both my children have the best adventures there whether its summer or winter.
    Check tide times before you come to avoid disappointment.

    UNBELIEVABLE

    Guy Myers
    Jul 08th 2019

    honestly I thought this beach was good but the rocks in it made it super dangerous I saw a 7 year old hit his head on it also the rock pool is so sad we are scaring the animlas. we should shut this beach before someone dies a