Rest Bay Circular Walk
This circular walk explores the area around the lovely Rest Bay in Porthcawl. There's a lovely beach here and great views over the bay to the Bristol Channel and the coast of North Devon.
You can start the walk from the Rest Bay car park on the western side of Porthcawl. Then pick up the coastal footpaths heading north to Sker Point. Near here you could take a detour to visit the nearby Kenfig Pool Nature Reserve where there's lots of wildlife to see. This route heads north east past Sker House towards Parc Newydd Farm. Here you can pick up Moor Lane and follow the pleasant country lane south east before turning west to pass through Porthcawl.
Postcode
CF36 3UP - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsRest Bay Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Rest Bay Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Rest Bay OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Rest Bay Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
To continue your walking in the area you could head to Ogmore by Sea and visit the splendid Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes.
The splendid Margam Country Park and the unusual Brombil Reservoir area also nearby.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
North end of Rest Bay. Taken from the coast path which runs along the golf course just to the right, the top end of the bay is less frequented because there are no car parks within easy reach of this excellent beach and there is a scramble over large pebbles and jagged limestone rocks.
Royal Porthcawl Golf Club. The royal Porthcal golf Club viewed from Locks common, with Rest Bay in the foreground and Sker House and Port Talbot steel works in the distance.
View over Sker Rocks
Rest Bay coastline. Looking north-west towards the expanse of the flat Ffynnon-wen Rocks. Sker Point is in the distance.
Sker Point and Kenfig Sands. Practically at seal level, Sker Point is just a grassy knoll. The vast expanse of Kenfig Sands is in the middle distance leading to Margam Sands and the Port Talbot steel works. The hills at the back mark the coastline of Swansea Bay.
The Miners' Rest at Porthcawl. The Rest was established as a seaside convalescent hospital for the working classes, particularly miners, in 1862, in Porthcawl, Glamorgan. To stay at the ‘Rest’ you needed a ticket from a subscribing organisation, such as a trade union, welfare association, or Co-operative Society.
This is the Lifeguard Station at Rest Bay, Porthcawl. Across the Bristol Channel the coast of North Devon can be seen in the background.
Looking South from the North end of the bay. Very flat grassy banks mark the end of the bay. In the distance is the golf course and the large building is The Rest.