Porthcawl

Porthcawl
Porthcawl
Population	16,000
OS grid reference	SS825775
Principal area	Bridgend;
Preserved county	Mid Glamorgan;
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	PORTHCAWL
Postcode district	CF36
Dialling code	01656
Police	South Wales
Fire	South Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
UK Parliament	Bridgend;
	List of places UK Wales Bridgend

Porthcawl is a town on the south coast of Glamorgan, Wales, in the county borough of Bridgend.

Overview

Situated on a low limestone headland on the south Wales coast, overlooking the Bristol Channel, Porthcawl developed as a coal port during the 19th century, but its trade was soon taken over by more rapidly developing ports such as Barry. Northwest of the town, in the dunes known as Kenfig Burrows, are hidden the last remnants of the town and castle of Kenfig, which were overwhelmed by sand about 1400.

Porthcawl is a leading holiday resort in southern Wales and is home to one of the largest caravan and camping parks in Europe, Trecco Bay. It has an extensive promenade and several beaches, two of which are Blue Flag beaches: a tourist-oriented beach at Trecco Bay, at the east end of the town; a sandy beach at Rest Bay, which lies to the northwest of the town; and the quiet and sandy Pink bay leading out towards Sker point. A tarmac-covered beach lies in front of the promenade.

There are many hotels and B&Bs and a funfair. Four rocky points line the shore: Hutchwns Point, Porthcawl Point (on which a lighthouse is situated), Rhych Point and Newton Point.

Author Rhys Hughes grew up in the town.

Local attractions

Tourist attractions in the area include sandy beaches, a Grand Pavilion, a fun fair named Coney Beach (modeled after Coney Island in New York City), and 3 golf courses.

The Grand Pavilion was built during the 1930s and has a capacity of 643 It is the venue for popular shows, including the annual pantomime, one of the most popular in Wales. The singer, actor, and civil rights activist Paul Robeson once performed 'live' at the Pavilion via a trans-atlantic telephone link.

The town has over recent years become famous for its annual Christmas Day Swim which is held at Coney Beach each year. Participants brave the cold, waters to raise money for local good causes. The event takes place at 11am every Christmas Day morning and attracts thousands of spectators, sponsors. [1]

It also has an Elvis festival every September which attracts Elvis impersonators from all walks of life. [2].

Sports

Porthcawl is generally regarded as one of the top locations in Wales for surfing and competitions are held at Rest Bay. It also has an extensive golf course which attracts players from around the world.

Getting there

Road - M4 motorway junction 37, left at Pyle roundabout, then follow A4229 south direct to Porthcawl
Rail - nearest station is Pyle, although Bridgend station is the nearest mainline station, with direct trains from Paddington.
Sea - crossings from Ireland to: Swansea, Pembroke Dock and Fishguard
Air - Cardiff International Airport