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Rest Bay Beach

**🏝️ Rest Bay Beach At a Glance**
- 📍 Location: Porthcawl, Bridgend, South Wales
- 🏖️ Beach Type: Sandy, backed by low cliffs
- 🐶 Dog Access: No dogs on the main section from 1 May to 30 September
- ☕ Facilities: Cafe & restaurant at Watersports Centre, toilets, showers, surf hire & shop, first aid, seasonal lifeguards
- 🚗 Parking: Pay & display car park immediately behind the beach; disabled bays closer to the lifeguard station

Rest Bay is one of Porthcawl’s most accessible and lively beaches, a long stretch of sand backed by gentle cliffs, offering good surf, a family-friendly atmosphere, and a strong sense of community.

It lies just a short drive or walk from Porthcawl town, and is well served by facilities, lifeguards in summer, a surf school, and a watersports centre. It is popular among surfers, windsurfers, and kitesurfers, with designated zones.

Rest Bay Beach is approximately 2.5 kilometres at low tide and faces southwest towards the Bristol Channel.  The beach is a mix of sand, rock slabs, and pebbles at the high tide line.

Porthcawl town sits on the southeast end of the bay, while the northwest end has the Royal Porthcawl Golf Course. A boardwalk / coastal path runs alongside, connecting to Pink Bay and further west toward Sker.

No dogs are allowed on Rest Bay Beach from May 1st to September 30th.

Facilities include car parking, toilets, seasonal lifeguards, a watersports centre and a beach restaurant/cafe/bar.

7 Day Weather Forecast

Today
partlycloudy_night
12.3℃–12.9℃
7.1 m/s (S)
Mon, Nov 10
lightrainshowers_day
11.3℃–12℃
7.3 m/s (S)
Tue, Nov 11
rain
11.3℃–12.1℃
8.5 m/s (SSW)
Wed, Nov 12
rain
13.2℃–13.8℃
9.5 m/s (SSW)
Thu, Nov 13
lightrain
12.2℃–12.9℃
3.4 m/s (SSW)
Fri, Nov 14
lightrain
13℃–13.6℃
6.1 m/s (ENE)
Sat, Nov 15
heavyrain
8.2℃–10℃
11.9 m/s (ENE)
Sun, Nov 16
clearsky_day
5.3℃–6.1℃
7.3 m/s (ENE)

Our Porthcawl weather forecast is from Yr, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and NRK

Map, Directions & Contact Info

Rest Bay Beach, Porthcawl, Porthcawl, Bridgend CF36 3UW, United Kingdom

Get directions to Rest Bay Beach

If you want more information on the area visit our local Porthcawl Destination page or our regional Bridgend Destination page.

Where to Stay

Nearby Attractions

While visiting Rest Bay Beach, take the opportunity to explore other attractions in the area.

Place to eat

Rest Bay Cafe Bar

Rest Bay Cafe Bar is on the eastern edge of Rest Bay in Porthcawl. The cafe offers options to sit Read more…
Place Tags: Cafes
0.54 km
Pink Bay

Pink Bay

Pink Bay is one of those hidden beaches that sits as a stretch between more popular beaches, in this case, Read more…
Place Tags: Beaches and Dog Friendly
1.33 km
Place to eat

Piccolo Bar

Piccolo Bar is on the Esplanade overlooking Porthcawl’s Town Beach. It offers a choice of indoor and outdoor seating with Read more…
Place Tags: Cafes
2.01 km
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Porthcawl Town Beach

This is the beach right off the Esplanade by the Grand Pavilion – central, scenic, full of atmosphere. Town Beach Read more…
Place Tags: Beaches, Dog Friendly and Dog Restrictions
2.01 km
Porthcawl-lifeboat-station

Porthcawl lifeboat station

Porthcawl lifeboat station was established in 1860 and now operates an inshore lifeboat. Station is generally open daily and the Read more…
Place Tags: Lifeboats
2.31 km
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Sandy Bay Beach (Coney Beach)

Sandy Bay, commonly called Coney Beach, is one of Porthcawl’s livelier and more accessible beaches. It’s part of the seafront Read more…
Place Tags: Beaches, Dog Friendly and Dog Restrictions
2.53 km
Place to eat

Beach Cafe

The Beach Cafe is a small family-run cafe sitting by the small headland between Sandy Bay and Trecco Bay beaches. Read more…
Place Tags: Cafes
3 km
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Kenfig National Nature Reserve

Kenfig National Nature Reserve is near Porthcawl, Bridgend, offering a freshwater lake and dunes. This is a highlight for bird Read more…
Place Tags: Outdoors - Nature
3.25 km
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Trecco Bay Beach

Trecco Bay is one of Porthcawl’s more family-friendly beaches, backed by a large holiday park. It forms part of the Read more…
Place Tags: Beaches, Blue Flag Awards, Dog Friendly and Dog Restrictions
3.38 km
View all

FAQs

  • Can I bring my dog to Rest Bay Beach?
    Rest Bay Beach has seasonal restrictions, prohibiting dogs on the main section from May 1 to September 30.
  • Is there parking nearby?
    Yes, there is a pay-and-display car park immediately behind the beach, with disabled bays located closer to the lifeguard station.
  • Are there lifeguards?
    Yes, Rest Bay has seasonal lifeguards.

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Place Category: Beaches
Place Tags: Beaches Blue Flag Awards Dog Friendly Dog Restrictions

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