South Wales Coastal Path Walk from Nash Point to Barry

Walking the South Wales Coastal Path
Trail Description: roamingspices.com/south-wales...
Music: www.bensound.com
Part 1 - Nash Point to Llantwit Major Beach
From the Clifftop Cafe, head east along the small paved road, shortly reaching the first of the two iconic Nash Point lighthouses; the low (west) tower and the high (east tower).
Once past the lighthouses and across a stone style you are on to the coastal path proper, where it is now just you, a grass trail underfoot and the dramatic jagged cliffs of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast just metres off to your right.
After a couple of kilometres, the trail enters a small wooded area and almost immediately the path descends and breaks out on St Donat’s Bay, alongside the turreted stone wall that marks the southern boundary of the grounds of Atlantic College.
The next point of interest is a little over a kilometre further along the coast as the path descends from the clifftop once more and into the picturesque, pebble adorned cove at Tresilian Bay.
From Tresilian Bay, it is just a short one-kilometre hop along the open clifftops before once again meeting the shoreline at Llantwit Major Beach.
Part 2 - Llantwit Major Beach to Aberthaw
This long stretch of the Wales Coastal Path takes you all the way to the eastern edge of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast at Aberthaw. From the beach, there is a short but fairly steep climb to retake your position atop the rugged cliffs.
Here you may fancy a short diversion from the coastal path to check out the Cwm Colhuw Nature Reserve, where the scrub and hedgerows offer excellent nesting opportunities for a variety of birds.
Once back on the coastal path, your eyes will now inevitably be drawn to the towering chimney stack that hugs the coastline many miles away. This is the Aberthaw power station and is the one substantial blot on the landscape that is sadly unavoidable when hiking this section of the South Wales Coastal Path.
Thankfully, this monstrosity is no longer operational and closed officially on 31 March 2020 and is currently in its decommissioning process. We can only hope that in the not too distant future, the coastline upon which it sits, will be returned to its former glory once again.
Part 3 - Aberthaw to Barry
A short distance from the power station, you will enter the Aberthaw Biodiversity Area, containing the Aberthaw Nature Reserve and the now derelict lime works. Take the path that runs along the shoreline for a few hundred metres until you spot some steps on your left that lead you to the top of the cliffs once more.
You will now find yourself entering the Fontygary Caravan and Leisure Park. Now, walking through a static caravan park is probably not your idea of a picturesque, cliff top walk along the South Wales Coastal Path. To be honest, it’s not mine either!
However, the trail does literally stick to the cliff edge, with just a wooden fence to keep you safe, so the super views remain constant, even through this built-up section of the walk. Thankfully, within 15-20 minutes, you will find yourself back out on the grassy, open cliff top.
A short distance further on, you will venture into the most southerly settlement in mainland Wales, known as Rhoose Point. Here former quarries have evolved into a large, modern housing estate with coastal nature reserve, boasting a number of ponds making this a haven for birdlife.
You will also find breaches in the limestone cliffs, allowing a safe thoroughfare to the shoreline where no sand will be found but instead a series of wave-cut platforms and rock pools.
A quick jaunt along the coast and you will find yourself in Porthkerry Leisure Park, the second static caravan and leisure facility along this stretch of coastline. Pass swiftly through and into a large field to its east.
Head towards the field’s southern side and you will spot a path leading into the woodland. A short stroll down through this thickly shrouded wood and you break out on to the pebble beach marking the southern extent of Porthkerry Park.
Continue along the path that runs parallel to the shoreline until you reach the 133 steps that lead you up the steep incline into Cliff Wood and back onto the clifftop. Following this short stint along this wooded path, you will enter a large open grassed recreation area that acts as a buffer between the houses along Marine Drive and the tree-clad cliff top.
Continue along this grassy expanse and soon you will find yourself descending sharply as the Pebble Beach at the Knap in Barry opens up before you. A couple of minutes later, your 14 mile (23 km) Wales Coastal Path walk from Nash Point will be complete!

[@ezrarowe08]

hello! awesome video!! how long did this walk take you? some friends and I are hiking from UWC (St Donats) to Cardiff - so about twice the length to Barry?

[@StudioChimps]

Could you mountain bike it too? Might walk this soon. Thank oh n the website is a great read.

[@roamingspices2838]

I can't see any reason why you couldn't mountain bike this route. The walk is great though!