Dunraven Bay to Nash Point - The best hike on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast
Located on the south coast of Wales, the Glamorgan Heritage Coast stretches 14 magical miles from Aberthaw in the east to Porthcawl in the West.
Arguably the most popular and beautiful section of this coastline runs between Dunraven bay and Nash point.
This section of coastline is made up of sheer sided sedimentary cliffs which tower high above a bedrock of pools and fossils.
The moderately challenging walk is 8km one way and involves 300m of elevation gain.
Although large parts of the walk are on the flat cliff tops, the route drops into by several short but steep bays which some people may find slightly challenging.
The great thing about this walk is you can turn around or bail out at several points, and once you reach the end point you can catch the hourly public bus back to the start.
Key Information
Hike Type: One way
Hike Distance: 8.2km
Elevation Gain: 321m
Hike Difficulty: Moderate
Parking: Dunraven Bay
What Three Words location: ///unsightly.dose.refuse
Where to park
Parking is available directly behind Dunraven Bay.
From late spring to early autumn its costs £5 for all day parking and during the winter months it sis free.
The car park is very small with space for around 20 cars, however there is a field situated beyond the car park which acts as an overflow.
Alternatively, there is large gravel pay and display car park up on the cliff top with space for around 30 cars, this costs £1 for an hour or £6 for all day.
Public transport
If you didn’t have access to a car then this route is fully accessible via public transport.
The 303 Adventure bus which runs between Bridgend and Llantwit Major, stops at the three golden cups pub which is situated above Dunraven bay.
From there its a 900m walk down to the beach via the road.
The bus also stops at several point son the route and close to the end point at Nash point.
The bus timetable can be found here, but it tends to run every hour from 6am to 11pm.
The Route
The route begins at Dunraven Bay.
Often called Southerndown, This Blue Flag beach is backed by dramatic sedimentary cliffs and is one of the most popular in the area.
The beach has a toilet and a small café and is accessible via a concrete slipway, meaning it is wheelchair and pushchair friendly.
The trail starts by making the short but steep walk up to the headland.
You can either follow the cliff top or if you wanted to make things easier you can follow the road up to the castle.
Witches point
Following the cliff path for around 500m you’ll reach the top of Witches point.
From here you’ll have magnificent views north west over Dunraven Bay and south east over temple bay.
Dunraven Castle
Down beneath you is also the ruins of Dunraven Castle.
Originally a trading post which was replaced by a Roman Fort, the site becoming a manor house in the 1700s.
The last known residence was Dunraven castle which acted as a makeshift hospital during the two world wars.
The castle was demolished in the 1963 however Ruins have been left and parts have been turned into a walled garden which are completely free to explore year round.
From witches point or Dunraven castle continue to follow the coastal path eastwards,
The Journey to Cwm Nash Beach
1km after leaving Witches point, you’ll head inland and down into a forest to navigate Nant Cwm Mawr.
Once over the river you’ll turn back on yourself and return to the coastal path, from here continue to walk along the cliff top for a further 2.8km until you reach Monknash Beach.
Despite being located only 16 miles from Cardiff, these cliffs give you a profound sense of wilderness.
The majority of the coastline is a ‘SSSI’– Sight of specific scientific interest - due to its high geological and botanical value.
The sedimentary rocks date back to the Jurassic period and the flat limestone terraces which line the cliffs bases are littered with fossils
Caution should be taken when walking this route as the cliffs have sheer drops and are prone to erosion. Because of this steer clear of the edges and always keep your dog on a lead.
Cwm Nash Beach
4.6km into the walk you’ll reach Cwm Nash also known as Monknash beach.
This is a beautiful rocky beach backed by by steep sedimentary cliffs.
Similar to Dunraven bay in appearance, the beach is only accessible via a one mile walk from the roadside which makes it a much quieter alternative.
The cliffs are also thought to be a burial site from the 1,600s after fierce storms caused them collapse revealing the long-forgotten graves.
Because the beach is just over half way into the walk and the path takes you down to the shoreline, It is a great place to stop and spend some time.
It is also dog friendly.
From Cwm Nash continue to follow the coastal path south eastwards for a further 2.3km until you reach Nash point.
If you did have enough of the walk you can either turn around and retrace your steps, or walk up the the tree lined valley for one mile to the Plough and Harrow Pub.
From here you can catch the 303 adventure bus which runs every hour back to Dunraven bay.
Nash Point
After 7km you will reach Nash point, which is the final coastal stop on the walk
This is another stunning rocky bay, backed by sheer sedimentary cliffs which overlooks a expansive bedrock of pools and fossils.
the route will bring you to the headland which the beach gets its name and from here you will have great views back down the coastline.
If it’s low tide I would take the time walk onto the wave cut limestone terraces which line the shoreline.
The rock pools are lined with fossils and have a history of shipwrecks dating back to Roman times.
The most notorious shipwreck which happened here was the story the Frolic. This was a wooden steam boast run aground in 1831 claiming all 78 lives.
This was the last tragedy before the 37m lighthouse was built in 1832.
Be careful of the slippery bedrock, keep an eye on the tide and do not wonder underneath the cliffs
Nash point lighthouse can also be found on the cliffs above the beach, you can walk up to its base but it isn’t open to the public.
Nash points ease of access alongside its dramatic coastal features make it a very popular spot for photographers and also a great place to watch the sunset from.
How to get back to Dunraven Bay
From Nash point you have two option to get back to Dunraven bay.
You can either turn around and retrace your steps for 7km, or alternatively you can walk 1.3km up the road which runs alongside Marcross brook to the Horseshoe inn located in Marcross.
From outside the pub you can catch the 303-adventure bus back to the Three Golden Cups Inn above Dunraven bay.
If you did have some time to spare or were hungry the pub is a great spot for food and a drink.
Once back at the pub you have to make the short 900m walk back down to the beach.
If the weather is good I would also recommend stick around for sunset as you will be able to see the sun dip below the horizon.
Final Thoughts
This walk takes in some of the finest coastal scenery in Wales and is only a stones throw from the capital of Cardiff.
Because it’s neither that that long or difficult its also a great choice for families, just make sure to not let your children stray to close to the cliff edge.
Dunraven bay does get extremely busy during the summer months and around school holidays. For this reason I would recommend tackling this walk either early in the morning or later on in the afternoon.
Alternatively you can park at Nash Point and complete the walk in reverse.
If you are short on time, i would still recommend visiting either Nash point or Dunraven Bay to see the spectacular coastal scenery and possibly find some fossils.
If you did go just to visit Dunraven bay, do check the tide times.
Whilst low tide showcases a large expanse of golden sand, at high tide the beach becomes a small rocky shoreline and space becomes very limited.
I would also recommend heading down to Dunraven bay or Nash Point for sunset as they are spectacular from across the coastline.
So there we have it, a guide to the best walk on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast.
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You can find more Welsh hiking inspiration in the following blogs
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