Kenfig Sands

The dunes here stretch for miles, proper wild and undeveloped compared to the manicured beaches you'll find just down the coast. Kenfig Sands sits between Porthcawl and Bridgend, a long sweep of sand backed by substantial dunes that actually feel like Wales rather than a theme park version of it.

You're looking at a substantial walk from the car park to reach the water - easily thirty minutes if you're meandering through the dune system. The sand itself is firm and decent for walking, though it gets windy enough that you'll want to brace yourself. The view isn't dramatic in the cliff-top sense, but there's something properly atmospheric about it, especially on an overcast day when the sea turns grey and the dunes feel genuinely remote.

Families with older kids will find it excellent - plenty of space to roam, rock pools if the tide's right, and enough dune scrambling to keep children occupied for hours. Younger ones might struggle with the walk in. Walkers should allow two to three hours to do it justice; the sand swallows time.

Stay at Trecco Bay Holiday Park, just 4.3 miles away, and you've got a proper base for exploring both this and the busier Porthcawl beaches. The advantage of Kenfig is that it's far quieter. You won't find facilities out here - no cafes, no facilities - so bring what you need. Free to access, open year-round, though winter storms can make it properly dramatic.