Barry Island Beach

Photo by Melanie Hartshorn
If you’re looking for a quintessential Welsh seaside experience, look no further than Barry Beach in the picturesque Vale of Glamorgan.

Sun worshippers have been flocking here since Victorian times to what is essentially a small island, though joined now to the mainland since 1896 by a small pier. The site of a Butlins holiday camp during the 1960’s, Barry Beach is perfect for families, with its signature calling card being Barry Island Pleasure Park. Come here for crowds, candy floss and sticks of rock, the scream of the rollercoaster and the thump of the dodgems.

When the fun of the fair has worn you out, the Blue Flag winning Barry Island Beach offers great swimming, a range of seaside shops, delicious fish and chips, more ice cream than you can eat in a month of sundaes and wonderful views of the two craggy limestone headlands.

Barry Island Beach is the generic name for what are actually several distinct coves: Whitmore Bay, which lies between the two peninsulas of Friar’s Point and Nell’s Point Jackson Bay, nestling between Nell's Point and Little Island and Old Harbour beach around Friar's Point is the third destination, offering a massive expanse of sand at low tide.

Sporting activities enjoyed here include beach volleyball, snorkelling, windsurfing, sea-kayaking and some rather good fishing. Anglers catch whiting and even the odd sea bass when conditions are right here. In recent years, several TV shows have helped popularise this dramatic coastal area, in particular, the comedy show Gavin and Stacey.

Reviews of Barry Island Beach

4.2
Top destination
5 - Excellent
31
" "5 - Excellent 40.78947368421053%
4 - Good
28
" "4 - Good 36.8421052631579%
3 - Okay
15
" "3 - Okay 19.736842105263158%
2 - Disappointing
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" "2 - Disappointing 2.6315789473684212%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
5 Mar 2019

Yes.royal hotel is best

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Top Barry Island Beach Hotel Deals

The Angel Hotel
The Angel Hotel
3 out of 5
Castle Street, Cardiff, Wales
The Angel Hotel
Gails Guest House
Gails Guest House
3 out of 5
3 Plymouth Road, Barry, Wales
Gails Guest House
Goodstay Apartments by Urban Space
Goodstay Apartments by Urban Space
4 out of 5
Hood Road, Barry, Wales
Goodstay Apartments by Urban Space
Holiday Inn Express Cardiff Airport, an IHG Hotel
Holiday Inn Express Cardiff Airport, an IHG Hotel
3 out of 5
Port Road, Rhoose, Barry, Wales
Holiday Inn Express Cardiff Airport, an IHG Hotel
The Parkgate Hotel
The Parkgate Hotel
4 out of 5
Westgate Street, Cardiff, Wales
The Parkgate Hotel
Copthorne Hotel Cardiff-Caerdydd
Copthorne Hotel Cardiff-Caerdydd
4 out of 5
Copthorne Way Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff, Wales
Copthorne Hotel Cardiff-Caerdydd
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.