The
Glamorgan Coast Path (4)
Barry to
Cardiff
This final stretch of the Coast Path is just 11 miles and makes a manageable
day's walk. Despite its proximity to major towns there is still good walking as
the photos below indicate. Check the tides if you wish to walk partly along the
beaches. Refreshments can be found at the Captain's Wife and Penarth
sea-front. Eventually it will be possible to walk through to the Cardiff side of
Cardiff Bay but currently a wire fence at the end of the barrage prevents
pedestrian access. However, a land train operates through the summer and some
school holidays and a water bus operates throughout the year - details from www.cardiffwaterbus.com
- but check which jetties it is calling at. Both of these take you across the
bay to the Cardiff side.
The route starts at Barry Island railway station, (ST 11468/66676) - for a
map click here. Ordnance Survey Explorer map
151 covers the walk.
Whitmore Bay looking East on left, West on
right.
This starts with an optional 2 mile perambulation around Barry Island. From
the railway station on Barry Island cross the pedestrian crossing and turn right
for 100 yards before curving left to reach the sea-front. Head left along the
promenade, the beach on your right, and at the far end take the narrower tarmac
track which curves around the headland just above the rocks - Clement Colley
walk. Ahead of you are the islands of Flat Holm to the left, Steep Holm to the
right and between, the prominent hump of Brean Down. The path continues to curve
left, bringing you to the secluded Jacksons Bay. Cross the beach to pick up a
path at the far side behind the building with a Lifeguard sign which has toilets
which are infrequently open. The path heads up to the top of the cliff. Once on
the greensward head for some pine trees which surround the ruined chapel of St.
Baruch.
Left, Jacksons Bay and right, St Baruch's
Chapel
Retrace your steps back round Red Brink
Crescent and follow the road
round, passing Barry harbour to your right. Turn right into Dyfrig Street - an
industrial panorama ahead of you - and just before the road ends, turn left.
On meeting the road at the top, turn right and after 70 yards take the second
right - after 50 yards where it says Clive Road, follow the road left - across
the water to your right is the next leg of the journey. At the bottom of the
hill take the road to the right in the direction of the car park. Don't enter
the car park but follow the road right (for coaches) to reach a metal barrier -
see next section. (2.34 miles, 41 mins - not included in times or distances
which follow).
If not walking around Barry Island, with your back to the
railway station, head down the pavement to the right, passing Quasar. Follow the
road to the right under the railway bridge, crossing the road at a convenient
point. Then follow the road left in the direction of the car park. Don't enter
the car park but keep to the right of the road and rail bridges following the
direction for coaches. Go past a white metal barrier (see section above if you
have walked around the Island) and head across the parking area towards grey
metal railings in the middle of which is a pedestrian access which takes you
onto a broad track with wire fence on either side. First a yellow barrier then a
pedestrian barrier bring you onto a side road. Turn right towards a roundabout,
then ahead walking alongside the waterfront on your right.
Barry
waterfront
You can continue
along the road but it is more pleasant to take a path along the waterside. At
the end of the flats when you can go no further, turn left to the main road
opposite the Council Docks building and statue of David Davies and head right along the road. Before you reach a
roundabout cross the road with care so you are heading in the same direction
along a pedestrian way next to a cycleway. Some 2.2 miles, 38 minutes, after
leaving the railway station turn right along a road where you see a Docks sign (ST
12967/68463). This next section is on a private road which is driven and walked along by
members of the public. Keep ahead, ignoring a turning to the right, to cross a
railway line which is still in use but is supervised if a train is imminent. At
a roundabout keep straight ahead to meet a second roundabout 50 yards beyond.
(50 mins, 2.84 miles).
Keep straight ahead beyond this roundabout following
the road as it passes a container park on the left. When the road forks sharp
right keep ahead along a winding road and before you reach a building on the
right, head left over rough ground to get to the foreshore which is just 20
yards away. (ST13458/67148, 55 mins, 3.11 miles).
Looking
East from Bendrick Rock
This is a small rocky and sandy
bay - the rocky headland just to the right is Bendrick Rock and just to the
right of an old disused slipway are some genuine dinosaur footprints shown in
this photo. 
Now, head
to the left, the sea on your right, along large slabs of rock to pick up a
cliff-top path
with wire fence on left, the path veering left to meet the fence and then
heading alongside it, later enclosed by hedgerows. You pass a low white building
with colourful murals which is Ty Hafan,
the Children's Hospice in Wales. After 1.3
miles with a wall ahead and bench on right turn right to reach the foreshore and
then left along a pebbly path with houses on your left. You pass a rugby pitch
and just beyond this is a topograph to the left of the path. Pass more houses on the left and a larger
playing field area. Head along the right-hand edge towards a caravan park. When
you reach it head left up the playing field until you get to the end of the
conifers where a kissing gate brings you onto a road. Head right down this road
to get to the Captains Wife pub and restaurant. (ST16727/67477, 1 hr 41 mins,
5.59 miles)
Rocky
foreshore with Sully Island in the distance, causeway under water
NOTE:
The route to Lavernock described here does not take the footpath shown on the OS
map which runs along St Mary's Well bay as this is currently (2006) impassable
after a cliff fall. The footpath is open either end - the photo below is taken
from the path - but there is a gap in the middle with barriers. At low tide much
of the route, particularly from Lavernock to Penarth, is accessible along the
beach but some sections are rocky or bouldery.
From
the Captains Wife continue along the coast through the car park and follow the
road at first level, then winding gently uphill. Pass a caravan park with St
Mary's Well bay not visible beyond it and after 15 minutes (0.88 miles) just
past the entrance to this - the Bay Caravan park - turn right along a trackway
into a field with metal fence on right and tennis courts beyond this. Keep along
the left-hand edge of the field. After 250 yards follow the hedge boundary as it
curves to the right and then left to reach a stile in left-hand corner of the
field. With the hedgerow now on your right head towards the large cream house
ahead to pick up a path with chippings to the right of the house. A stile brings
you to the road - head right along this passing a chalet site on right which
gives access to the Marconi Inn. Continue on the road passing the church of St
Lawrence which has a plaque on the perimeter wall to Guglielmo Marconi and George Kemp.
The road ends as you pass Lavernock House on your left, becoming a path which
heads left along the cliffs (2 hrs 13 mins, 7.39 miles)
St
Mary's Well Bay with Sully Island beyond - the bay not visible from the route
Good
views open up ahead around the coast of South Wales with the second Severn
Crossing visible on a clear day. The path reaches a greensward after 18 minutes
- continue along the path to reach a parking area with children's play area,
public toilets and a cafe/restaurant which is open most of the year. (2 hrs 41
mins, 8.7 miles, ST18638/70467)
Looking
East towards Penarth
From the car park,
continue along the cliff-top path which descends to pass cafes, restaurants and
shops and then Penarth pier which may be offering fish and chips etc. It is
possible at low tide to get round the headland on the beach but it is rocky in
places. Our route follows the road as it curves left uphill. Turn right into the
grounds of a large house known as the Kymin, keeping to the left and after some
steps take the path to the left, almost doubling back, to leave the grounds via
some metal railings. (Instead of entering the Kymin you can take the path on the
right just beyond the vehicular entrance to the Kymin). Head right up this path
and then right when you meet a road - Kymin Terrace. Head right at the next road
junction which is Bradford Place and then turn right into Clive Crescent. At the
end a gate set in metal railings brings you into a small grassy area with
benches and fine coastal views.
Left,
Penarth Pier. Right, Cardiff Bay barrage locks.
Leave the
grassy area by another gate, half-way up, and walk along a street - Penarth
Headland. At the end turn right and after 50 yards follow the road as it curves
left and descends with views of Cardiff Bay opening up ahead. Stay on this road
- St Augustine's Crescent - later becoming St Augustine's Road. The road levels
and just past Northcliffe Drive follow the road right as it descends past No
Entry signs, then right again as you meet another road, still descending. Keep
ahead when you reach a roundabout and then curve left to cross the Cardiff Bay
barrage locks. If lock-gates are about to open there may be a short delay before
you can proceed. A Water Bus stopping-off point is on your left and land train
bus-stop later on your right. Continue across the barrage either alongside the
road or the bay. Two white sails mark a performance area and across the bay you
can see the Millennium arts centre (bronze building with curved roof), the
Assembly Building just to the right with white air vent and the small white
Norwegian church further right. Just beyond a children's play area is another
land-train bus-stop, then a new pale grey building, which has toilets, and
beyond this is the fence which is as far as you can go on foot. A water-bus
jetty is just before the building. (ST 19346/73528, 3 hrs 26 mins, 11.03 miles)
Left,
path across the barrage. Right, band-stand with Bay buildings in the distance.
Route
Map
