Surf Wales Rest Bay Beach Guide

Rest Bay

Picks up most swell. Peaky but packed.

This is the most popular beach in Glamorgan and is found off the coast of Porthcawl. At low tide the beach extends west towards Pink Bay and east into the cove, which is often your best bet for decent lines at this stage of tide. As the tide comes in the cove becomes cut off from the main bay with the tide eventually breaking onto rocks. Rest works best around mid tide, when a popular spot is towards the right, in front of the golf course. This unfortunately is also lost as the tide continues to rise, forcing everyone in the water into the main bay area, in front of the lifeguard station at high tide. Rest Bay is extremely popular because it picks up any swell in the area and can serve up some tasty peaks along the stretch of the beach. It has been known to barrel in the right conditions. However, there's a large population in this area, and Cardiff (the capital of Wales) is nearby, so it's nearly always busy.

Summary

Works all stages of the tide. Small to moderate swell.

NE offshore

Long-shore rip

Easily accessed with lots of parking

Emergency phone with lifeguard in summer

It is a sandy beach, with left and right handers. Northeasterlies are offshore. Beware of the rocks as the tide comes in, especially the point between the bay and the cove at the east end of the bay. There is nearly always a rip pulling you left towards these rocks and it can become quite strong so needs to be taken seriously.

The lifeguard station at the top of the ramp leading down to the beach is manned in the summer, and an emergency phone is on the side of the building if its closed. It is a blue flag beach, although you wont be able to see your feet! Summer is BUSY with tourists, both the beach and the water. There's usually no problem with parking but it will cost you. Malc's cafe is at the top of the common overlooking the beach (by the main car park) with toilets behind the building. There's also a drinking tap outside the lifeguard station and in the summer Simon Tucker's Surf Academy is nearly always situated next to the lifeguard station for lessons or equipment hire.

Recently the police have been warning surfers to lock their cars and to not leave the keys under the wheels because surfer's cars have been stolen in this area. Also, don't be tempted to park on the double yellows on the road down to the bay. The police often come down to book all the cars along this road (and in the disabled spaces). If they do you usually know about it through the sudden surge of surfers paddling in, storming the beach and running to get their car started. Quite a sight. There's no accommodation or pubs at the beach, but there are plenty of pubs, B&Bs, campsites etc. in and around Porthcawl. There are several surf shops in Porthcawl itself, between them selling almost anything you could need.