Rest Bay Beach
Rest Bay Beach
4.5
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
91 within 3 miles
Attractions
28 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
397 reviews
Excellent
267
Very good
99
Average
22
Poor
2
Terrible
7
Karrie W
5 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Check the tide times, high tide leaves only rocks. We got there at about 9.30, tide just going out, the main beach was accessible by about 12ish. Try and get a spot close to the toilets otherwise it’s a long walk! Lovely rock pools and when tide out there are small shallow pools in the sand for the kids to play in. Would go again. Would recommend taking food and drink as the cafe was really busy with very long queues. Would recommend aqua shoes for the kids if they want to play on the rockpools as they are quite jagged. Overall a great day out, social distancing on the beach just about doable!
Written 12 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FrenchJan
Ross-on-Wye, UK25 contributions
Jul 2020
Miles of soft sand, waves to body board in, fantastic rock pools, beautiful views. The newly built surf centre has everything you could need, even with Covid restrictions (including plenty of hand gel dispensers) - takeaway Costa, Mr Whippy and wrapped ice creams and lollies at reasonable prices, a small shop for essential
beach supplies and toilets, although be prepared to queue for those at busy times. Also noticed showers (as we were leaving) for getting the sand off before you get in the car to go home. Oh, and there’s ample car parking (£4 all day). Will be back.
beach supplies and toilets, although be prepared to queue for those at busy times. Also noticed showers (as we were leaving) for getting the sand off before you get in the car to go home. Oh, and there’s ample car parking (£4 all day). Will be back.
Written 22 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
susaq12
Pencoed, UK887 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We popped to Rest Bay to watch the awful storm as it hit the bay.
From Coney Beach right up to Rest Bay the sea was fierce and so dangerous for those stupid enough to walk so close, getting the perfect selfie!
The Bay has a lovely new cafe with toilets which was much needed.
The parking is in need of attention still as you have to park on the mud which isn’t ideal.
No surfers thankfully on the day we visited but it’s a great place to go to on a finer day to see these people do their thing.
From Coney Beach right up to Rest Bay the sea was fierce and so dangerous for those stupid enough to walk so close, getting the perfect selfie!
The Bay has a lovely new cafe with toilets which was much needed.
The parking is in need of attention still as you have to park on the mud which isn’t ideal.
No surfers thankfully on the day we visited but it’s a great place to go to on a finer day to see these people do their thing.
Written 27 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Isabel N
London, England, United Kingdom9 contributions
Jan 2020
The walk along the beach is beautiful but the refurbished cafe serves fairly poor and very overpriced food. I had soup and 'sourdough' bread. The bread was thin ready-sliced, seemingly industrial white with absolutely no characteristics of sourdough. The soup was tasteless. My friends had absolutely tiny portions of fries at £3.00 apiece. Extremely disappointing and a waste of what could be a great place.
Written 25 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rugbyfan63
wales17 contributions
Dec 2020
A central point to meet up with my sisters from various parts of South Wales for our annual pre Christmas get together, in order to avoid the crowds in our usual meeting places. Had a lovely hot chocolate in the cafe and enjoyed the fantastic views and beach before returning to a quiet corner of the car park for a festive picnic much to the amusement of many passers by.
Returned to the cafe for a nice not drink before going home and to use the facilities.
One sister paid for the drinks, so had her wallet then, 4 of us used the inside loos, she used the outside ones as a queue had built whilst she paid.
When she got home, no wallet. She returned early early next morning to search, and checked with the cafe and surf school, no one had handed it in. Perfect day in a beautiful place ruined by one dishonest person, happily spending someone else's Christmas savings and Scottish notes.
Returned to the cafe for a nice not drink before going home and to use the facilities.
One sister paid for the drinks, so had her wallet then, 4 of us used the inside loos, she used the outside ones as a queue had built whilst she paid.
When she got home, no wallet. She returned early early next morning to search, and checked with the cafe and surf school, no one had handed it in. Perfect day in a beautiful place ruined by one dishonest person, happily spending someone else's Christmas savings and Scottish notes.
Written 6 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SimeyWimey
Whitstable, UK893 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
Q. How do you know if someone goes surfing? A. They'll tell you. Again and again.
This is a surfing beach, however the section in the middle between the yellow and red flags is for swimmers and body borders. Not that most surfers cared. Such is their attitude. Must have been 70 surfers trying hard to catch a foot high wave today. Not many in the black and white flag section. RNLI supervisers might like to mark out the swimming area with some buoys before a surfer impales a kid swimming. It's not hard to stay out of the area especially when the water was so tame. Anyway, nice clean sandy beach, tide comes up and covers sand, no toilets apart from the 4 behind the surf hire and cafe over the road next to the car park. Expect a wait.
This is a surfing beach, however the section in the middle between the yellow and red flags is for swimmers and body borders. Not that most surfers cared. Such is their attitude. Must have been 70 surfers trying hard to catch a foot high wave today. Not many in the black and white flag section. RNLI supervisers might like to mark out the swimming area with some buoys before a surfer impales a kid swimming. It's not hard to stay out of the area especially when the water was so tame. Anyway, nice clean sandy beach, tide comes up and covers sand, no toilets apart from the 4 behind the surf hire and cafe over the road next to the car park. Expect a wait.
Written 22 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Natalie B
Cardiff, UK15 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Absolutely beautiful beach and surrounding areas. But since the refurbished cafe / surf centre has been erected there has been a significant drop in the toilet facilities. There are now only 4 toilets one of which a disabled/baby changer. All toilets are now unisex. This will NOT be somewhere i will visit in the summer as it was bad enough waiting nearly 10 mins twice today to use the toilets.
Written 3 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sam N
Upton St Leonards, UK895 contributions
Jun 2021
We live in Gloucester and decided to try out Rest Bay, so glad we did ! We arried at 9.30 am on a glorious Sunday and the car park was filling up fast. Reasonable parking at £4 for all day. We got a coffee (takeaway costa) and walked towards the nature reserve and around, beautiful walk along the boardwalk, views were stunning, lovely to see all the surfers. We then walked in the opposite direction to porthcawl, another lovely walk, stopped at a great fish and chip take away and then walked to the harbour and back for an ice cream ! Great day, will be back.
Written 13 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jordan_Nugent_
Gloucester, UK199 contributions
Jun 2021
A fantastic walk along the boardwalk and around the perimeter of the golf club. The area was kept very clean and tidy with no litter. The car park was very reasonably priced at £4 all day. Although you can pay by your phone, I would recommend paying by cash as the mobile signal isn't great.
Written 17 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jane C
3 contributions
Mar 2021 • Family
Rest bay is a fantastic beach BUT there are only 4 toilets, which meant on a busy day queuing for 40 minutes to use. I have mobility problems and access to the toilets is prohibitive if you are not able bodied. I was too afraid to have a drink all day in case I needed the loo. And I would not want to take a small child there for the same reason. Rest bay used to be my favourite beach to take my children to when they were little, but now the toilet facilities have been updated they are actually worse than they were before, because at least there were more previously. I am genuinely shocked that anyone thought this was a good idea.
Written 31 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and daughter like to go bodyboarding whilst I relax on the sand with the dogs. Not been to RestBay before, Is the bodyboarding area in the same area where dogs aren't allowed please?? I've read that dogs aren't allowed in the summer
Written 29 July 2022
Is it a dog friendly beach?
Written 28 June 2019
Dog are not allowed on the main beach during the summer months.
Written 30 June 2019
Some people use small BBQs. Suggest you check with the Lifeguard Station first. Be aware of tide times.
Written 6 May 2019
There is a pay & display car park nearby. The tariff is cheaper during the winter season than the summer. I don't know the actual prices as we walked from Porthcawl town centre.
Written 29 November 2018
Think it was around £4 for 3 hours
Written 8 July 2018
During the Summer months at Rest Bay, Dogs are banned of the main section of the beach (Rest Bay point til Golf Bay). The ban is from the 1st of May until the 30th of September.
Written 12 January 2019
Hi is the Porthcawl broad walk suitable for wheel chairs, thank you in advance
Written 1 April 2018
Showing results 1-10 of 17
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing