Connect Porthcawl with Slow Ways

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Porthcawl

Bridgend


Slow Ways linking Porthcawl and Bridgend (Wales), Colwinston, Llantwit Major, Port Talbot, Pyle

Wales / Bridgend / Porthcawl

Porthcawl’s five Slow Ways are 60% checked

Drawn: 5/5
reviewed: 4/5
verified: 2/5
and surveyed: 1/5

Help connect Porthcawl

Many Slow Ways have several route options. Some will be better than others, or good for different reasons.

Our goal is for each Slow Way to have at least one route that is verified and surveyed. To be verified – and get its snail badge – a route needs at least three positive reviews.

Give a hike and help get a for every one of Porthcawl’s Slow Ways.

Walk to Porthcawl from further afield

Slow Way Route To do
Porthcawl—Colwinston
Porcol one Pioneer me Distance 19km/12mi Ascent 272m Descent 232m
Porthcawl—Llantwit Major
Porlla one Verify me Distance 31km/19mi Ascent 686m Descent 651m
Port Talbot—Porthcawl
Porpor one Pioneer me Distance 19km/12mi Ascent 99m Descent 96m
Port Talbot—Porthcawl
Porpor two Review me Distance 18km/11mi Ascent - Descent -
Porthcawl—Bridgend (Wales)
Portbrid one Pioneer me Distance 16km/10mi Ascent 193m Descent 175m
Porthcawl—Bridgend (Wales)
Portbrid two

Enjoy me Distance 13km/8mi Ascent 162m Descent 145m
Porthcawl—Pyle
Portpyl one Survey me Distance 7km/4mi Ascent 36m Descent 63m

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Collective progress

50% of Porthcawl’s five route options are drawn, reviewed, surveyed and/or verified

7/7

drawn

4/7

reviewed

1/7

surveyed

2/7

verified

9 people have contributed to Porthcawl’s Slow Ways

2 people have pledged to walk and review a route

1 people have surveyed a route in Porthcawl

69km out of 123km have been walked and reviewed

164km of reviews have been shared in Porthcawl

Latest Updates

All of a sudden, everything goes haywire, and the maze of trodden paths you find on the ground simply don't match what's shown on the map. I walked back and forth through those dunes, just to see where the waymarked paths went, along with the most well trodden paths, and I managed to separate out three good options for getting from one side of the dunes to the other. I think this is the best route through the dunes and it's also the closest to the right of way shown on the Ordnance Survey map2 This is a good route, but once it splits from option 2, there are no waymarks, so you have to follow the most trodden path onwards, and not get pulled off course onto other paths....

Paddy Dillon

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I looked at the first part of the route, from Port Talbot to the big roundabout near Margam Country Park, and on another day I looked at the route from the Kenfig dunes to Porthcawl. On another day I walked through the Kenfig dunes and picked up the Wales Coast Path on the other side of the Afon Cynffig, and headed in the direction of Porthcawl. If I could offer split star ratings, I'd give three stars for the route out of Port Talbot to Margam, and five stars for the route from Kenfig dunes to Porthcawl....

Paddy Dillon

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As others have mentioned, Merthyr Mawr Warren is certainly a test of your navigational skills, but it's also the nicest part of the walk. There's some road walking, but it's not too busy....

sftuck

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The route goes east of Porthcawl on the road until you split off on a right of way through a caravan park. The next section is very pleasant walking off road on a paved path on the coast path going around Trecco bay caravan park overlooking the beach. Leaving the car park you walk alongside a single track road that was fairly quiet for my visit until you branch off the road close to the church. Returning to the route, there is a small section of field walking before you follow the road around the Merthyr Mawr Estate House for 20 minutes. Follow the river to the Bridgend Life centre and then it’s a short walk on the road into the centre of Bridgend....

Stuart Bain

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Port Talbot—Porthcawl

Stuart Bain added Porpor two, a new walk from Port Talbot to Porthcawl

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It also includes Merthyr Mawr and its sand dunes, leading on to the sandy beaches around Porthcawl. Photo 5 - Merthyr Mawr sand dunes...

Paul Chilcott

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Porthcawl

Taram surveyed Porthcawl

View facilities

All the main points are covered in the first review; the most important is that the route through Merthyr Mawr Warren (from Candleston car park to the beach near Porthcawl) is difficult to navigate as it is indeed warren-like with many more paths than are shown on the map, and few markers. It’s easier to walk through straight through the dunes between the car park and the beach (directly south of the car park). The footpath sections south of Bridgend are well-marked; there are a couple of stone-slab stiles (see pic 2)....

MaddyT

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I don't recommend following the route in land as you will be on a fairly busy country road (stick to the coast) toilets and caffies on route....

Paul Currie

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Going round isn't a problem with some lovely country lanes leading to Porthcawl....

Paul Currie

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Paul Currie took this photo on Portpyl one

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A lot of roads where nicer footpaths could seemingly have been chosen - but otherwise a clear and easy walk...

Laura Phelps

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This is a hugely rewarding walk of just about 8.5 miles with glorious sea views, fine countryside and fields all the way into the heart of Bridgend....

Black Squirrel

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Part of the route (country lanes) is liable to flooding above ankle depth after prolonged periods of heavy rain - wear long wellies, rather than walking boots....

MyndArCiAmDro

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Porthcawl—Colwinston

Slow Ways added Porcol one, a new walk from Porthcawl to Colwinston

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Porthcawl—Llantwit Major

Slow Ways added Porlla one, a new walk from Porthcawl to Llantwit Major

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Port Talbot—Porthcawl

Slow Ways added Porpor one, a new walk from Port Talbot to Porthcawl

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Porthcawl—Bridgend (Wales)

Slow Ways added Portbrid one, a new walk from Porthcawl to Bridgend (Wales)

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Porthcawl—Bridgend (Wales)

Slow Ways added Portbrid two, a new walk from Porthcawl to Bridgend (Wales)

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Porthcawl—Pyle

Slow Ways added Portpyl one, a new walk from Porthcawl to Pyle

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1

Porthcawl, Fri 29 March

11°

Light rain shower

Porthcawl’s Slow Ways starting point

Grid ref

SS8186777074

Lat / Lon

51.48025° / -3.70257°

Easting / Northing

281,867E / 177,074N

Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?

If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Porthcawl and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?

This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!

Facilities

Users have reported that the following facilities can be found within 1km of Porthcawl's meeting point

Public toilet

Wheelchair accessible toilet

Supermarket or convenience shop

Restaurant, cafe or pub

Accommodation

Accommodation for under £50 a night

Campsite

Bothy

Free wifi

Mobility scooter hire

Off-road wheelchair hire

Disabled Parking

Train station

Bus stop

Ferry

Official ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town

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