Acorn Camping and Caravanning

Coastal cravings are easily fulfilled around here. In Southerndown, tucked-away Dunraven Bay (20 minutes’ drive) has rockpools and compact sand for crafting sandcastles, while Merthyr Mawr (25 minutes) has towering sand dunes to clamber through and Barry Island (20 minutes) is packed with family amusements. Porthcawl (35 minutes), a little further west, is the go-to surfing spot, with several surf schools and beaches – although if you have your own board, try out Southerndown and Ogmore By Sea beach (25 minutes) too if the conditions are just right. The Welsh capital is likely, of course, to draw your eye too; Cardiff (40 minutes) has a gorgeous bay with restaurants, bars and barrage walks, and in the town centre, there’s a historic castle alongside restaurants, escape rooms, bars and stunning arcades.