It’s the local’s favourite spot by the coast (Image: Getty) This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
While Rhossili Bay tends to receive all the acclaim for its three-mile-long stretch of beach, nestled within Gower National Landscape, this cherished bay is what many locals regard as the genuine marvel of Wales.
Conde Nast Travel recently unveiled what they deem the seven wonders of Wales, from a Welsh-born traveller themselves, and Dunraven Bay secured its place as one of the essential destinations in the nation.
According to them, this is where residents head when seeking some solitude beside the coast. And, with scenery comprising dramatic cliffs, limestone and crumbling rock formations, who could fault them?
Tucked away in Southerndown within the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, the stunning bay is frequently called Southerndown Beach, adopting the name from its neighbouring village.
It boasts some of the finest rock pools along the Welsh shoreline and consequently proves a favoured location for crabbing and fossil hunting.
Young children adore exploring the shallow pools and discovering treasures along the way, as families congregate along the bay for a day on the sand.
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There is a car park right by the beach (Image: John Myers)
A previous visitor shared their experience on TripAdvisor, writing: “We visited Dunraven Bay last Saturday; it was an amazing trip to a beautiful beach. The rock pools are super; we found some very interesting items, including an intact Gryphaea, one of the genera known as ‘devil’s toenails’.
“The beach is very clean, and the sand leading up to the sea is soft. There is a beachside shop that sells hot and cold drinks and ice cream, along with a picnic area for those with their own food.”
Visitors to the beach will find a conveniently positioned and spacious pay-and-display car park, alongside public toilets. The bay also boasts a charming café and restaurant for lunch or light refreshments and, completing the traditional seaside experience, an ice-cream kiosk.
There is a coastal path allowing for views over the beach (Image: Crown Copyright / Visit Wales)
Another visitor said: “Absolutely beautiful. Especially if you’re a tourist hoping to get good photos of a beach. I went alone, and for the most part, I felt completely safe. There are pockets of people and people alone just hoping to enjoy the sun during low tide.”
The bay was once thought to be an ancient Iron Age hillfort, which subsequently became Dunraven Castle, now long since vanished. In its place lie the ruins of the castle and what remains of its walled garden, set back from the beach.
A mysterious legend surrounds the bay – that of the ‘wreckers of Dunraven’, who were believed to have cunningly tied lanterns to sheep to lure vessels towards the coast.
They would guide the ships into the Tuskar Rock before ambushing them and stealing from them.
The principal ‘wrecker’ was known as Walter Vaughan, who following considerable family tragedy and financial collapse, resorted to ‘wrecking’ during a period of dire desperation.
According to legend, to ensure they were never exposed, no sailors or boat crew were left alive after a wrecking, as those responsible would routinely kill any survivors who managed to reach the shore.
Some believe that on the anniversary of his son’s death, Vaughan’s ghost returns to the beach, where passers-by can hear his chilling cries echoing through the air.