It is a popular beach with a large car park, sweeping gold sands and cliff backdrop, fertile rock pools and views of Merthyr Mawr
I’ve always been a massive fan of the Welsh coast, a true sea nymph who seizes every chance to dive into the ocean and glide along the shore on my trusty SUP board, the Mr Beaumont. For years, I’ve treasured my favourite holiday spot, a stunning sand and shingle beach just a swift forty-minute drive from home.
This coastal gem is where I’ve spent countless happy hours strolling the coastal paths, swimming with mates, and savouring local pubs. The beach I love is Ogmore-by-Sea, a lively coastal jewel in the Vale of Glamorgan.
With miles of heritage coastline, signposted trails, sea views, and snug cafe stops, the Vale of Glamorgan is a fantastic place for a day at the beach. One of the most accessible beaches in the area is Ogmore-by-Sea, where the mouth of the River Ogmore meets the sea over the sand and shingle beach.
With its ample car park, expansive golden sands and cliff backdrop, fertile rock pools and views of Merthyr Mawr, it’s easy to see why this is one of the most popular beaches in this idyllic corner of south Wales.
Ogmore-by-Sea Beach is just a 40-minute drive from Cardiff, which is barely any further than Barry Island, and is right next to Merthyr Mawr Nature Reserve, where you’ll find rolling dunes and wildlife, reports Wales Online.
Here, you can join the Wales Coast Path and walk to Porthcawl, search for fossils, take a brisk dip in the sea and enjoy a lush coffee at the Welsh Coffee Company.
Unlike other secluded beaches and coves in South Wales, this beach is a breeze to get to. There’s no need for a steep descent or miles of trekking to reach the shoreline.
Instead, the B4524 leads straight to a spacious car park right next to the shore, complete with public toilets. From there, it’s just a stroll down a long ramp that winds its way down the side of the rocky cliffs to the beach.
Growing up in south Wales, Ogmore was our family’s favourite beach for sunny day trips, along with Rest Bay and Barry Island.
Many a summer holiday was joyfully spent frolicking in the foamy waves, building sandcastles, and pleading for an ice cream. Only to be told by my practical mother that we had “perfectly good” Choc Ices waiting in the freezer at home.
Ah, the parenting of the nineties!
Perhaps it’s this warm childhood nostalgia that keeps me coming back to the shores of Ogmore as an adult, always armed with a swimsuit and sturdy surf shoes for the pebbles. But there’s a problem.
In recent years, the water quality at my cherished beach has taken a nosedive.
Water quality testing started at Ogmore in 2023 when it first became one of the Welsh beaches designated as bathing water. However, ever since then, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has consistently rated its bathing water quality as ‘poor’.
As reported by Wales Online, tests showed it was poor first in 2023 and then again in 2024. It was one of only two bathing waters in Wales given a poor rating last year, the other being Rhyl.
The annual classification for 2025 has not yet been released. However, sampling figures published so far this year reveal that while the water is often safe for swimming, it also experiences extremely high levels of e.coli and enterococci.
Twice since May this year, it has recorded levels of these bacteria – found in human and cattle faeces – significantly above the level deemed safe for swimming.
“Most of Wales’s coastal bathing waters continue to meet the highest standards which is great news for communities, tourism, and the economy,” says Dai Walters, Environment Team Leader for Natural Resources Wales.
“Ogmore-by-Sea is currently rated ‘Poor’ due to elevated bacteria levels following wet weather. Many of the challenges linked to the urban catchment remain, and it’s important to acknowledge that there is no quick fix.”
As noted by Surfers Against Sewage, designated bathing waters are the only bodies of water in England and Wales that are officially monitored for bacteria harmful to human health.
Once a site is designated, regulators take samples once a week during the 20-week bathing season. The analysis of these samples provides the site with a classification of ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘sufficient’, or ‘poor’ based on the average amount of harmful bacteria found.
The type of bacteria found predominantly comes from sewage and agriculture, among other sources.
When water quality tests at Ogmore revealed ‘poor’ results, Bathing Waters Regulations forced Vale of Glamorgan Council to put up warning signs telling people not to swim at the two beaches during the 2024 season.
A Vale of Glamorgan Council document reveals that Natural Resources Wales declared an “abnormal situation” at Ogmore-by-Sea in May 2024, after pollution was reported in the River Ogmore near the Pen-y-Bont sewage treatment plant.
The beach sits alongside the River Ogmore, with the Pen-y-Bont sewage works positioned roughly a mile upstream.
Storm overflows – when surplus rainwater and sewage are discharged into waterways to ease pressure on the system – are also recognised as contributors to declining water quality.
Yet, bosses from Natural Resources Wales and Welsh Water have informed Vale of Glamorgan’s environmental scrutiny committee that multiple elements could be impacting bacterial levels.
“We’re also working closely with the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Shared Regulatory Services, and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water to investigate the causes and improve future classifications,” Walters says.
“In addition, we’ve also introduced actions to better understand the water quality issues in the Ogmore catchment that may affect bathing waters along the Vale coast.”
According to Walters, these measures include deploying water quality monitoring equipment to record a suite of parameters daily and launching a sampling programme in the lower Ogmore to identify problem areas for further investigation and follow-up.
“We’re committed to making long-term improvements in the area and have recently secured funding from the Welsh Government to develop an innovative, catchment-wide approach to tackling poor bathing water quality”, he adds.
Nevertheless, we won’t discover the final classification of Ogmore’s bathing water quality until the Welsh Government reveals the results of this season’s monitoring.
These results are usually published in November or December, meaning there’s still a considerable wait before we learn whether the situation has dramatically improved.
Walters emphasises that enhancing water quality remains a top priority.
“We continue to drive progress through robust regulation and pollution response. But we know there’s more to do. Climate change, pollution, and lifestyle choices all pose challenges to our waters. We all have a role to play in protecting them for future generations.”
Whilst there’s still work to be done, there is cause for optimism as efforts to safeguard Ogmore’s waters continue to expand.
Alongside NRW’s initiatives, local community groups have stepped forward to make a significant impact. In May this year, a group of heroic volunteers took to the Ogmore River for a clean-up event, removing over 6,000 tyres that could have been lurking there for decades.
Their grassroots efforts are crucial in improving the river’s health and preventing further pollution from reaching the sea.
Meanwhile, NRW has been making good progress with a pollution risk forecasting system for nearby beaches like Whitmore Bay and Jackson’s Bay.
This project, which will alert the public about predicted water quality, is slowly but surely moving towards being ready for next year’s bathing season.
A monitoring strategy is also in the works to feed into this model, providing real-time information and a more proactive approach to water safety.
These combined efforts from the community and regulatory bodies are a positive step towards cleaner, safer waters for the future. Innovation and community spirit will play a big role in restoring Ogmore’s coastal health.
Despite the progress, since the news of the water quality was reported last year, I have yet to swim in one of my favourite spots, which is unusual as I am normally quite a cavalier individual (much to the delight of my long-suffering husband).
The chaotic sort that will eat a yoghurt three days out of date, run the car petrol down to fumes, or forget to lock the front door at night, but I do draw the line at swimming in unclean oceans.
After reading about a recent incident where a Scottish woman, Shelley Sim, was hospitalised with cryptosporidium – a diarrhoeal disease contracted from swimming in UK seas, I’ve become quite cautious.
Having survived cholera, which I picked up while backpacking in Southeast Asia (a tale for another day), it’s safe to say I’m rather wary of polluted waters and the potential for hospitalisation.
Despite my aversion to sea swimming, I still frequent Ogmore for lengthy coastal strolls, coffee breaks and pub lunches, and I reckon you should too. If you’re a dog owner or if you borrow one for walks like I do, there are numerous dog-friendly spots near Ogmore where you can pause for a cuppa or a pint.
The Cobbles Collective is a welcoming spot for dogs and offers an array of homemade pasties, sandwiches, and cakes. For speciality coffee, drop by the dog-friendly and award-winning Welsh Coffee Company for small-batch roasted coffee and cakes with a sea view.
Fancy a tipple?
Bring your dog along to the Pelican Inn, a historic pub near Ogmore Castle that serves Spanish tapas and local dishes.
For those with a passion for history, Ogmore Castle is definitely worth a visit. Established by the Norman de Londres family in 1116, it sits atop a grassy mound overlooking the shoreline and makes for a stunning photograph at sunset.
This 12th-century Norman motte and bailey castle came into the possession of the Queen and now King Charles through a marriage hundreds of years ago.
The ruins of the Norman castle are nestled on the southeast bank of the River Ewenny, just a couple of miles south of Bridgend. The castle, which came under the Duchy of Lancaster in 1297 due to a Royal marriage, boasts a ruined courthouse, a lime-kiln, and a 12th-century stone keep – one of the earliest examples of its kind.
Now managed by CADW, it’s open for free public visits, adding a historical twist to your beach day.
Fancy exploring more?
The Vale is brimming with short coastal walks thanks to its unique heritage coast boasting Jurassic features. The Glamorgan Heritage Coast, stretching from Aberthaw to Porthcawl, offers walkers 14 miles of untouched coastline via waymarked trails that meander through quaint villages, rural farmland and expansive beaches.
For a longer trek, the Vale Trail 1-Ogmore By Sea Walk starts right from the beach car park at Ogmore. This scenic eight-mile trail is teeming with unique geology and wildlife along the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, offering breathtaking views over the Bristol Channel.
Along this walk, you’ll encounter the remains of medieval Ogmore Castle, St Bridget’s Church, and vistas of Merthyr Mawr Warren.
You can embark on the 8-mile route, but there’s also a 4-mile loop and a 2-mile path that is accessible for buggies and wheelchairs.
But don’t think that’s all you can do here; the diverse footpaths around Ogmore offer an abundance of nature, sea views, and wildlife in such a small area.
For stunning sea views and fantastic food, I suggest walking from Ogmore to Southerndown, recently crowned one of the best beaches by the Sunday Times.
This fossil-rich beach is brimming with rock pools and geological marvels, and it was recognised as part of the Heritage Coast in 1972.
It’s also home to the Three Golden Cups pub and campsite, where you’ll find hearty pub grub and a marine shack pop-up serving mouth-watering seafood platters.
However, it’s not quite the same here. While I’m also a big fan of Southerndown, I’m still hoping for improved water quality at Ogmore so I can once again dive into the waves at one of my favourite beaches without fear of a ‘diarrheal incident.’ Not today, satan.