Beaches
Natural beauty, rugged rocks, sandy havens and clifftop walking. Sandcastles, fairgrounds, a pretty pier, and long promenades...
Our Southern border is a glorious sweeping coastline, 14 miles of which makes up the stunning Glamorgan Heritage Coast. We have family friendly sandy beaches, pebble beaches backing on to Country Parks, and a landscapes rich in geology making for a perfect natural backdrop against the cliff faces.
Away from the more well known beaches at Ogmore by Sea, Dunraven Bay, also known as Southerndown Beach, and Barry Island, there are the more secluded spots at Jacksons Bay, Rhoose, Llantwit Major and Monknash to name but a few.
Our Vale of Glamorgan Beach Guide will help you understand what each location offers. Much of the coastline is managed by the Vale of Glamorgan Council, but where permissions lie with independent landowners or agents we are happy to make contact on your behalf. Please see further information on this below.
Take a look at our Beach section to find out more about all of our beaches.
If you're in need of a little inspiration our gallery below might also be useful in finding the beach of your choice.
Filming on our Coastline
Permission to film on our coastline falls across a number of organisations depending on the location.
Crown Estates
The Crown Estate Maps gives an overview of the stretch of coastline Crown Estates are responsible for in the UK. This is the area marked in pink. This relates to the foreshore which is from the high water mark to the low water mark. Any filming taking place within this area will require consent from Crown Estates
Permission to film in these locations can be referred to ellie.hitchings@coark.com
All filming above high water mark in these locations will require private landownership permissions.
Ogmore by Sea and Dunraven/Southerndown Beach
A stretch of the coastline at Ogmore and Dunraven is the responsibility of the Duchy of Lancaster. This relates to the foreshore is from the high water mark to the low water mark. Any filming taking place within this area will require consent from the Duchy of Lancaster
The Duchy deals with all filming requests directly info@duchyoflancaster.co.uk
All requests for permission to film above high water mark at Dunraven Estate can be made directly to tomos.davies@coark.com
Barry and Penarth
Where the Crown Estate Map does not show a ‘pink’ highlighted area in the Eastern Vale from Porthkerry through to Sully and Penarth Seafront, please follow our enquiry process to the Vale of Glamorgan Council for permission to film. This generally includes permission to film both above and below high tide mark.
Beaches
Filming Locations
You won't be the first to choose the Vale as the perfect destination for your film/tv production, here are just a few others:
Llantwit Major & the Glamorgan Heritage Coast
Poldark
While most will associate Poldark with the beautiful coast and countryside of Cornwall, few might be aware that some scenes were also filmed on the glorious Glamorgan Heritage Coast in the Vale of Glamorgan. In Season 3, cast and crew re-located to shoot scenes at Dunraven Bay in the village of Southerndown, and those that know our coastline well will recognise the familiar backdrop of the cliffs. A popular location for filming, there have been many productions that have chosen this spot, including Dr Who and TV series Merlin, and Sherlock.
Cowbridge & The Rural Vale
His Dark Materials
Fantasy Drama His Dark Materials is a television series based on the trilogy of novels by Philip Pullman. Produced by Bad Wolf and New Line Productions, for BBC One and HBO, the show follows the orphan Lyra as she searches for a missing friend and discovers a kidnapping plot related to an invisible cosmic substance called Dust. We were delighted to welcome the film crew to the Vale. Rhoose Point, the most southerly point on mainland wales, where the Wales Coast Path follows the shoreline, was used for the filming of a scene for Season 3.
Barry & Barry Island
Gavin and Stacey
Much loved TV sitcom Gavin & Stacey was filmed in and around Barry with much of the filming taking place on iconic Barry Island showcasing the beach and amusement arcades. The show, created by James Corden and Ruth Jones, revolves around the romantic relationship between Gavin from Essex and Stacey from Barry. The use of Barry Island adds to the show's authenticity and charm and visitors from around the world still make the journey to Barry Island to visitor iconic locations made famous by this very much loved, award-winning programme
Penarth
Sex Education
Viewers will recognise some familiar scenes in Penarth from the hit Netflix series Sex Education. The Netflix hit comedy-drama Sex Education follows Otis, Eric, Maeve, and their motley crew of friends and family as they navigate through the tricky topic mentioned in the show's title - 'sex education'. Viewers will recognise some locations in Penarth where the Paget Rooms was used for the school hall scenes and Penarth Pier and esplanade features in later episodes.
Penarth
Doctor Who
The Vale has been the backdrop for much of the filming of Dr Who over the years. Viewers will have seen the Tardis pop up on the coastline at the Knap in Barry, against the stunning backdrop of Dunraven Bay on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast and at St.Donats Castle, which has also been home to the filming of Wolf Hall, Keeping Faith and Decline and Fall. Keep watching for more iconic locations from the Vale in the new season.
