Kenfig Burrows - South Wales

General
Also known as 'Sker Beach' and Cynffig in Welsh, this is a long stretch of sand between Porthcawl and Port Talbot adjacent to Kenfig Burrows.

Getting There

Google Maps

By car:
Leave the M4 motorway at junction 37 (Pyle) or junction 38 (Margam). Follow the signs for Cynffig Nature Reserve where there is ample parking. From the nature reserve make your way on foot down to the beach ( the sea is visible from the car park) but it is a walk of 1.5 miles through the sand hills.

Upon reaching the track that divides the beach from the sand hills, turn right and walk for about ten minutes toward the steel works in Port Talbot - this is to ensure that you reach the quietest part of the beach - (if you reach the river you have gone too far). This is reputedly known as 'Morfa', while the beach to the left of the access is called 'Sker'. Further south-eastward toward Porthcawl lie Pink Bay, Rest Bay and then Porthcawl/Trecco. Choosing a spot just below the dunes will mean you can avoid the in-coming tide and any horse riders, fishermen or joggers who use the beach.

Description
Kenfig Burrows are popular with locals but do not get the attention they deserve. It is a beautiful, clean and tranquil place, with plenty of room to spread out for those who wish to be alone, or larger areas for those who want to socialise. It can be reached at any time, - access being gained from the landward side - and there is no hurry to leave because the shingle prevents the sea from cutting you off at high tide. In 'Free Sun' the beach was described as "an excellent beach and huge area [of] unfrequented sand dunes". The beach is in easy reach of B&B's, campsites etc etc.

Note that swimming conditions may be dangerous - especially near the river. As always, local information should be sought before risking life and limb.

Facilities
None on the beach itself, but 'The Angel' pub is said to be a great place for a meal and a drink after a day on the beach. Alternatively, try the 'Prince of Wales' in Kenfig for excellent food and real ales, straight from the barrel. "The Draught Bass is worthy of the gods themselves."

Selected Visitor Comments

"I found both water and beach to be of a reasonable standard ideal for sunbathing and a swim when the tide is in.the fact that it is isolated makes it the perfect place for both male and females."

"..the beach is excellent and as a frequent user I would recommend it."

2011

johnancarly 2011-04-25
Hi, we like to say that we'v had a very plesant 2nd weekend at Kenfig Burrows,the sea is nice we find a nice spot in the dunes to top our tans up,theres a few guys who like to walk back and fore looking at my naked wife but that is normal,its a very nice place to relax so we will be going again. We recommend it.

Earlier Comments

May 2006 - "The wife and I spent a very pleasant couple of hours here sunday afternoon. It's quite a trek through the nature reserve to get to the beach, but once there it very quiet and peaceful. We are infrequent nudists and we appreciate the solitude. There were a couple of other unclothed men on the beach and one guy seemed to take a particular interest in my wife. I don't know if its normal for men to stare at women but it seemed a bit rude. It didn't worry us and we enjoyed ourselves anyway.. it's very pleasant."

August 2007 - "... was very disappointed. Sunny bank holiday, but only about a dozen people naked, and all those were hiding in the dunes behind the sand. Only one couple, the rest all eye ogling gay males.

October 2007 - "A pleasant beach. Grassy dune area giving privacy but only three other naked people, all locals. I spent a pleasant but quite lonely day."

April 21, 2009 - "The best place to park is in the car park of the nature reserve and walk down it should take about half an hour."

Comments  

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0 #20 GerryP 2012-02-21 23:43

Thanks SunnySideUp! Last year I did walk the coastal path from Porthcawl, luckily it's a very long walk to the naturist area and if the path is ever linked up, it will be behind the dunes on the track. Always best to walk along the shoreline anyway. Looking forward to a quiet 2012, may go this week when it gets to 10+ Centigrade!

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+1 #19 SunnySideUp 2012-02-17 21:38

The beach to the North of the River Kenfig is owned by Tata Steel. Last year, Tata attempted to restrict access to the beach by the small number of surfers, fishermen and local walkers from the public footpath through the edge of the works. A campaign group called "Save Morfa Beach" was setup and the issue raised in the local press. I haven't heard about a footbridge over the river, it's very shallow and an easy paddle across but it could be part of the overall plan for a continuous coastal path.
This year will see an extension to the boardwalk from Rest Bay, Porthcawl, to the life guard's hut at Pink Bay. This may make the Southern end of Sker Beach more accessible to walkers, teenage drinking parties and fly-campers...
Let's hope for a quiet and sunny year!

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+1 #18 barry 2012-02-15 23:21

hello to all!
i've been going to kenfig for years,very nice too! have even managed a couple of hours on 1 or 2 saturdays this year(2012)! single male,very chatty if you'd like a natter,but won't invade your space if you don't.roll on warm weather.

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0 #17 GerryP 2012-02-15 19:38

I've read some reports that Port Talbot council are trying to stop people using the beach next to the steelworks because it's hazardous and unsafe, (this is not the naturist beach) but the plan seems to be to build a footbridge over the river Afon connecting it to Sker beach i.e. divert the texitled ramblers:( Let's hope any plans are considered to be unaffordable in 2012, if it does go ahead, it would presumably connect with the track behind the dunes. Would be interesting to hear if locals have any news on this. I'm looking forward to getting to Sker beach this year, it's a great place to walk naked, can't be beaten in the UK!

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0 #16 will jenkins 2012-01-27 12:37

my wife and i like to visit kenfig most w/ends, just the occasional watcher but mostly very quiet, bliss. could do with mobile massage like sunny beach.

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+5 #15 NicktheNudist 2012-01-14 16:55

Hi all
I love Kenfig
Remote enough but close enough too.
Most people will say hi and leave you to it.
Had the odd textile letch walking about probably cos there was a m/f couple nearby so I say hi to them too - including waving , to embarass them and make others aware !
Would love an afternoon with lovely lady to chat with - nothing else.
Cant wait for 2012 opportunities

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0 #14 Oldtimer 2011-09-29 07:51

Wonderful weather Wednesday, another fine day at Kenfig, spoilt only by the tide being fully out and some greenish/brown scum on the water - decided not to swim. Failing having a swim did walk along the beach as far as the Kenfig river and quite a few on the beach - three m/f couples and several single males all enjoying the sunshine and peace and quiet.

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0 #13 Oldtimer 2011-09-27 18:51

Sunny and warm - quite an exception for late September - had a great couple of hours at Kenfig today, tide fully out at lunchtime but I did manage a quick dip. 5 or 6 other fellow nudists (all male) dotted about, hopefully the sun will keep on shining for a few more days.

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+1 #12 nakedwalker 2011-09-23 13:42

Couldn't recommend it more. Fantastic place, never crowded, only ever seen a handful of people there. Usually see a few others naked, mostly in the dunes at the top of the beach, and the odd textile out for a walk. Perfect place to stretch out in the sun or go for a swim (if the tide isn't too far out). Also a very nice place to wander about naked if you like that.

Quoting Welsh cpl:

I fancy taking my wife to kenfig burrows beach for a nude sunbath
Can anyone recommend this beach??
Also is it ok to be naked on this beach?
We are new to this ( both in our 20's)

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0 #11 nakedwalker 2011-09-15 14:53

Managed to sneak in another fab few hours at kenfig today. weather turned out ok, with some mixed sun and cloud cover. ditched my bag and walked the rest of the length of the beach naked and had a swim. tide wasn't too far out either. waved to a couple of naked guys, saw one guy (may have been a girl) hunkered in the dunes at the river end, didn't pry, and saw a couple of textiles walking. otherwise the place was empty. perfect... shame I've only managed a few visits this summer.

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