Approximate Location Map
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Barry Island, despite its name, is no longer an island, having been joined to the mainland in the late 19th century with the construction of the docks. Today, it is South Wales's largest town, boasting a range of traditional seaside attractions, including a pleasure park, a vibrant High Street with independent shops, and several beaches.
Watch House Bay, also known as Watch Tower Bay, is one of the quieter beaches in the Barry Island area. At high tide, the pebble beach is flanked by rocks on one side and low-rise cliffs with dense trees on the other. As the tide recedes, a vast expanse of sand is exposed. The beach features a slipway and a small jetty leading down to the water, as well as the old watch house, which was built in the 1860s as a lookout over the old harbour. This historic building serves as a reminder of the area's nautical past, when it was a flourishing port during the 16th and 17th centuries. Behind the beach, there is a park area with a marine lake in the shape of a Welsh harp.
Cold Knap Beach, located just west of Barry Island on the Glamorgan coast, offers an alternative to the main beach in Barry. The beach is very pebbly at high tide, but as the tide goes out, a sandy expanse is revealed. It is approximately a mile from the main beach in Barry, making it an ideal spot for those seeking a quieter place to relax by the sea. The beach is backed by Cold Knap Lake, a peaceful spot where visitors can stroll and feed the birds. The promenade area is wide and easily accessible, and the surrounding gardens and park areas are well-maintained and perfect for picnics and leisurely walks. Visitors can walk along the beach to the cliffs on the western side or head to Knap Hill and the lifeguard station. Cold Knap Beach is also a popular spot for sea fishing. Parking and public toilets are available on the seafront. However, it is worth noting that the beach is not dog-friendly all year round, with dogs prohibited from May 1st to September 30th.
Harbour Sand
| Today |  |
|---|---|
| Chance of rain | % |
| Max temperature | 13°C |
| feels like | 12°C |
| Wind 12mph |  |
| Max UV Index |  |
| Tonight |  |
|---|---|
| Chance of rain | 91% |
| Min temperature | 8°C |
| feels like | 3°C |
| Wind 12mph |  |
The tide at Barry Watch House Bay is currently rising. High tide will be at approximately 11:40 AM, and the next low tide will be at approximately 5:37 PM.
Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low
Food available
Toilets
Slipway
Barry Island Car Park is next to the beach.
Dogs are allowed.
No lifeguard cover at this beach
Water quality not measured here
less than a mile east as the seagull flies, around 2 miles by road or just over a mile on foot using coastal paths.
less than a mile west-northwest as the seagull flies, less than a mile by road or less than a mile on foot using coastal paths.
less than a mile east as the seagull flies, around 2 miles by road or just over a mile on foot using coastal paths.
just over a mile east-northeast as the seagull flies, around 2 miles by road.
around 2 miles east-northeast as the seagull flies, around 6 miles by road.
around 3 miles west as the seagull flies, around 6 miles by road or 4 miles on foot using coastal paths.
around 5 miles east-northeast as the seagull flies, around 7 miles by road.
around 5 miles west as the seagull flies, around 8 miles by road or 6 miles on foot using coastal paths.
around 6 miles east-northeast as the seagull flies, around 9 miles by road.
around 9 miles west as the seagull flies, around 12 miles by road.
around 10 miles west as the seagull flies, around 12 miles by road.
around 13 miles east as the seagull flies, around 68 miles by road.
around 13 miles east-southeast as the seagull flies, around 74 miles by road.
around 13 miles east as the seagull flies, around 68 miles by road.
around 14 miles east-southeast as the seagull flies, around 68 miles by road.
around 14 miles east-southeast as the seagull flies, around 69 miles by road.
around 14 miles east-southeast as the seagull flies, around 68 miles by road.
around 14 miles east-southeast as the seagull flies, around 79 miles by road.
around 14 miles south as the seagull flies, around 94 miles by road.
around 14 miles east as the seagull flies, around 67 miles by road.
Location: The knap, Barri
Location type: Urban
OS Grid: ST105661
Coordinates: 51°23'15"N 3°17'14"W
Mapcode: GBR HS.RXHR
What 3 Words: survey.poet.value
Coordinates and location codes are for an approximate mid-point of the beach, and may not reflect the best access point or the most popular part of the beach.
Country: Wales
Local Authority: Vale of Glamorgan
Parish: Barry
Nearest postcode: CF62 6FB
(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)
Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.
