Hidden beach in the UK you can only reach by foot – with nearby award-winning pub and golden sands
A SECLUDED beach in Wales has been named one of the top wild swimming spots in the country by travel experts.
Some of the beaches in the UK can get very crowded, but there are a handful of secluded spots where holidaymakers can relax in peace.
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One of those places is Cwm Nash, also known as Monknash Beach, in the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales.
Set between Monknash and St Donats, holidaymakers can only reach the tiny bay via a footpath from Monknash.
The Welsh beach is backed by a dramatic cliff and the nearby Nash Brook overflows onto a rock platform that create gushing waterfalls and quaint tidal pools.
Cwm Nash has been dubbed one of the most secluded beaches in the Vale by travel experts.
Travel website Heritage Coast wrote: “Cwm Nash off the beaten track, a secluded and spectacular beach near to the campsite.”
While UK Hidden Gems added: “Monknash Beach is a lovely beach, which isn’t your usual type of beach.
“There’s a mixture of sea and sand as well as pebbles, and there’s loads of rock pools and cliffs to explore!”
When the tide is out, the beach is covered in an expanse of golden sand.
Wild Swimming Walks also called the tiny bay an excellent wild swimming spot in South Wales.
Even though it’s been named as a top wild swimming spot, swimming is generally discouraged because of strong currents.
Swimmers are encouraged to exercise caution and adhere to any safety warnings.
Meanwhile, Visit Wales called Cwm Nash one of the best wild swimming walks in the country.
On their Instagram page, they wrote: “Discover some of the best Wild Swimming Walks in Wales with @wildswimmingwalks.wales, including this circular route on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, taking in two excellent swimming opportunities at tidal bays Monknash and Nash Point.”
The Welsh beach is backed by a dramatic cliff – with an interesting story of its own as it’s the home to graves for shipwrecked soldiers.
Visitors to the beach may be able to see bones poking out from the cliff face.
The cliffs are thought to be the burial site for shipwreck victims during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Despite being badly damaged, the bones were discovered after fierce storms caused the cliffs to collapse, exposing the graves.
Cwm Nash is also a great place to see Peregrine Falcons because they often nest on the cliffs.
Unlike other beaches in the UK, Cwm Nash is dog-friendly all year round, making it an ideal spot for dog walkers.
Because of its secluded location, there are limited facilities at Cwm Nash beach, which means visitors will need to break their own food and drink.
Holidaymakers looking for overnight accommodation should book to stay at the Heritage Coast Campsite, which is located on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast.
The campsite is a short 15 minute walk from the beach, with the route taking holidaymakers through a woodland and along a brook, with its own waterfall and rock pools.
Heritage Coast Campsite has pitches for tents as well as two Scandinavian-style lodges.
The Plough and Harrow Pub is just a short drive from Cwm Nash – a renowned 14th century pub.
Set inside a former farmhouse, the medieval pub has kept some of its original features, including its wooden beams.
Earlier this year, the Plough and Harrow Pub was “Highly Recommended” as the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend Pub of the Year by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
Other nearby activities include the Wales Coastal Path, which passes landmarks like Nash Point Lighthouse.
Monknash Beach is a 45-minute drive from Cardiff, and it’s a 50-minute drive from Swansea.
OTHER WELSH BEACHES
There are plenty of other “hidden” beaches dotted throughout Wales, including Skrinkle Haven Beach.
Beach-goers can only reach Skrinkle Haven Beach through a narrow tunnel when the tide is low.
Earlier this year, travel writer Catherine Lofthouse visited the beach, she wrote: “You’ll need to be fairly sprightly to travel through the tunnel safely, but we managed it with our four-year-old, so it’s possible for little legs.
“There are warning signs about getting cut off and the uneven levels you’ll encounter, so use common sense and research tide times to keep safe.
“Beyond the tunnel, Haven is certainly a good name for it with its sheltered sides and inviting golden sands welcoming us in.
“It really feels like a place that time forgot, but we don’t have the luxury of setting time aside and all too soon, we need to climb back up the tunnel before we’re stranded by the tide.”
Best Beach Destinations in the UK
Here are five of the best coastal towns in the UK.
- Tynemouth – The best coastal location in England and Wales is Tynemouth, located in the North East of England and scoring 8.49 out of 10 overall. The area’s main beach is Long Sands Beach, a beach well known for its long stretches of golden sand and the powerful waves in the area making it ideal for surfing.
- Weymouth – Located in the South West of England is the aptly named and award-winning Weymouth Beach. This beach is located at the very heart of the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site that stretches the southern coast of England.
- Poole – Poole is the third-best coastal area for people to explore this summer, scoring 8.09 out of 10 overall for the factors we looked at. The main beach is Canford Cliffs Beach, which has won a Blue Flag Award; it’s a gorgeous sandy beach and within walking distance of Canford Cliffs Village.
- Clacton-on-Sea – Clacton is a seaside town and resort in the county of Essex, on the east coast of England. It’s home to the UK’s biggest pleasure pier, which is set currently undergoing a £40,000 transformation, with work already starting.
- Wallasey – Wallasey is a town in the Wirral, Cheshire. It’s home to a popular bathing beach at the eastern end of the North Wirral Coastal Park, next to the Derby Pool Harvester Bar and Grill.
Meanwhile, this UK seaside town is almost like visiting a Greek island.
And you can watch dolphins from a music festival at this UK destination.