Cold Knap and Three Beautiful Barry Island Beaches

ST 10190 66683. Leave the car park through the main entrance, cross the road and enter Knap Gardens. Walk beside the feeder stream to the lake and turn right to walk beside the lake which is on your left. Pass a skateboard park and then climb the slope in the corner to reach the promenade and turn left. At the end of the promenade climb the steps and follow the path to the right to go around the headland and enjoy the views from Cold Knap Point. Returning down the steps turn right to soon reach Watchtower Bay (your map might show Watch House Bay, but that is not what the locals call it!). Turn left to walk beside the bay for around 80 metres and then just before you reach a road go through a gap in the low wall to your right and down onto the beach. It is very muddy if you go straight down to cross the stream, so walk diagonally left towards the stream and breakwater beyond to cross it at the stepping stones where the stream runs close to the rocks below the watch tower.Cross the wide sandy beach towards the large stone breakwater. Go left around the breakwater and then climb up the steps onto it. At the landward end of the breakwater take the path to the right. Please check tide times before starting out: http://www.tides4fishing.com/uk/wales/barry The tide comes in very quickly, do not attempt to cross Watch House Bay if you think you might not have time.Take care climbing the breakwater, there is no handrail. On the breakwater keep away from the edge.If you are wary of heights and do not want to climb the steps of the breakwater continue beside it to then climb the low rocks at the landward end to reach the path. This alternative route is for those who are wary of heights and do not want to climb the breakwater. Follow alongside the breakwater and climb the rocks at the end to reach the path where you follow to the right.

ST 10903 66317. Leave the path when it bears to the left and continue across the grass by the edge of the low cliffs on your right to reach the end of the headland. After enjoying views of two beaches from the headland follow the concrete path back from the promontory. Here there are good with views across Whitmore Bay, the main tourist beach at Barry Island. At an information board, where another path joins from the left, take the path on the right down to the beach. Walk the length of the beach. At the far side of the beach pass a large shelter on the promenade up to your left and then climb either of the sets of steps up to the promenade and turn right. At the end of the promenade follow the narrower concrete path ahead (Clement Colley Way). Stay on this cliff-top path around Nell's Point ignoring any turnings to the left. The path passes below the National Coastwatch Institution building, rounds the headland and drops down to the smaller beach at Jackson's Bay. Dogs are not allowed on Whitmore Bay beach from 1st May to 30th September. If you have a dog please walk along the esplanade just above the beach. There are public toilets at the end of the first shelter (the one with the amusement arcade and chip shops) above Whitmore beach, and at the far side of the beach on the promenade by the colourful beach huts. Do not attempt to cross the beach if the end of Clement Colley Way is under water.

ST 12020 66594. Cross Jackson's Bay and climb the ramp on the far side. Follow the path past the toilet block and then to the left to go steeply uphill to Redbrink Crescent. To visit St. Baruc's Chapel continue left along the pavement, then follow left at the junction. Passing the ruins continue along the pavement and as you reach a roundabout take the path to the left across the grass. Continue ahead when another path joins from the left and shortly before you reach a fenced utilities area take the short tarmac path to the right. Cross the road and take the path up some steps between the houses. Pass a low circular wall on the left marking the spot of St. Baruc's Well and continue in a straight line to reach a brick paved road. Go left and at the end of the road take the path ahead between the houses. At a T-junction bear right, back towards Whitmore Bay. The path drops down to meet a lower path where you go to the right and uphill slightly to stay above the promenade. Follow this path to pass a car park on the right and then pass over a bridge. 160 metres after the bridge, just before you reach the "Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf Course" go to the right to join the pavement beside Friars Road. Turn left along the pavement to come to a junction. Cross the road ahead to the cafes and amusement arcades beneath red brick houses and turn right. Follow the pavement as it turns to the left at a junction. Pass a lane on the left and then after 60 metres take the steps down to a short path to reach a car park.

ST 11171 66727. Continue straight ahead to walk with the car park to your left and pass to the right of a toilet block. Cross the exit road of the car park and take the path ahead with the muddy Old Harbour to your left to rejoin the road. Continue along the pavement and on reaching a junction turn left and enter the park. Follow the path to the right with the Old Harbour across the grass to your left. At the far end leave the park and cross the road to walk down Wessex Place opposite. After a few metres take the lane to the right to reach a road with red brick bungalows and turn left. At the end of the road it looks like you are approaching a dead end, but there is a narrow path just passed the last bungalow on the left. Follow this path to emerge on Lakeside Road opposite the car park at the start of the walk. If you arrived by train at Barry Island now follow the directions from Waymark 1.