British Beaches

Visitor information for every beach in the UK

"In my little beach shack"

Barry Watch House Bay

(The Knap Beach)

Vale of Glamorgan, Wales


Rate this beach!
Approximate Location Map

Use two fingers to pan or zoom the map

Barry Island, located in South Wales, is a popular seaside resort town that offers a mix of entertainment options, sandy beaches, and quieter spots, including Watch House Bay. .

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

Weather and tides for Thursday 4 June

Today
Chance of rain 99%
Max temperature 16°C
feels like 16°C
Wind 22mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain 45%
Min temperature 10°C
feels like 11°C
Wind 20mph

The tide at Barry Watch House Bay is currently falling. Low tide will be at approximately 3:48 PM, and the next high tide will be at approximately 10:08 PM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Detailed weather and tides »

Recommended holiday cottages near Barry Watch House Bay

Things to do and see in the area

Smugglers Cove (0.5 miles)
Barry Island Pleasure Park (0.6 miles)
Brit Movie Tours (0.7 miles)
High Street (1.1 miles)
Porthkerry Country Park (1.1 miles)
Brynhill Golf Club (2.2 miles)
The Fontygary Inn (3.3 miles)
Fonmon Castle (3.8 miles)
Amelia Trust Farm (3.8 miles)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

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.

Stuff you might want for the beach!

(Or après-beach. Or pre-beach. Or, just because you might want stuff)

Visitor information for Barry Watch House Bay, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

British Beaches is a Good Stuff website.

216.73.216.53 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:18:58 +0100