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Cold Knap Beach

(Barry Cold Knap Beach)

Vale of Glamorgan, Wales


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Cold Knap Beach is a seaside beach located on the Glamorgan coast, near the town of Barry Island, offering a quieter alternative to the main resort beach. .

Barry Island is a busy built-up seaside resort town with a large fairground, lots of amusements, and some sandy beaches. In contrast, Cold Knap Beach, situated slightly removed from the town, is generally quieter. The beach is located adjacent to Barry Old Harbour and is primarily a steeply sloping stone and pebble beach, with sand exposed at low water only.

Cold Knap Beach is a long stretch of steeply shelving pebbles, although at low tide some sand is revealed. The beach faces south west towards the Bristol Channel, backed by cliffs at the north end, with a promenade at the south end towards Cold Knap Point. Facilities are good, with parking on the seafront, public toilets, and a wide promenade area that is easily accessible. The surrounding gardens and park areas are well-maintained and ideal for picnics and leisurely walks.

The beach is backed by Cold Knap Lake, a peaceful spot where visitors can stroll and feed the birds. The area is also popular for sea fishing, and visitors can often be seen with their rods along the seafront. For those interested in geology, the cliffs towards the western end of the beach feature fine examples of horizontal sedimentary strata. Visitors can take a walk along the beach to the cliffs on the western side or head to Knap Hill and the lifeguard station.

It is worth noting that Cold Knap Beach is not dog-friendly all year round. Dogs are prohibited on the beach from May 1st to September 30th, although during the rest of the year, they can be brought to the beach without restrictions. The beach is approximately a mile from the main resort beach at Barry, making it a great spot for those looking for a quieter place to relax by the sea.

Cold Knap Beach is adjacent to the Wales Coast Path.

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 Cold Knap Beach 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 Cold Knap Beach

Things to do and see in the area

Porthkerry Country Park (0.8 miles)
Smugglers Cove (0.8 miles)
Barry Island Pleasure Park (0.9 miles)
Brit Movie Tours (1 miles)
High Street (1.2 miles)
Brynhill Golf Club (2.1 miles)
The Fontygary Inn (3 miles)
Fonmon Castle (3.4 miles)
Amelia Trust Farm (3.6 miles)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: The knap, Barri

Location type: Urban

OS Grid: ST099663

Coordinates: 51°23'20"N 3°17'42"W

Mapcode: GBR HS.RMV2

What 3 Words: loaf.jetliner.clown

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: CF6 8YZ

(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.

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Visitor information for Cold Knap Beach, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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216.73.216.53 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:34:38 +0100