Walk 6: Barry to Rhoose

We walked from Barry to Rhoose during our February 2020 trip to Wales. It’s safe to say that week hadn’t gifted us the best weather, but although this walk was a bit drizzly and cloudy, we had a generally good day of walking.

For ease, we decided to walk this one the wrong way round. We started the day by taking the train from Cardiff, where we were staying, to Rhoose, and then hopped on a train back to Cardiff from Barry Island, where we finished our walk.

Despite being a short train ride from the city, Rhoose is home to Cardiff International Airport. When we left the train, we headed in the opposite direction to most, making for the Welsh coast as opposed to sunnier climes. A tarmac path took us down to the Wales Coast Path, where we turned left and headed over a sweet little bridge with a lovely coastal view.

We soon reached Rhoose Point – the southernmost point of Wales. The area around Rhoose Point was once home to a quarry. Much of the view of the sea along this stretch of path was blocked by a cliff, but frequent loading gaps allowed some coastal views. The coast here was pebbly but very pretty, and felt much more classically coastal than much of the path we’d experienced to that point.

Soon, the path took us through a caravan park and then down a steep, wooded path. This was the first time during our week of walking where the fact it was February really set us back. The path was incredibly muddy and slippery, and we had to cling onto whatever branches and tree trunks we could find in order to get down safely. Thankfully, this part of the path was soon behind us, and we reached Porthkerry Country Park, where we were awarded views of Porthkerry Viaduct.

From there, we climbed what felt like hundreds of steps, before reaching a field with coastal views to our right and houses with coastal views to our left. The path then took us back down onto Cold Knapp Beach. A short stretch along residential streets led us to the entrance to Barry Island, where we would be finishing our walk.

We took a pleasant stroll around Barry Island. It wasn’t too busy, as it was far from peak season, but despite the weather, there were still plenty of people enjoying a visit. We spotted a few tributes to Gavin and Stacey, and enjoyed seeing the colourful huts along Barry Island Beach. We walked along a few residential streets to complete the loop of Barry Island, before walking to Barry Island Station, where we caught a train back to Cardiff.

🥾 Distance: Approximately eight miles.

⭐ Highlight: It was great to see Barry Island, and the area around Rhoose Point was really interesting.

👎 Less Good: The journey down the hill in the slippery wood felt more like we were on a game show than walking the Wales Coast Path.

🚗 Transport: We stayed in Cardiff and made use of the train to get there and back.

🛏️ Accommodation: The Radisson Blu Hotel, Cardiff.

🌱 Food: We ate in Cardiff, where there are plenty of great options. On a nicer day, we could have enjoyed chips on Barry Island Beach!

🗺️ Map: This route is featured in the official South Wales Coast guide.

Still not convinced? Read my ten reasons to walk the Wales Coast Path. If you’re ready to start planning your walk, you can find lots of resources to help you on your way here. Please note, I collect a share of the sales from the links on this page.