Walk 5: Penarth to Barry

Our Wales Coast Path walk from Penarth to Barry should have been the third of our walks in February 2020, but we actually didn’t complete it until April 2022. In February 2020, after a week of stormy weather and last-minute changes of plans, we successfully made it to Llantwit Major, but with one gap. So, when we properly got back to our challenge post-COVID, in April 2022, this was the first walk we tackled.

For ease of transport, and because I very quickly learned to get the public transport element done and dusted before starting a walk, we walked this one the wrong way around, parking in Penarth and grabbing a train to Barry station. To make sure we didn’t miss a single step on the Wales Coast Path, we turned left out of the station and walked down the road to reach the road leading to Barry Island, as this was the official start (or end) of the section we’d missed. We then turned around and headed back to, and past, the station.

The walk started with a meander along Barry Docks; not the most classic coastal walking, but we did enjoy water views nonetheless! Barry Docks first opened in 1889. By 1913, the docks were the busiest coal port in the world. Nowadays, the first dock, now known as The Waterfront, has been redeveloped for residential use. The second dock is still active.

After a walk around the docks and past an industrial estate, we rejoined the coast at Sully. We walked along the path next to Sully Bay and around a holiday park. As we wandered along the coast, we admired the bungalows with lovely views of the bay from their back gardens.

As we turned the corner at Lavernock Point and wandered along the coastal path, we got a glimpse of our end destination, Penarth Pier. From Lower Penarth, we walked along a tarmac path with coastal views to our right and lovely houses to our left. A walk along some residential roads took us to Penarth Pier, where people were enjoying fish and chips and playing on the pebble beach. It struck me that Penarth is such a lovely seaside escape from Cardiff, and yet so close to the city. The perfect place to head on a summer's day.

We walked through the park to get to our car, which we then drove back to Cardiff Bay, where we were staying at our favourite Cardiff hotel, voco St David’s Cardiff.

🥾 Distance: Around ten miles.

⭐ Highlight: Some nice coastal views after reaching Sully, and the lovely Penarth Pier.

👎 Less Good: Not all of the walking around Barry was super scenic.

🚗 Transport: We dropped the car off in Penarth and got the train to Barry, where we began our walk.

🛏️ Accommodation: We stayed at voco St David’s Cardiff, in Cardiff Bay.

🌱 Food: We ate in Cardiff, where there are plenty of delicious options, but there are also some great restaurants in Penarth, and it’s perfect for fish and chips on the pier.

🗺️ 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.