Porthcawl sits on the south coast of Wales in the county borough of Bridgend, looking out over the Bristol Channel. It combines long sandy beaches such as Rest Bay and Trecco Bay with a Victorian esplanade and harbour, and lies near the mouth of the River Ogmore, making it popular for surfers, families and coastal walks.
Once an important 19th-century coal-exporting port, Porthcawl evolved into a seaside resort with venues like the Grand Pavilion, a strong holiday-park presence such as Trecco Bay Holiday Park, and the internationally known Royal Porthcawl Golf Club. Tourism still drives the local economy, boosted by annual events, while many residents commute inland to Bridgend or Cardiff, giving the town a mix of seasonal bustle and quieter community life.
Postcode districts covering Porthcawl
Most populated places nearby
- Cardiff 22 miles35.5 km
- Swansea 14.7 miles23.7 km
- Tonypandy 13.4 miles21.6 km
- Barry 19.6 miles31.5 km
- Bridgend 5.6 miles9 km
- Llanelli 23.5 miles37.8 km
- Neath 13.5 miles21.7 km
- Merthyr Tydfil 22.5 miles36.2 km
- Coity Higher 6.3 miles10.2 km
- Briton Ferry 11.2 miles18 km
- Aberdare 18.5 miles29.8 km
- Aberdare East 19.3 miles31 km
Neighbouring places
- Porthcawl East Central Ward 0.3 miles0.5 km
- Porthcawl West Central Ward 0.8 miles1.3 km
- Nottage Ward 0.9 miles1.4 km
- Newton Ward 0.9 miles1.4 km
- Rest Bay Ward 1.1 miles1.8 km
- South Cornelly Built-up area 1.6 miles2.6 km
- Cornelly Parish 2 miles3.2 km
- Merthyr Mawr Parish 2.8 miles4.6 km
- North Cornelly and Kenfig Hill Built-up area 2.8 miles4.6 km
- Ogmore-by-Sea Built-up area 3 miles4.8 km
- Bryntirion, Laleston and Merthyr Mawr Ward 3 miles4.9 km
- Pyle Parish 3.1 miles5 km
Example postcodes in Porthcawl
CF36 3BJ, CF36 5NN, CF36 3BG, CF36 3BD, CF36 3UH, CF36 5PB, CF36 3SE, CF36 5ET, CF36 3EE … See all
Transport links
- Cardiff Airport 16.2 miles26.1 km
- Bristol Airport 42.5 miles68.4 km
- Pyle Railway Station 2.7 miles4.4 km
- Bridgend Railway Station 5.2 miles8.4 km
Hotels near Porthcawl Ad
- Seabank Hotel 3 1 mile1.6 km
- Cae Court Hotel 5 miles8 km
- The Coed-Y-Mwstwr Hotel 4 7.5 miles12.1 km
- The Great House Hotel & Restaurant 3 3.3 miles5.3 km
- The Masons Arms Hotel 3 6.7 miles10.8 km
- Best Western Premier Heronston Hotel & Spa 4 4.9 miles7.9 km
- Blanco's Hotel Port Talbot 3 8.5 miles13.8 km
- Days Inn Bridgend Cardiff 3 5.8 miles9.4 km
- The Grand Hotel 8.4 miles13.5 km
- Twelve Knights 3 6.6 miles10.6 km
Schools in Porthcawl
- Newton Primary Primary
- Nottage County Primary Primary
- Porthcawl Comprehensive School Secondary
- Porthcawl Primary School Primary
- West Park Primary Primary
Local points of interest
- Porthcawl Harbour Harbour 0.4 miles0.7 km
- Afan Lido Stadium 8.6 miles13.9 km
- Victoria Road Stadium 8.6 miles13.9 km
- Ogmore Forest Forest 10.5 miles16.9 km
- Llantrisant Forest Forest 13 miles20.9 km
- The Gnoll Stadium 13.1 miles21 km
- Swansea Princess Way Museum 14 miles22.5 km
- Hensol Castle Estate 14 miles22.5 km
- Liberty Stadium Stadium 14.9 miles24 km
- The Egypt Center Museum 15 miles24.2 km
- Sardis Road Stadium 16.8 miles27 km
- St Fagans: National History Museum Museum 17.9 miles28.9 km