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Beaches & Coast in Cardiff

Cardiff's coast isn't all one thing. Barry Island Beach Huts let you hire your own hut for the day from £8, with a climbing wall on the sand and free all-terrain wheelchairs so the beach doesn't stop at the tideline. A short way along, Cold Knap is a pebbly stretch with a duck-and-swan lake next door and, in summer, remote-controlled boats to watch drift about. Both are free to reach and sit close to each other in Barry, so you can easily see both in one visit. For a longer trip out, Charlcombe Bay near Clevedon trades sand for a proper coastal walk, pebbly and rock-edged, heading out to Black Nore Lighthouse. That one suits older kids who'll happily walk for a view rather than dig. If you've got a pushchair or wheelchair, Barry Island is your best bet, with accessible toilets and changing places on site. For toddlers, Cold Knap's calmer water and lake make for an easier morning.

✓ 3 places✦ 2 free to visit