Location and the Beach
Kenfig Beach – (Also known locally as “Sker Beach” – a reference to the rocky point at the southern end.)
Kenfig Beach is approx 2.5 miles long and comprises in the main of golden sand backed by a pebble bank and extensive sand dunes. The beach is within the Kenfig National Nature Reserve.
The beach runs almost north-south with usual access (and hence families and textiles) at south end. Access is possible at many points but the car park at the Nature Reserve Centre is ideal.
Note: The dunes have been managed by various organisations at different times so the website URL does change from time to time. At the time of writing (August 2022) the site is being managed by the Kenfig Corporation Trust.
Note: Also at the time of writing (August 2022) expect to pay £4 for parking (£1 for up to 90 minutes, £2 for up to 3 hours, £4 all day).
Access to the beach and Naturism
Several paths run from the car park to the beach. Some paths suffer from periods of rain and become flooded or very soft and muddy, some care is needed. But during summer months these paths dry out quickly and then no problems. Running virtually north – south just inland from the pebbles and beach is an old track used during the construction of the deep water harbour at Port Talbot in the late 1960’s for the transport of large rocks from a local quarry.
Walking through the dunes can be the hardest part as the sand is usually dry and soft so you sink in. You might have to walk just over half a mile through the dunes to get to the beach. If you walk the shortest route to the beach and then head north (right as you face the sea) then you will get to the area that has traditionally been used by naturists. You might have to walk almost a mile up the beach but the sand tends to be damp and therefore quite firm so walking is easy. At the north end of the beach there is a small river (big stream?) that crosses the beach. If you get this far then you are too far north and you will find the area traditionally used by naturists is 200-400 metres south.
If you are naked outside of the area traditionally used by naturists then you may be challenged by someone who will tell you it is illegal or some similar rubbish. On one occasion a challenger said "I bet you would not walk through Porthcawl like that", which was a bizarre thing to say as I very much doubt he would have walked through Porthcawl only in his speedos! I have walked naked through the dunes (once out of sight of the car park and lake) and then continued up the beach past the naturist area, across the river and up to the harbour wall at the north end of the Port Talbot steel works. The beach north of the river (between the steel works and the sea) is about 2.5 miles long and is used by the occasional dog walker and steel worker. I've had a bit of "verbal" off a steel worker, but nothing serious and some are friendly. All in all, if you strip off in the dunes you can walk for at least 8 to 10 miles naked, up to the sea wall and back.
Last Update 28 Aug 2022