Llanwit Major to Nash Point, Vale of Glamorgan

Start and Finish

Llantwit Major beach car park to Nash Point car park

Distance

3 miles or 5 km

Along the way

Starting from Llantwit Major beach, a popular spot for fossil hunters, the Wales Coast Path heads west along the cliffs.

Your lofty position provides spectacular views across the Bristol Channel, while the limestone crags and crevices below are a haven for seabirds.  At the base of the cliffs are numerous caves hollowed out by the sea. The area was once a smuggling hotspot and local legend says that many of these caves were linked by secret tunnels. There are more tales of skulduggery at rocky Tresilian Bay, reputed to be the site of an inn frequented by pirates and brigands. 

After Tresilian Bay it’s worth taking a short detour from the Wales Coast Path to explore the grounds of St Donat’s Church, sheltered beneath the imposing walls of St Donat’s Castle.  The castle dates back to the 12th century, but found fame in the 1920s when it was bought by US newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, who partially inspired Orson Welles’s classic movie, Citizen Kane. Hearst entertained a stellar guestlist of visitors including Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin and Errol Flynn.

As you continue to the walk’s end, you’ll pass Nash Point Lighthouse.  In service for almost 200 years, it was one of the UK’s last manned lighthouses to switch to automatic operation.  Pop into the visitor centre to find out more about the lighthouse’s history and to take in the views from the top of the tower.

Walk Highlights

Tricia Cottnam, Wales Coast Path Officer’s highlights

"It’s the stunning cliff top nature of this walk that provides a highlight for walkers. Not only are the views across the Bristol channel expansive, the geology is also fascinating with cliffs packed with fossils and secrets of the past. Look out for seabirds along here, often using the cliffs as home".

Need to know

There are car parks, toilets and refreshments at both ends of the walk. 

You can also link the start and finish by catching the local 303 bus service from Llantwit Major (about 2.5km from Llantwit Major beach) and Marcross (about 1.5km from Nash Point).

Visit the New Adventure Travel (NAT) bus services website for bus timetables covering Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Pontypridd and Vale of Glamorgan.

Should you wish to travel by rail, there is a train station in Llantwit Major.

Itinerary and Map

Download the Llanwit Major to Nash Point itinerary (PDF) and a route map (JPEG)