Amazing Dunraven Bay, South Wales

Southerndown is a village in South Wales to the southwest of Bridgend, in St Brides Major community, close to Llantwit Major and Ogmore-by-Sea. It is mostly known for its beach (officially named Dunraven bay, or in Welsh: Bae Dwnrhefn). When the tide is out there is an expanse of sand and pools. The cliffs are an obvious example of sedimentary rock. All the rocks exposed in the area of Southerndown are sedimentary rocks. They were laid down as deposits of mud silt, sand and lime that, over long periods of time, were compacted and solidified into limestone, shale (compacted mud) and conglomerate (a rock comprising rounded pebbles of various sizes).

As Southerndown, along with nearby Ogmore-by-Sea, is a west-facing beach (and hence on the Atlantic coast), off-shore winds from the East generate much good-quality surf, helped by the warming effects of the Gulf Stream. There are actually two beaches separated by a headland. On the headland are the remains of Dunraven Castle (in Welsh: Castell Dwnrhefn).

 

Aerial view of remains of Dunraven Castle

Remains of Dunraven Castle

Remains of Dunraven Castle

Picture Source: Collected from Internet