Park Dean Trecco Bay??

Emma_M_2

Hi,

We have a sun holiday booked in october at Park dean trecco bay in porthcawl, just wondered if anyone had been and if so what it was like?

Thanks,

Emma

Sandoval

Porthcawl is a sh*thole, always has been always will be...

cardiffforthefacup

No its not, its a big holiday complex, there is a lot on offer apart from swimming pool such as funfair etc. The beach and sea were safe for swimming, I imagine it is the same now. Massive sand dune area to left near sandy bay at newton , right towards the harbour there is a surfers beach (ogmore), can't remember name of. If you have a car a trip to the gower might be worthwhile. The Mint is at Llantrisant and Cardiff with many touristy things inc. castle is approx 26 miles away.

mumbles is approximately 50 miles from Cardiff. There is steepholm, flatholm etc not far from Cardiff and one of them is known for its puffin population.

Emma_M_2

We visited porthcawl last year for the day whilst staying in st clears, and we fancied a sun holiday so picked porthcawl.
Yes we have a car so anyone with ideas for days out much appreciated.

Is the mumbles far from porthcawl?

Thanks

Emma

welshmoneylover

Porthcawl used to be considered a sh*thole but not any more. I've been there on a sun holiday and was impressed, so much so that we're going again this year. :T

Believe me, if it were utter carp, we wouldn't be going

begley

We went a few years ago, and had a ball! Loads to do in the surrounding area too, we visited 2 castles, went rock pooling, had a day on Porthcawl beach (lovely!) and watched the surfers. The countryside is beautiful too. One of the castles had stepping stones going over a river, we didn't risk it though!!

arietta

Ah Trecco Bay- spent so much time there as a kid- brings back memories
It's quite a decent/nice park. It has a restaurant, a few take-aways, a small supermarket on site, a few souvenir shops, 2 arcades, indoor bowls,a swimming pool, 3 entertainment venues, 3 bars, bingo, a kids disco, a kids club, 2 kids parks, a jungle jim's adventure park, crazy golf, sports courts, pool tables etc. The caravan's were some of the nicest I've ever stayed in too!

Ignore the people who say it's a sh*thole as it's really not. The fairground isn't brilliant tbh and can look a little run down, but the surrounding area has some beautiful places.

There's some gorgeous sand dunes just up the road in a place called Merthyr-Mawr (scenes from Lawrence of Arabia were filmed there) as well as an old castle ruins, a beach called Dunraven Bay in Southerndown, which has a very scenic beach and some lovely cliff top walks,and Ogmore by Sea has a castle and a small beach (it's the castle with stepping stones a previous post mentioned).
There's Margam Park about 15mins away which is a country park with a castle, orchards, abbey, lakes, walks, farm, fairytale land, crazy golf and a go ape high-wire forest adventure, and Bryngarw Country Park about 20 mins away.
Also up by Bryngarw Country Park is McArthur Glen Designer Outlet, which has shops, a food court, kids park and an Odeon.

Mumbles is about 40 mins away, though for gorgeous beaches go up a little further to the Gower and visit somewhere like 3 cliffs or Caswell bay. LLangennith's absolutely beautiful and a popular surf spot but that's about an hour from Porthcawl.
If you do visit Swansea pay a visit to the LC. It's a leisure complex that's home to an indoor waterpark (the edge), a 30ft climbing wall and kids adventure playground (core) and a health/fitness, gym, sauna (the peak).

jhorsfield30

Well, I've lived in Porthcawl previously for around 10 years, mainly is a retir'ee seaside town, with a funfair, 3 nice beaches, sand dunes.
The Trecco Bay Complex and holiday park was taken over by Parkdean leisure a few years ago. They then spent a couple of million on it, to make it their flagship complex in Europe, personally, I can't see that much of an improvement, but it is quite nice decor, the restaurants and pubs on site are above expensive and have reasonable portions. The swimming pool is usually chocker in the summer and public holidays. There is a few events in the showdome, but otherwise its down the beach.

Emma_M_2

Thanks for all your replies and ideas! Were also looking at going to the castle at ogmore by the sea, is it only accessible by the stepping stones across the river?

begley

No, if it's the same one as I went to, and the name rings a bell, you park up and the stepping stones are an 'optional extra'!!! As I said, we didn't risk it on a chilly April day, but loads of people were.

arietta

Begley's right, the stepping stones are optional.
The main access to Ogmore Castle is by road (btw. if you head further up the road you get to Southerndown) and has a small carpark outside.
The stepping stones provde access between Merthyr Mawr and Ogmore Castle, as they're serparated by the river Ogwr.

Something else I just remembered. If you're looking to eat out try a place in Porthcawl town called The Royal Oak. They do lovely food with v.generous portions for very good prices.