Llantwit
Major Beach
The beach
is situated in a quiet area away from the town and busy roads. There
is ample car parking, a cafe and one of the best Surf Life Saving departments
available.
| Llantwit Major Surf Life Saving Club |
Llantwit Major Surf Life Saving Club has a high standing in the local community providing sport and education from nippers to masters. New members are always welcome to join the family atmosphere at Llanwit Major Surf Life Saving Club.
|
|
 01446 795313 |
|
|
|
The beach
is very rocky and there are many fossils and caves to be found. Visitors
to the beach should be aware that the cliff face is very old and crumbly.
Erosion has been a problem, meaning that it is possible that rocks could
fall, especially when winds are high.
It
is important to remember this when walking on the clifftop pathways,
always keep pets and children under control and away from the edges!!!
The
Heritage Coast
The 14
miles of Glamorgan Heritage Coast extends from Gileston in the east
to Newton Point in the west with a Visitor and Information Centre at
Dunraven Bay, Southerndown. Its aim is to conserve and protect the coast,
while making the area more accessible for visitors. A coastal path runs
along the cliff tops, joining the narrow valleys which lead down to
the sea.
The
Collugh Valley has a small beach and serves as a starting point for
a number of walks. On the east side of the beach is a large Iron Age
hill fort, Castle Ditches, and there are others at Summerhouse Point,
reached from Boverton, and at Nash Point further west.
What
the people think
Llantwit
Major beach is said by locals to be a good place to surf. One of the
only decent right hand point breaks on the south coast. It works best
between low and mid tide and when the swell is pumping it offers long
workable walls, with the odd cover up section.
Llantwit
Major is one of the best places to bodyboard/surf on the South Coast,
has large swells that can get up to 6ft in good conditions. A great
atmosphere with the locals.
Llantwit
Major beach has had its problems with flooding and dirt in the past.
Now it is one of the best spots for walking the dogs, taking the kids
for ice cream, surfing or even trying to drown yourself - the life savers
are 1st class!
Llantwit
Major Surf Safety
The
importance of being safe at the beach and in the sea cannot be over
stressed. Statistics show that a high percentage of incidents involve
rips. What are rips and how do you stay safe on a beach with rips? Read
on!
Rip
Currents
A rip is a strong current of water running out to sea. It usually occurs
when a channel forms between sandbars and large waves have built up
water which then returns to sea causing a drag effect out to sea. The
larger the surf the stronger the rip. Rip currents are dangerous as
they can carry a weak or tired swimmer out into very deep water. The
main cause of surf rescues.
Identifying
a rip
These
features will alert you to the presence of a rip:
- Darker
colour of sea, indicating deep water.
- Murky
brown water, caused by sand stirred up off the sea bed.
- Waves
breaking further out on both sides of a rip.
- Debris
floating out to sea.
- A
rippled look, when the water around is more or less calm.
Escaping
from a rip current
If
you are caught in a rip:
- Don’t
panic!
- Swim
at an angle of 45 degrees across the rip current.
- If
you are tired, or inexperienced, ride it out from the beach and
then swim parallel to the shore for 30 to 40 metres to where the
waves are breaking and come straight back to shore.
It is important even for strong swimmers to stay within the red over
yellow flags.
Lifesavers
set-up these flags at the waters edge to indicate the safest area for
swimming and to help swimmers avoid rips.
| 10
SURF SAFETY HINTS: |
|
1 |
Always
swim or surf at a beach patrolled by lifesavers or lifeguards. |
|
2 |
Swim
between the red and yellow flags, they mark the safest
areas to swim. |
|
3 |
Avoid
swimming alone or unsupervised and read the signs. |
|
4 |
If
a beach is closed, don't swim there. |
|
5 |
If
you are unsure of the surf conditions ask a lifeguard
or lifesaver. |
|
6 |
Don't
swim directly after a meal. |
|
7 |
Don't
swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs. |
|
8 |
Don't
run or dive in the water, always check the conditions,
they might have changed. |
|
9 |
If
you get in trouble in the water, don't panic, raise one
arm up and float until help arrives. |
|
10 |
Always
float with a rip current or undertow, do not swim against
it. |
|
LLantwit
Major has put together a team of Coastguards, who will cover the local
area, to Ogmore. The
team is now up and running after undergoing a training period. The emergency
number is for the Coastguard is 999. Routine enquiries
such as tidal info and weather forecasts should come through 01792
366534.
