Barry Island - Group Visits

‍We look forward to welcoming you to Barry Island and hope that you have a great time. We have gathered some information that will help you plan your day with us.

Take a look at our Visit Barry Island page to find out more about this much loved destination

Take a moment to familiarise yourself with the resort. You'll find all that you and your group will need within very easy walking distance of the beach and Car parks.

please share the following information with your party

Beach Safety - RNLI Lifeguard Team at Whitmore Bay beach

We want your party to experience an enjoyable, and most importantly SAFE visit to the Island.

RNLI Lifeguards are present at Whitmore Bay Beach during the summer season. Full dates can be found below.

The UK regularly experiences a number of tragic deaths on our coast therefore to ensure your group are safe please share the following guidelines to keep you and your party safe:

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Stay safe on the beach

•        Wherever possible, swim at a lifeguarded beach. We are fortunate that Whitmore Bay is manned by the RNLI during the season, but please note the other beaches at Barry Island are not. Find your nearest RNLI lifeguarded beach.

•        When on a lifeguarded beach, find the red and yellow flags and always swim or body board between them – this area is patrolled by lifeguards.

•        Never swim alone.

•        If you get into trouble, stick your hand in the air and shout for help.

•        If you see someone in difficulty, don't attempt a rescue. Tell a lifeguard, or if you can't see a lifeguard, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.

•        Keep a close eye on your children at all times. Child safe wristbands are available from the RNLI Visitor Centre and the lifeguards hut.

•        Access to Whitmore Bay Beach can be made from 7‘Bays’. It's useful for your party to note your nearest ‘Bay’ to help navigate and find your party when the beach is busy.

For more advice about having fun and staying safe on thebeach, see the RNLI’s beachsafety advice.

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Please follow these key steps to keep you party together:

• Note your location on the beach according to the Bay numbers which you will find printed on the beach wall. Numbered 1-7 from West to East they are a helpful tool to find your spot.

• Make sure everyone in your party notes the closest Bay number.

• Visit the RNLI Visitor Centre or the lifeguard hut for a child safe wristband so you can write your number should you become separated.

Please help us keep Barry Island Tidy

The resort team work tirelessly to ensure the resort is kept clean and tidy for everyone to enjoy.

Please help us by ensuring rubbish is placed in the many bins provided, and that toilets are used for their intended purpose only. The washing of dogs, feet etc should only be done at the outdoor taps located at both the far Eastern and Western end of the promenade, and on top of Bays 2 and 6 where you will also find outdoor showers.

We highly recommend having refuse bags with your group so that you can keep rubbish to a minimum during your visit. If you need a bag, please ask one of the resort staff and they will happily provide you with a supply. This can also be done by arrangement should you wish. A member of the resort team would be happy to meet you on arrival and provide a supply of bags for your group to use. Please call the Resort Team on 07354 167064 to arrange.

Please note BBQ's are not permitted on the beach. We kindly ask that all items you have with you are removed from the beach at the end of your visit.

‍REMEMBER, please remove all rubbish from the beach

Help protect our marine wildlife

‍Plastic ring toys may seem like harmless fun, but if they're left on the beach or blown into the sea they can injure seabirds and marine animals.

Instead, choose reusable or plastic-free beach toys, or make use of our Beach Toy Exchange – borrow what you need, return what you can, and help reduce waste while keeping the fun going for everyone!

Together, we can help keep Barry Island's beaches clean, safe and beautiful for both wildlife and visitors. 💙

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Accessible Spaces

To access the Changing Places facility which is situated to the rear of Marco’s Café on the promenade, please see a member of the resort staff on duty.

Beach Wheelchairs

Barry Island has 8 beach wheelchairs and 4 standard wheelchairs available to loan free of charge. They are available from the Changing Places facility situated within the public convenience building on the Western promenade between Bays 1 and 2

The all-terrain beach wheelchairs are available to hire at no cost, subject to availability. The uniquely designed wheelchairs are designed to be pushed across the sand without sinking thanks to their wide wheels and unique design. Please book your beach wheelchair ahead of your visit to guarantee availability.

For more information and to make a bookings please see our Beach Wheelchairs page

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‍Public Toilets

Public toilets are located at both the Eastern promenade next to the Beach Huts (Bay 7 on the map) and behind the Western Shelter by Marco’s Café (Bay’s 1 and 2). The Changing Places Accessible Changing Room is located within the same building as the public conveniences.

Please do not use the toilet facilities for changing as this causes issues for the many people that need to use the facilities each day. Please use the Changing Room facilities provided.

We kindly ask that all visitors help our Resort Team by respecting the facilities and keeping them clean and tidy for everyone’s use.

A radar key is required for the disabled toilets

Events

Each year Barry Island plays host to a huge calendar of events on the Island which our visitors look forward to each year. Please see our Events page for the full line up.

RNLI Visitor Centre and shop

A visit to the Barry Island RNLI Visitor Centre is a must during your time on the Island.

It’s completely free to visit and provides a fun way for all ages to learn how to respect the water along our coastline. You can’t miss it above Whitmore Bay - look out for the big yellow welly outside.

Group visits to the Visitor Centre can be made by contacting them here Barry Island RNLI.

Gavin & Stacey

Visitors flock to Barry Island to visit the location where this iconic TV programme was filmed. You can’t miss many of the locations filmed on Barry Island itself; Marco’s Café, Nessa’s ‘slots, Whitmore Bay beach to name but a few.

For those that want to visit for the Gavin & Stacey experience, take a look at our Gavin & Stacey page to discover all the filming locations featured in our favourite TV programme.

GAVIN AND STACEY TRAIL

General Tourist Information

Please see our destination website – www.visitthevale.com for all information about visiting Barry and the wider Vale of Glamorgan

If you require any further information, we would be very happy to hear from you.

Tel: 01446 704867 or email: tourism@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

Please follow the Visit the Vale Facebook and Instagram pages to keep up to date on all that’s happening on Barry Island and the Vale of Glamorgan.

For more ideas on Group Tours in the Vale of Glamorgan, see our Group Travel page on our website.

good to know..

Refreshments - There are cafes and restaurants located throughout the resort to suit all tastes. Check out our Barry page for local food inspiration

Dogs - Dogs are NOT permitted on Whitmore Bay beach between 1^st May – 30^th September each year.

Season - Barry Island is an all year round destination

Walkers – The Wales Coast Path passes through Barry Island

Barry – there are many other lovely places to Visit in Barry if you fancy venturing away from the beach. Check out our page on Barry here.

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