Porthcawl's Rest Bay is a quality beachbreak that picks up most of the swell going and so is often crowded. Works tide round, pretty easy access, doesn't like an onshore. Some localism, access tricky around high, when it also gets very rippy.

** Webcam **: Porthcawl Surf School

For the adventurous intermediate+ surfer, around high tide, head south and find ESP, a short, left, reef break in town.