Porthcawl
| Porthcawl | |
|---|---|
Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl | |
Location within Bridgend | |
| Population | 16,005 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SS825775 |
| Principal area | |
| Preserved county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PORTHCAWL |
| Postcode district | CF36 |
| Dialling code | 01656 |
| Police | South Wales |
| Fire | South Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| UK Parliament | |
| Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament | |
| Website | porthcawltowncouncil.gov.uk |
Porthcawl ([pɔrθˈkaul] ⓘ) is a town and community in the Bridgend County Borough of Wales. It is located on the south coast, 25 miles (40 km) west of Cardiff and 19 miles (31 km) south-east of Swansea.
Historically part of Glamorgan and situated on a low limestone headland on the South Wales coast, overlooking the Bristol Channel, Porthcawl developed as a coal port during the 19th century, but its trade was soon taken over by more rapidly developing ports such as Barry. North-west of the town, in the dunes known as Kenfig Burrows, lies the remains of Kenfig Castle.