IT'S PEACEFUL, LIVED-IN AND EVERYONE HERE FEELS TRULY AT EASE IN THEIR SURROUNDINGS 04:00, 01 Jun 2025Updated 08:16, 01 Jun 2025 Wales is the best place for finding quieter spots, where

it feels like things slow down away from the rest of the world for a little bit. But you don’t have to travel miles to find it - Swanbridge seafront, tucked between Barry and Penarth and

just down the road from Sully, is a tiny slice of calm and quiet in comparison to other places on the sea in south Wales. The beach is secluded and the area itself almost feels like you’ve

gone back in time by about 10 years in a good way. But for somewhere that feels hidden it’s not without things to do, with thriving businesses on the seafront and lots going on, from yoga on

make the move after one of Cathy’s friends got a static home in the holiday park, where you can buy a space to live in for a portion of the year, and when she and Rob also moved another one

of their friends followed, so the snowball effect has been in full flow. Describing what life feels like here, Rob said: “You hear the sound of the waves all the time and it’s just so

relaxing, and you see people coming down to enjoy themselves.” Article continues below The couple believe that the area is a bit of a hidden gem as lots of people - particularly in Cardiff-

haven't heard of it before. Rob noted: “There’s still a few caravans that aren’t occupied so I don’t know if everyone does know about it.” Swanbridge feels like it’s very much centred

around the community, and everyone here seems happy and upbeat. But talking to Rob and Cathy, it seems that some of this is almost by design. Cathy said: “We did find out that the owner’s

son-in-law, he’s sort of the manager and he gets a feel for you. “He likes to interview you basically and have a good chat and if he likes you he wants you on here. They wouldn’t just give

it to anybody. “We love it. It’s so chilled and everyone is just so happy by the sea, especially when the sun’s out.” Another thing that shines through about Swanbridge is its reassuring,

traditional feel. The Seashore Grill & Bar still features lots of old furniture. People are there on the dot at 9am when I arrive and are ordering cappuccinos by the minute. The news is

playing in the background as a TV is positioned well for people to socialise around, and the 'everyone-knows-everyone' feel is coming through super strongly. Life feels calm and

strangely nostalgic. It turns out I am not the only one who had felt this though. Up the road at the holiday park I meet Pam, who helps to manage the site. She has lived there for 13 years,

having moved from Sully. Pam explains that the area is refreshingly un-touristic. Anyone on the site has bought a static caravan and can stay there for a large portion of the year as long as

they are away for part of it, as they are a holiday park. Pam said: “It’s a lovely lifestyle for anyone but especially elderly people as there’s definitely a good community. But it also

works if you don’t have a car as there are buses not too far away and a doctor up the road so it makes it a great base if you want to spend time here. “I’m lucky because I get to know

everyone here and people do sometimes keep themselves to themselves and come here because it’s quiet.” There is also a sense that if you live here, you can make it suit your lifestyle

easily. “It’s a good mixture because it can of course be really quiet if you want it to be but then you can of course chat to anyone and get that real community feel down by the water. “I’d

say it’s a lovely, friendly place. There’s a bit of everything and one thing about it is that it hasn’t really changed much at all. “Other places like Barry have changed a lot. But here it

feels the same still which is quite rare. “Even though a lot of the businesses have changed hands a few times a lot of the owners have kept it the same and there’s plenty of character.”

Walking around the caravan site, I hear some light chatter and laughter drift from several homes and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't wondering why more people don't live in

places like this. Back on the seafront, four women in their late 50s and 60s are getting ready for a dip in the water after I head back down onto the main stretch of the area. Susan Davis

has lived in Swanbridge for eight years and she and her friends, who all live in nearby areas, come together every day to go for a sea dip. They have been doing it for almost five years

according to Susan - and they all say that they have seen a difference in their physical and mental health since they got into it. Susan said: “It’s sort of a different way of life here.

It’s far more relaxed, and quite sociable although because I’ve worked most of the time I’ve been here I haven’t got to know that many people, but you could easily. “When we were young, we

all grew up in Penarth swimming anyway and so we’ve kind of gone back to it. You sort of grow out of the wild as life takes over and families and whatnot but we just decided to go back to it

in Covid. “You always dread going in but when you get out it’s the best feeling. We definitely arrange our life a bit around the tide times. “We don’t get loads of people swimming here

because if you don’t know the beach it can be a bit daunting. “There’s a jet ski also round here and they take us out, and they look out for the other swimmers here as well. It’s just very

friendly.” Susan has noticed that since Gordon Hanfield took over the campervan site and has invested in the area in recent years, it has given it a certain feel: “A few years ago people

wouldn’t have gone into the water. “What he’s done to change up the beach has been amazing. He’s tidied it all up and cleaned it all up and made it a really lovely spot to be on.” A Canadian

walker taking in the surroundings just as Susan and her friends had dipped into the water tells me he is used to passing through hidden gem spots, especially in Wales where he is currently

walking the entire coastal path. He said: “I’ve been through hundreds of these little villages, but this is fantastic. The pub over there looks like my kind of place. “I just love places

which are older and full of character - I like to avoid more modern places so this is perfect. We’ve just walked over from Barry and this is the best spot so far today." He and his

partner stopped to watch the four swimmers, impressed by their determination to embrace the colder temperatures before continuing their walk, which is when I also meet aircraft engineers

Paul Feehan and John Walsh, who regularly have their work catch ups here. Paul said: “We just meet up for breakfast and have a catch up about everything that is going on in all weathers

really. “I’ve known this area for years and it’s just got that simple feel. I just like that you can connect with the sea and it’s quiet, you can sort of chill.” John Walsh added: “It’s got

a bit of an oldy-worldy feel and you just feel comfortable as there’s a good mix of businesses and places to live on the static home sites as well as the multi-million homes right on the

sea.” Mike Withycombe has worked behind the bar at The Captain’s Wife for three years and has found the community has been so friendly that it has made him want to stay at the pub - which is

part of a bigger company Vintage Inns - with the goal of working his way up there in the future. He said: “It’s weird because it’s my first ever job, and everyone has just been so nice. In

the summer is when it really comes alive but in the winter it’s also got that cosy pub feel. “My grandparents live in Sully which is also quite laid back and completely different to Barry.

And people living in Swanbridge seem to recognise each other on the streets. The winter time here feels very local but then in the summer people come from England and we get a whole mix of

accents and people coming from different places. “The sunsets are also stunning - and I would also say there’s been a small increase in the number of young people here. “We had one TikToker

getting some shots about three months ago and then we saw it on TikTok and it looked really nice. “With the setting where it is, compared to other local pubs in the area nothing really beats

the setting we have because it’s quite nice driving down the little lanes, and then coming to this - you can go on a walk on the island and come back and have a coffee and it’s just really

well placed. “I love working here and seeing it all and it’s just a great place to be.” You can easily see why someone would want to live here. The views are ridiculously pretty, and looking

out to sea, you'll spot Sully Island, Flat Holm and even Split Rock. Article continues below I remember thinking on my first visit that if you dropped someone here without telling them

where they were, they’d never guess a capital city was just 20 minutes down the road. It feels like its own little slice of paradise where people seem to have a really good quality of life,

often in an affordable way, with the sea and countryside on your doorstep as well as a great community and gorgeous places to eat and drink - it genuinely does feel like you’re getting the

best of both worlds.