Merthyr Mawr is a sandy beach backed by the dunes of Merthyr Mawr warren on the west side of the Ogmore river. Parking is at a P&D car park pleasantly situated in a wooded glade next to the ruins of Candleston castle – a 14th century fortified manor house. A small wooden hut houses male and female toilets. The car park can be reached by following the lane through Merthyr Mawr village, with its delightful thatched cottages.
Access to the beach is a walk of about a ¾ mile across the dunes of Merthyr Mawr warren, which are a popular training area for joggers and local sports clubs. This dune system is a maze of paths and there are numerous possible routes to the beach, so if you’re not familiar with the area follow the route marked with red discs. The largest sand dune in Europe, known locally as the Big Dipper is just to the south of the car park.