Penarth Head facts for kids

Penarth Head seen from Lavernock to the south

Penarth Head seen from near the Cardiff Bay Barrage

Penarth Head is a piece of land that sticks out into the sea in Penarth, a town on the south coast of South Wales. It's very close to Cardiff, the capital city of Wales.

What is Penarth Head?

A headland is like a nose of land that juts out into the water. Penarth Head is one such natural feature. It helps define the shape of the coastline in this area.

A Landmark for Sailors

For hundreds of years, sailors have used St Augustine's Church as a guide. This church sits on the very highest point of Penarth Head. It helped ships find their way safely.

In the 1860s, the old church was replaced with a new one. Pilots who guide ships in the Bristol Channel asked for the new church to have a tall tower. This was so they could still see it easily from the sea. The new church, designed by William Butterfield, has a tower that is 90 feet tall.

Penarth Head Park and Views

In 2015, a special viewing platform was built at Penarth Head Park. This park is right on the edge of the Head. From here, you can see amazing views. You can look out towards Penarth Pier and even see Flat Holm, an island in the Bristol Channel.

The park also has information boards to teach visitors about the area. There is even a mosaic shaped like the Wales Coast Path logo. Penarth Head Park is 200 feet above sea level. This makes it the highest point along the entire Wales Coast Path!

Nearby Places to See

The Cardiff Bay Barrage is a large dam that crosses the mouth of Cardiff Bay. It connects Penarth Head to the Queen Alexandra Dock in Cardiff. This barrage helps to keep the water level in Cardiff Bay constant.