Everyone knows that Wales is home to some truly spectacular beaches. What you might not know is that some of the very best can be found along the coast of Bridgend County. Here are some of our favourites.

Sker Beach - This hidden gem is remote, sandy and naturally unspoilt, backing onto Kenfig National Nature Reserve. Sker beach is home to wild orchids, nature and wildlife, making it a fantastic spot for relaxed family holidays.

Pink Bay - A quieter sand and pebble beach, the rocks have an eye-catching pink marble effect (hence the name!) Visitors can easily walk here from Rest Bay and the fact that it is less well known than others makes it a great option for getting away from it all.

Rest Bay - Golden sands sweeping up to a rocky shoreline, backed by acres of common ground. A fantastic place for watersports, particularly surfing. There's also plenty of place to sunbathe and relax.

Sandy Bay - A beautiful flat, sandy bay sheltered by Porthcawl's marina. Ideal for sunbathing, sandcastles, donkey rides and the Coney Beach Amusement Park. Porthcawl town centre and promenade are nearby.

Trecco Bay - This well sheltered sandy and rocky beach is close to excellent facilities for the family. Great for relaxed family adventures, it is close to Trecco Bay Holiday Park, which is also open to the public.

Newton Bay - A lovely sheltered bay that stretches around to Ogmore by Sea. This is a great option for dogs - they are allowed on the beach year-round. The Beachcombers Cafe allows dogs in the outside seating area and provides dog bowls.

Given that this week officially marks the start of summer there's never been a better time to get down to Bridgend County in South Wales and try your hand at riding a Welsh wave or two. 

We've got some of the very best surf schools in Wales, perhaps even the UK, in the form of Porthcawl Surf School and Cressey's Surf Academy, both of which run surf lessons out on the beautiful Rest Bay.

It may not be quite as popular as neighbouring Gower or Pembrokeshire but Bridgend County is thought of by surfing experts as one of the best spots in the UK, perhaps even as good as Newquay!

So why not consider booking a surf lesson today, or try one of the following watersports in Bridgend County...

Paddle surfing - Quite a new one that is growing in popularity - easy to learn and a fun way to explore the coastline this is a great family activity. 

Sea kayaking - A little more relaxing than some adrenaline fuelled activity, you can really take kayaking at your own pace and discover another side to the coast. 

Coasteering - At the complete other end of the 'adrenaline' spectrum, coasteering means scrambling along the coastal cliffs and jumping into the ocean below - very much one for thrill seekers.