@@ksturmer5388 Jacksons Bay you can all year round I take my dog most days in the Summer( I live on Nells Point where the Butlins chalets used to be just above the path Tim walked around to reach Jacksons) there's also another tidy beach the other side of Whitmore bay by the old harbour which is a much larger beach where dogs can also run their hearts out all year round called Watchtower Bay. Its just Whitmore bay ( the main Beach) which is restricted to Sept to May for dogs. Jacksons bay is a fantastic little Cove which is a lot more extensive than it looks on the video as is Whitmore ( the tide was in ) both with nice golden sand and Jacksons looks really picturesque as you come round the headland like something in Italy or Croatia or similar abroad. Theres also a fourth beach at the Knapp ( pebble beach) The area above the promenade with the witches hat roof on is used for general lounging about plus exercise classes or even the odd choir doing a bit of practice. I suppose the Island is a good mix of old time nostalgia pre foreign holiday British seaside resort with a couple of really decent beaches plus stunning views of the channel chucked in for good measure. Its generally clean and tidy not grubby at all until the end of the day when the lazy couldn't care less element of the Great British Public have wreaked their dumped litter routine on the beach and grassed areas. Witmore Bay is cleaned up and swept with a tractor towed cleaning machine every morning throughout the Summer at about 6 am each morning and left spotless for the next days public. All in all worth a visit and just a quick train ride into Cardiff for a bit of sight seeing or the rugby or footy.
I have no idea why, as a land-locked American in Wisconsin, RU-vid recommended your videos to me but I have to say I enjoy your channel and I've developed an itch to travel across the pond. Hope you and your family are doing well during the heatwave.
For us local in Cardiff, we go to Pernarth marina bay, pernath pier, Cardiff bay. Otherside Cardiff, we goto 3cliffs beach in Swansea and Oxwich beach near the corner. It'll be worth a visit, trust me. You have elan valley and so many things to do. You should take few days only in Wales. Wales needs more exposure. Thanks Tim
Barry Island is a huge part of a Welsh childhood, especially if you're from the South, like me. Every year we would go on the annual Labour Club bus trip, spend the morning on the beach, the afternoon at the fair, then a few of us would go for a wander around the scrapyard.!!! (I know, weird.) It was just outside the town, filled with dozens of disused steam locomotives and the owners were quite happy to let you climb on them, (not much health and safety legislation around in the 70s), which for a 6-year old me was the best part of the day. Due to luck, foresight, and a growing interest in steam at the end if the 1970s, they were bought, restored, and now run on heritage lines across Britain. Long live Ynys Barri. 😁👍
The trains were owned by the Woodham Brothers. I believe one of them went on to be the locomotive in the Harry Potter films. I used to climb on them as a kid growing up in Barry Docks and I remember once stealing a few tins of gloss and a couple of brushes from my dad's shed and painting some of those trains! Fabulous memories.
@@AspireDecorating Yes, Woodhams. They gave the companies £100 per engine for scrap, and ended up selling some of them on for up to £250,000. No wonder Mr. Woodham had a Rolls Royce parked outside the Port-a-Cabin office. It was always caked in mud. 🤣
😍Aww, I loved Barry Island as a kid, lived in Bristol which was across the Bridge. Live in Australia now, I’ll def visit when I holiday in uk in 2024. Gavin & Stacey country 🤣🤣🤣
I remember going to Barry Island as child quite a few times and loved it. We stayed at the Butlins there and used to come out in the car to go to the front. Pity they got rid of that Butlins and the one in Pwllheli, happy childhood memories.
Back in the 80's when I was young there use to be a butlins there. It was at the top of the hill. Its houses there now when I went back. I loved it there every year x
Never been to Barry but have 2 more Butlins facts about the place. 1 - the 1980's Doctor Who story Delta and the Bannermen was partly filmed at Butlins Barry Island and 2 - Barry was where Billy Butlin came up with the idea of an all-inclusive park with entertainment on site after getting fed up of getting kicked out of boarding houses during the day in all weathers by the owners so they could clean up. He was sitting on a sheltered bench in the pouring rain looking at how miserable everyone else was. He got the money to get, bought a turnip field near Skegness and built a holiday camp and the rest is history!
Good friend of mine recently moved from Pembroke to Barry. Went to visit him last week and had the opportunity to see Barry for the first time. Personally? I loved it. Loved how unashamedly kitch it is! Plenty of vibe, personality and atmosphere: a surprising number of parks and even a forest walk. Yes it's dated ... but for me, that's its charm. Ps. I live 10 mins from Tenby & Saundersfoot. Totally love our 2 resorts !
wish i lived in tenby lovley beach, could do with livelier pubs penally night club gone for youngsters only one in saundersfoot called sands must be quiet in winter
@@colinlock-lv9vv Yea it is quiet in winter, except for Christmas time. Both towns are so pretty during Christmas: particularly Tenby with many of the long established businesses going full-on 'Christmas Village ' 😀
It’s exactly 50 years since I visited Barry Island and, frankly, I couldn’t remember any of it so it was interesting to see it now. Definitely a young persons resort. Thanks for taking us there.
Went to Butlins for Easter weekend back in the early 90s I guess not long before it closed for good. It was run down. But still good fun for a group of 20 something's
Great video Tim of Barry Island I have never been there glad you showed where the house was in gavin and Stacey loved that programme liked the beach which was tucked away
As an Australian, and a fan of Gavin and Stacey, I would love to visit Barry Island. Just as I would love love to visit “Torchwood” wharf. All on the bucket list. 👍
I think the last time I went to Barry Island was when my son was 18 months old - he's 36 now lol. I am sure that Butlins was still there back then and many years before that there was the steam train graveyard at the railway station with loads of old rusty steam trains. We would visit when we were kids and those old engines fascinated me. I think lots of them have been bought up and restored now though. Must get the camera out and take a trip there soon - it's easy to get to from where I live, just get the train to Cardiff and change there for Barry and the train station isn't far from the beach.
30 years ago we stayed in a chalet when it was a holiday camp, loved it and the beach was so so lovely too walk on, I remember being on the beach at 5 in the morning all on my own-some with no one around, happy memories of bygone days.
Barry Island is my 3rd favourite seaside in Wales and I have been here 2 times with Porthcawl and Tenby being my other favourites but this place is well known for the tv show Gavin and Stacey and my 2nd visit here yesterday and spent 3 hours here on the beach and had a long paddle in the sea and walked along the coastal cliff walk called Friars Point the sun was shining and so much scenery of the charming Bristol Channel on a clear day
We used to holiday in Barry Butlins every year as our grandparents would drop us off as mum didn't drive. Then you had the annual workmen's club outing every summer with your little bag of tokens for the fair. The empty pavilion everyone would hide under when it (almost always) rained 🌧
THE GRAVITRON. 😍 That used to be at Alton Towers when I was a kid in the 90's. Essentially it sucks you to the wall and then the plates you lean against lift. We used to turn upside down, but you had to try to get back the right way up before it stopped or you would just drop on your head. 😅
Nearly every year when i were a kid, my dad would take me and my brother to Barry by train. I also came when i had a couple of children too, just seeing this footage makes me realise how much i enjoyed my visitis. Areas have changed, but not much. I do recall my dad walking us to Jackson's beach. Not too sure though, i'm thinking there was a massive building which was Butlins. Great video. Thank you.
Love Barry Island. Went to Butlins as a child then my younger brother worked at the holiday camp after Butlins sold it. Can't remember how many times we've been but still love it.
Your videos are fantastic Showing us the simplest of things in Britain especially at a cost prospective where everyone can afford to take there family! Keep up the amazing videos! You should come to Scarborough around this time of the year!
randomly went there 2 years ago and found it to be very clean and well maintained. Nice to see a resort respected by visitors. The Greggs made our day lol. Did you notice how fast the tide comes in lol. Lovely video,enjoyed it.
@@lemsip207 my friend helps to litter pick over there in the evening, after the visitors have left. It's left in a disgusting state, they have no shame!
@alilala5303 It's why I won't go there anymore except in winter. The litter doesn't build up over time as it is cleared every morning around 8 a.m., so how come it is covered in litter at the end of the day?
Me and my boys went there today for first time, it's a nice day out and beach was lovely kids loved the beach, only thing is it's very expensive but it was nice to see the kids enjoy themselves especially after the last couple of years xx
Great vlog Tim been many times since I was young nd the famous Barry Island stream scrap yard nd also original hyper value super stores stared as a market stall on the island
Butlins in 1980,81,82,85 as a 10 year old onwards and the then themed funfair with the log flume, jungle ride, fun house, scream machine, Galaxie coaster, pirate ship, Enterprise etc and all the arcades, steam scrapyard and the beach was the best place in the world for me. Went back as an adult in 1994 to the holiday camp no longer Butlins, was not the same. The funfair was rundown. The holiday camp was demolished the funfair closed, things were looking bleak. Henry Danter is transforming the funfair year by year, it now has the tallest ride in the country and he has bought land nearby to provide accommodation. I went there 3 times last year with my kids and although it's so sad Butlins has gone, it's still a great place and on the up.
The Gravitron is a spaceship and you stand against the wall that has padding like a sponge mattress in vinyl with no safety belts, or anything, and the controller sits in the middle. Plays loud music and the ride spins very fast. The inertia lifts you off the floor to the ceiling while being suspended. Then it slows down and you go down to the floor again. This was around 30 yrs ago in Canada. My daughter talked me into going on it and I think she knew what my reaction was going to be…..”You sneak! I’ll never go on that again!” 😅😅
Really enjoyed this video of Barry Island! I grew up just a few miles away and have some happy memories of that beach in the past and more recent years! Brilliant to see you visit there! Fantastic views from the big wheel!
Lovely video Tim. Since watching G & S I’ve wanted to visit Barry Island just to see what it’s really like, but haven’t gone yet, so it was lovely to see it in your video. Thanks Tim😊
Hi Tim ! Loved this i really love Gavin and Stacey . The seafront looks nice traditional seaside town. I will have to visit one day . Thankyou for sharing with us love to you as always Tracey 💕 xxxx
I started watching some episodes again as I missed the scenes with Deano who works with Smithy. Smithy and Gavin bring their mates to Barry and they stay with Uncle Bryn. Deano comes with them and has been learning Welsh to impress Stacey's family and the others laugh at him but he meets a Welsh speaking girl in a night club. The first time I saw it was the Christmas special in 2008 so then had episodes to catch up with. I watched it to the end and then watched again.
ive never been to barry island but it looks a lovely place. i spent a lot of time in wales as a kid and its nice to see it had that old school seaside town feel without all the fun pubs full of drinks like blackpool. we mainly went to west wales around the barmouth area and that has the similar look to barry island.
Tim this was a wonderful video. The picture quality was amazing .. so clear I felt like I was walking with you. Lovely place to cool off from the heat. So much to see and do for everyone. Food and sun can’t be beat! Thanks Tim for the views .. they were beautiful. Enjoyed this very much!👏🏻☀️
When i was a kid, we used to stay at Butlins Barry Island every year in the late 70's early 80's and that side path we used as a back way from the chalet to the beach. There used to be a log flume at the fun fair that got you soaked, til they changed it then it was rubbish lol. I have many fond memories of Barry Island including when a seagull pooped in my mums cup of tea as she was holding it lol Thank you for showing us round, its stirred up many great childhood memories.
Can't believe I've only just discovered this channel, it's exactly my type of content. Very well presented Tim, and I'm enjoying going over all of your previous videos too.
@@kjubajla Depends what you're looking for really. If you like Travel and Transport, then I'd recommend: Bald and Bankrupt, Geoff Marshall, The Tim Traveller, Noel Philips, Tall Travels, Tom Scott.
Watch all your great videos and today I saw my house..!! Yes Barry Island is great and I’ve lived here many years.. well worth a visit for those who can.
Hi Tim, Really enjoyed the vlog never been to Wales. Looked a great place to go funfair amusements etc love Gavin & Stacey too. Cheers looking forward to Butlins this afternoon.
Its a shame you never said or shown the part of Barry Island where the Butlins camp was. There is a blue plaque on the wall over the side of the beach where the beach huts are , This gives references to all the staff and hoilday makers who came to enjoy Barry Island Lorraine x Redcoat
Ahhh were you a redcoat? 🤩👏👌 I always wanted to work there when I finished school...what was it like? I spent so much time and happy days there, I remember the camp staff were all amazing and always happy and fun!! ID LOVE to hear your stories
Not been to Barry Island but did stay at a place in Wales called Larne. We stayed in a tent which is one of my pet hates yet the place made me fall in love with Wales. The beach was excellent and I think the lack of touristy tat which even as a 12year old made the holiday what it was. Maybe we should put Barry on our visit bucket list.
Just watched this,Thanks for Barry Island walk Tim looks a nice place,the beach was lovely, tell Gaby I'm sorry I missed her live,my phone didn't remind me 😟,see you soon xx
Used to go there as a kid in the late 80s and while it was exciting to me in my juvenile state it also awakened that dawning realisation over time that actually it was awful. I recall a crappy coaster, a Pirate ship swing ride called The Bounty, a flying saucer ride and a ghost train. My parents and I would spend time split between the nearby arcades and this. We'd look at the Barry Island Butlins but never go there because it was delapidated. The whole place just felt like a mobile funfair on tarmac which had decided to stay put and never move on. I also got taken to Porthcawl but it wasn't a whole lot better and a whole story in its own right.
@@richardbrown8099 absolutely 💯 👌 I was so sad they knocked it down, it was all about the fun you had there, not how tatty the chalets looked..just pure..Good fun!!!
@@paulathomson3534 I definitely haven't been for a long time, but the Barry Island I see on Google Maps looks virtually identical to the one I remember - a sad fairground sitting on tarmac, and a row of arcades, cafes and chipshops to one side.
3:20 spot me spotting you (the long haired man with the green back pack) but not approaching you because you were filming and i wanted to respect that. I later met you briefly in jacksons bay and it was pleasure, you were lovely :) Diolch for doing Barry justice in this great video! I visit all the time for a swim in Jacksons Bay from Cardiff (only £3.80 return on the train), many times in the winter i've had the whole beach to myself!
Jackson's Bay is muddy when the tide is out.Locals usually park at the top of the cliff and walk down the steep path that leads to the shower and toilets at the other end of the beach
I’ve always loved Barry Island, since I was a young girl with my parents and then in my teenage years me & my friend used to jump on the train and spend the day there… I had the lucky experience of working along side the Red Coats & Army in Butlins as a work experience for the course I was taking in College such a shame they closed it.. it’s totally changed now mind, but it’s still fab….
Loved seeing Barry island again..I went on holiday there at the holiday camp that's now a housing estate ..I could see the area from the big wheel Thanks Tim
@@WalkWithMeTim Oh wow i never knew it was a housing estate now, we went to that holiday camp about 28 years ago it was truly brilliant one of our best holidays 🥰
Henry Danter has brought the fairground back to above standards, he's put the beat back into the heart of Barry Island, which in return brings thousands of visitors..a magical place💫🏝🎠🎡
Never been to Barry island but looks nice there! The beach would be packed because it’s hot 🥵 weather and I don’t blame everyone being out and about in the sunshine ☀️
I’ve lived in Barry for the good part of 35 years and Barry island has change so much since I was a kid , still a great day out ....Jackson’s bay is a quiet beach normally for the locals but back in the day was a known topless beach lol or for the odd beach party great video 👌🏻😎
I grew up in Barry in the 60's and 70's. It has certainly changed a lot! Butlins was still there then, and there used to be a couple of nightclubs along the front in the Disco era. it's good to see that a lot of work has gone into landscaping the Promenade, although the Gavin and Stacey vibe is a bit meh. I always preferred the other side of the beach, Friar's Point and Watchtower Bay, leading round to Pebbly Beach and Porthkerry Country Park. You could see it from the Big Wheel, I was surprised he left it out.
@@kayew5492 you must be on about the old beer Kella I believe that was the largest on the front it was underneath the arcade believe it or not that place hasn’t been touched since the doors shut back in the early 80s some guy has bought the place and took pictures it’s like stepping back in time but I do believe it’s opening back up would have been a little further down from greggs in this video
@@kayew5492 butlins didn’t shut till the later 80s as it was bought from mr butlins and was changed to the name of majestics before closing due to lack of repair I used to have a season ticket to use the pool , cable cars etc
I have lived in barry all my life and the guy who owned barry island fairground before this owner (Henry Danter) really let the fairground get run into the ground it was shocking at the time but Danter has put some money into the fairground and its not to bad now u don't have weeds tickling u in your ear when u sit down on a bench trying to eat your pie and chips but u still get the seagulls trying to mug u tho lol.
Great stuff, Tim. Barry island looks well kept (a bit tacky but…) and the beach looks great! I know nothing about it except gavin and Stacy (which I’ve never seen!) and that there was a scrapyard there were many of today’s preserved steam locos were rescued from there
Barry Island has had the heart put back into it by Henry Danter who has built this fairground back up to its original glory, He's very passionate about the place, thousands of visitors are coming back again now, lots of people from all over the world, coach trips, it's the place to be, it has everything and more exciting things coming this winter 👌 I think your comment (a bit tacky) Is maybe in view of the style of shops ect?? But this is a great British seaside expectation, its Barrybados not Dubai 👌
Further to my earlier comments. All of what you saw at the top was Butlins , the Barry Stone Henge as you call it, and your question what was it used for, well it was part of Butlins skating area.
@@paulathomson3534 It was tagged on the edge and was the roof of a shelter I think. It was opened when enough wanted to go roller skating, we had some great fun with our kids on borrowed roller skates.
I think I was there around the same time as you / I was hoping to look in the house , but the next time is was open was the 15th I came home on the 14th
Barry Island isn’t a patch on what it was years ago when I was young, sad to say but I just feel awful when I visit there now, terrible to see how it’s deteriorated, how disappointed the people who visit there because of Gavin and Stacey must be
Looks lovely & enjoyable!Got to admit couldn't stand Gavin & Stacey or any of its cast but other than that a lovely resort.Thanks for showing us round😁😁😘😘
I’m from Cardiff area and even though Barry is nostalgic I know loads of people who dislike it down there and would rather go to places like Ogmore, Port Talbot and Porthcawl. Even though it’s really clean and they have put money into the island once you look past the aesthetics it’s basically the same tatty shops that all sell the same things, the amusements tend to be a rip off and there’s a lack of great places to eat down there (near the sea front) unless you like over priced fish and chips or Greggs. It’s a nice place to go especially for a walk or a chill day at the beach but after a day you have experienced Barry for what it’s worth. Much prefer walking down there at night with the lights on and no busy crowds
I would as well. I wouldn't want to go to Barry Island because of the sewage outlet there years ago and now it's too popular with loutish families. They shouldn't be selling hot takeaway food as the litter from that ends up on the beach every day. The licensing should be changed so that you could only be able to eat sitting down inside and the food shouldn't be taken away. If it's cold enough to eat hot food you would want to be sitting down inside. Penarth used to be lovely with cafes and a shell shop on the front but all those were closed but at least the pier has been done up with a cinema, cafe and exhibition space in the pier entrance building. Unfortunately the beach is very pebbly.
@@lemsip207 I think the 'should' word should be used in the way of "people should put their litter in the bins" it's part of the seaside experience to walk freely with some tasty food in your hand 👍😊
Just come back from. Jackson's bay metal detecting eating my fish and chips enjoying your show,great vibe at Barry I mix and chat with people as I detect nice clean beach and apparently the giant acoustic umbrella is designed for optimum sound when a show is performed and the 1929 structures are used for events is internatiol food courts. Etc so that's why they bare at moment
@@WalkWithMeTim Hope you reach 100K subscribers soon :) Here are some suggestions for future videos : The national showcaves in Wales, Padstow in Cornwall where there are some very famous and popular restaurants and Newquay in Cornwall :)
Jackson’s Bay was the locals beach. The quality of the sand has improved as all the sand had a lot of coal in it as Barry holds the World record for coal exportations. It also has the second highest tide in the World. If you go to the other end of the beach over the headland is the Old Harbour which is pretty and has more sand areas after the next headland is the Knap with its outdoor swimming pool and Pebble Beach which is fabulous with large pebbles which then transforms into a slab rock beach at Porth Kerry. I was brought up there over 70 years ago
There's no outdoor swimming pool there any more it was filled in many years ago 😢 it's sorely missed. Porthkerry Park a bit further along from The Knap is very nice though.
