merlinlocations | Dunraven Bay

Dunraven Bay is simply astonishing. Another one of my absolutely favourite Merlin locations! The unusual cliffs and rock formations, a beach with a band of large pebbles above wide flat sands, a stream running down across the beach, and extremely high tides - all this combines to create a primal magic that changes dramatically throughout each day.

how it's used in Merlin

The mystical nature of the episode The Labyrinth of Gedref called for some unusual locations. Like Puzzlewood, Dunraven Bay certainly fits the bill. Once Arthur emerges from the labyrinth, he finds his final test already set up on an rocky beach. Merlin is there as part of the test, with Anhora presiding. The unusual landscape of Dunraven Bay provides a fantastic backdrop to this scene.

the place itself

Dunraven Bay is on the coast of Wales near the village of Southerndown, south of Bridgend. It is part of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast.

The cliffs are formed of horizontal bands of stone, some golden in colour. The highest point of the beach consists of large light grey pebbles, worn smooth. At high tide, the water comes right up into this area. At low tide, however, a large wide beach is revealed, with a stream winding down across the sand. Scattered boulders break up the whole area. The place is well-known by photographers, for obvious reasons!

As you're facing the sea, the filming location can be found under the cliffs on the right, on the large rock shelves. The tide was quite high when they were filming. As Arthur emerges from the labyrinth, you can see him walk down part of the old concrete jetty, and then onto the rocks. Of course, much of this transition sequence was created with CGI, as the Maze where they filmed the labyrinth is over an hour's drive away from Dunraven Bay.

By the way, I realise this was all down to the vagaries of the weather, but I love how it's dull and rainy in the labyrinth, and then Arthur emerges into dazzling brightness of the beach. This would seem like a continuity error in a regular episode, but I thought it really worked well within the mystical world of these tests.

links and details

a photographer's guide to Dunraven Bay
info on tides - select port 512 Porthcawl
the location on Google Maps

The location is: Dunraven Bay, near Southerndown (via Beach Road), Mid Glamorgan, Wales. The Bay is also informally referred to as Southerndown Beach.

Amusingly, a pub at the junction of Beach Road in Southerndown is called The Three Golden Cups, and the logo features three goblets in silhouette which look rather similar to the goblets our boys drink from in the test… Well, except there's three, obviously! One for Anhora?

Dr Who fans may be interested to know that Dunraven Bay was used when filming Bad Wolf Bay, scene of much heartbreak between the Doctor and Rose Tyler.

warning: On a far more serious note, the tides in this area are extremely high, often around nine metres, and sometimes as much as twelve; the second highest tides in the world. Lifeguards are available at Dunraven Bay for good reason! There are areas to either side of the beach where you can get cut off by the rising tide, so be very careful when wandering.

rating

I have really fallen in love with this place! Another five pointy hats from Mrs L.