7 best beaches in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is well known for its gorgeous coastline – so stunning, in fact, that pretty much all of it has been designated as a national park. The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is the only one of the UK’s national parks to be entirely made up of coastal scenery – and while it may be one of the smallest in terms of sheer size, it’s richly endowed with spectacular scenery.
With 186 miles of shoreline and more Blue Flag beaches than any other county in Wales, there’s clearly going to be a lot to see around here – everything from sandy beaches to craggy coves and rock pools, via some great watersports areas and particularly excellent surfing spots. So how on earth are you going to choose which are the best Pembrokeshire beaches to visit?
A long-distance hike on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path is one option of course – that way you’ll get to see every little corner, from Amroth in the south to Newport Sands and Poppit Sands in the north. But if you haven’t got the time (or the legs) for such things? Read on for our guide to the 7 best beaches in Pembrokeshire…
Barafundle Bay
To many visitors, Barafundle Bay is the nicest beach in Pembrokeshire – in fact, it frequently appears on lists of the world’s best beaches. And you can see why: those golden sands are utterly gorgeous, soft to walk on and rarely overcrowded thanks to its remoteness (it’s a half-mile walk from the National Trust car park, with a flight of steps to navigate too).
If you’re planning a day out here, it’s worth bearing in mind that walk – you’ll need to take everything with you, and there are no facilities so you’ll need to scamper back to the car park if you need a toilet stop, an ice cream or anything else. The rewards are huge though: if you’re lucky enough to get good weather you could mistake this beach for the Caribbean…
Broad Haven South
A little bit of a confusing one, this one – Broad Haven South beach is a little way along Pembrokeshire’s southern shore from Barafundle Bay, and not to be confused with Broad Haven, a town overlooking St Bride’s Bay on the west coast.
Again, there’s a bit of an adventure involved in getting to Broad Haven South – this time it’s a jaunt down the steep cliff steps or a more accessible stroll alongside the Bosherston lily ponds to get down to the sandy beach at the far end. However you arrive, you’ll be rewarded with a great stretch of sand backed by dunes and cliffs, and with the craggy Church Rock at its centre.
Freshwater West
Further west again is Freshwater West, one of the best surf beaches in Wales and another gorgeous stretch of sand. ‘Freshwest’ is a popular spot with experienced wave-riders and novices alike – lessons are available for those who have yet to perfect the art of standing up on water.
It’s not all about the surfing, though – this beach is a fab place to visit for a stroll among the sand dunes or a bit of sunbathing. There’s plenty of space on the sand here even at high tide, and handy facilities in the form of a free car park with toilets.
Getting to all of these first three beaches is easy from a campsite near Pembroke.
Whitesands Bay
The name doesn’t lie – Whitesands Bay is indeed a stretch of lovely white sand, out on the west coast near St Davids. This is another popular spot for surfing and bodyboarding, with the best waves up at the northern end of the beach. Paddlers will want to head to the more sheltered southern end, but you’ll still need to be aware of strong currents.
If you don’t fancy getting in the water, you might like to set out on a coastal stroll towards Caerfai Bay instead, or combine a blast of sea air with one of our best things to do in St Davids.
Stay a while in this area by finding campsites near St Davids.
Newgale beach
The approach to Newgale is one of those that may well take your breath away – one minute you’re merrily driving along through lovely green countryside, then suddenly you get to the top of the hill and the whole beach bursts into view right in front of you.
And what a view that is, with about two miles of sand and great crashing waves that are heaven for surfers, kitesurfers and other watersports types.
Planning something of a west Wales surfing tour? Check out our guide to the top Pembrokeshire surf beaches.
Marloes Sands
Way out west, past Milford Haven is another splendid swathe of gorgeous beach at Marloes Sands. With golden sands, rock pools, craggy cliffs and colourful coastal heathland to explore, there’s something for everyone here – it’s certainly worth the journey to this remote spot, and the 15-minute walk from the car park.
That said, it’s really worth checking the tide times before setting off to Marloes Sands – there’s a mile of lovely sand here at low tide, but there can be almost none at high tide. If you do happen to be here around then, perhaps turn your attentions to wildlife spotting instead: Pembrokeshire’s renowned for its marine life, and you may spot puffins or peregrines around Marloes.
Or might you spot a film star? If this location looks a little familiar, that may be because it featured in Snow White and the Huntsman back in 2011.
Carry on to nearby Dale for sea safaris in search of seals and dolphins – or check out our other best things to do along the Pembrokeshire coast.
Tenby beaches
No rundown of Pembrokeshire’s beaches would be complete without an honourable mention for Tenby – it’s one of the country’s best seaside towns, with colourful houses, a harbour for fishing trips or outings to Caldey Island, and no shortage of great places to eat and drink.
And that’s before you’ve even got to the beaches, of which Tenby manages a rather generous four. Each is splendid in its own way, so (although this may be cheating a little in the context of this list), it’d be rude not to give them all a mention here.
So, in no particular order, you may like to try… North Beach for a family-friendly stretch of lifeguarded sand and plenty of facilities; South Beach for a quieter couple of miles of dune-backed sands; Harbour Beach for a sheltered spot with convenient places to eat; or Castle Beach for rock pools, caves, safe swimming or paddling, and plenty of sand for sandcastle building or chilling in a deckchair (plus a castle, of course – you can walk out to the island at low tide, but watch you don’t get stranded…)
You’ll need to check out all four beaches in the interest of fairness, so book yourself a campsite near Tenby to make life easy.
Can’t get enough of this spectacular coastline? Check out our excellent collection of Pembrokeshire campsites near the beach.