7 best beaches in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is well known for its gorgeous coastline – it’s so stunning, in fact, that almost all of it has been designated as a national park. The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is the only one of the UK’s 15 national parks to be made up entirely 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 a lot to see around here – Pembrokeshire has everything from sandy beaches to craggy coves and rockpools, along with some great watersports areas, including some particularly excellent surfing spots. All of that means it can be hard to work out where to start, so we’ve put together this list of the best beaches in Pembrokeshire – all picked by Pitchup’s keen Welsh beach buffs.
Whether you aim for coast or countryside, Pembrokeshire’s landscapes lend themselves really well to outdoor stays too, and Pitchup has a great collection of campsites and glampsites to choose from, including family-friendly holiday parks, cosy farm glamping and places where you can camp right by the Pembrokeshire coast. Check out the full list to find the place that ‘s right for you.
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Barafundle Bay
To many visitors, Barafundle Bay is the best beach in Pembrokeshire – in fact, it frequently appears on lists of the world’s top beaches. And you can see why: those golden sands are utterly gorgeous, soft to walk on and rarely overcrowded thanks to Barafundle’s remoteness. It’s a half-mile walk to Barafundle Bay from the National Trust car park at Stackpole Quay, 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 head 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
Gorgeous 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 (although that’s also a lovely place to go).
Again, there’s a bit of an adventure involved in getting to Broad Haven South – this time it’s a walk down the steep cliff steps or an easygoing mile-long 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. Bodyboarding and fishing are popular activities here, along with paddling or swimming.
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 there’s easy access to the beach from the free car park with toilets.
Freshwater West beach has a starry claim to fame, as it was one of the locations used for the 2010 movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. There’s even a cairn known as Dobby’s Grave that wizarding fans might like to look out for.
Whitesands Bay
The name doesn’t lie – Whitesands Bay is indeed a stretch of lovely white sand, out on the west coast of Wales 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.
Facilities at Whitesands include a café, shop and surf hire; the beach is also wheelchair-accessible thanks to a wide slipway and a beach wheelchair hire facility.
Newgale beach
The approach to Newgale is a particularly fabulous one – one minute you’re merrily driving along through lovely Pembrokeshire 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. With a couple of cafés, plenty of car parking and handy toilets, it’s easy to make a full day of it here. And if that’s not enough, there’s also a campsite right by the beach in Newgale, so you can spend a night or two listening to the waves.
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, this place is a real stunner – 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 high tide, perhaps turn your attention 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 Marloes Sands featured in Snow White and the Huntsman back in 2011.
Tenby beaches
No rundown of Pembrokeshire’s best 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 lots 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 excellent in its own way, so although this may be cheating a little in the context of this list, we’ll give them all a mention here.
So, in no particular order, when it comes to Tenby’s beaches 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. Of course, Castle Beach also has a castle perched on an island – you can walk out to the island at low tide, but make sure you don’t get stranded.
If you’d like to explore beyond the beaches, check out our full guide to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for ideas on all the best things to do in the area, including wildlife watching, hiking and cultural and historic sites. And don’t forget that staying at a campsite is a great way to make the most of these gorgeous surroundings, while also adding a touch of adventure to your holiday. With prices starting at just £10 per night, camping in Pembrokeshire is a great way to have a break on a budget.