The best beaches in Pembrokeshire in 2023

Sign as much as Simon Calder’s free journey electronic mail for professional recommendation and money-saving reductions

Get Simon Calder’s Travel electronic mail

Pembrokeshire is the right alternative for a summer season vacation on the coast, surrounded by the ocean on the southwestern tip of Wales.

With tranquil beaches, rugged cliffs, serene countryside and charming cities, the world is a vacation spot that lures nature lovers, adventurers, and even these simply desirous to loosen up – actually, anybody who desires to expertise a quintessentially Welsh county.

From St David’s, the UK’s smallest metropolis, to Haverfordwest and Pembroke, the area has loads of cities to discover, in addition to 186 miles of coastal strolling paths and 240 sq. miles of National Park.

The shoreline presents beaches with expansive views out to sea, lengthy stetches of golden sands and, when the climate is okay, clear azure waters.

With summer season holidays firmly in sight, now’s the time to be preparing for feet-in-sand enjoyable on the Pembrokeshire seaside. Here’s our information to the best beaches you may go to in this nook of Wales.

Barafundle Bay

Often described because the “Jewel in the Crown” of Pembrokeshire’s coast, Barafundle Bay has beforehand been named among the many best beaches in the UK and the world. A small bay backed by pine bushes, grassy areas and sand dunes, it’s surrounded by rugged cliffs that supply spectacular views of the ocean and the bay itself. The turquoise waters are nice for swimming, whereas picnics on the sand are in style (which is sensible, as there aren’t any services close by).

With a backdrop that you’d count on in a Caribbean island, Barafundle can be among the many county’s best-kept beaches. The bay can solely be reached by a half-mile path beginning in a parking lot in the village of Stackpole (or a 1.3-mile path from Broad Haven South), however fortuitously the shortage of quick access has helped maintain the seashore and surrounding space pristine. Stackpole and Stackpole Quay are the place you’ll discover primary facilities, cafes and quaint pubs.

Where to remain

If you need to be as shut as doable to Barafundle Bay, your best wager might be the Stackpole Inn. Just 5 minutes away (by automobile) from the aforementioned automobile park, the lodging is a laid-back, charming choice in your stick with well-decorated rooms and a restaurant serving native produce.

Double rooms from £130; stackpoleinn.co.uk

Read extra on UK journey:

Freshwater West

One of Pembrokeshire’s best browsing beaches, Freshwater West is situated on the southern tip of the county, close to the villages of Newton and Castlemartin. This expanse of sands has been used as a filming location in a number of motion pictures (together with the Harry Potter movies), and is a part of the county’s Hollywood Trail. Rocky reefs might be discovered on the southern finish, whereas the northern part has a couple of quiet bays the place you may watch the browsing in peace.

Though robust currents and excessive waves make for nice browsing, remember that they’ll make swimming (and certainly browsing) troublesome, so don’t enterprise too far except you’re skilled. Remember to additionally verify tide occasions if you wish to benefit from the seashore; in case you do arrive on the flawed time, the favored Cafe Mor might be discovered in the southern automobile park.

Where to remain

There aren’t many motels in the world, so the best concept is to remain in the seaside village of Angle, lower than 10 minutes away by automobile. A small village on the Milford Haven Waterway, there’s entry to different nice native beaches, reminiscent of West Angle Beach. The Globe Hotel will present a very good base; set inside a Twentieth-century castle-like constructing, its conventional interiors are harking back to these discovered in many Welsh seaside motels.

Whitesands Bay

Supposedly named after the “sparkling clean sands” that adorn its shores (and look decidedly golden in pictures), Whitesands is one other in style browsing seashore situated on the western tip of the nation. The break (on the northern level) can be in style with canoeists and bodyboarders, so the seashore can get very busy on the top of summer season. For those that merely need to get pleasure from doing little or no, there are bays on the alternative finish of the seashore. While the presence of a lifeguard and first assist services are a welcome addition, pay attention to currents.

The bay is missed by Carn Llidi, a 181-metre hill that makes an incredible mountain climbing route and showcases sweeping views over the Irish Sea. The metropolis of St David’s is simply two miles away, dwelling to the John Nash-designed cathedral in addition to a number of in style pubs, eating places and retailers.

Where to remain

Crug Glas is a big nation home in St David’s that provides visitors an eclectic mixture of vaulted ceilings, old style decor, antiques and small up to date touches. The restaurant presents home-cooked dishes, and the property produces all its personal vitality from a close-by wind turbine.

Tenby

Tenby itself is a seaside resort city in the southeast a part of Pembrokeshire, with a picturesque harbour and a community of cobbled streets which might be dwelling to a number of pubs, cafes, eating places and retailers. The rapid space boasts 4 spectacular beaches: the aptly named North and South beaches are probably the most well-known, with North sitting in entrance of the harbour and overlooking Carmarthen Bay. South is the most important, sprawling out over a mile and with views that rival beaches in the Mediterranean.

Harbour seashore is a smaller space however has all of the attraction of an English seaside, whereas Castle Beach – backed by towering cliffs and stood over by St Catherine’s Island – is nice for households, however disappears virtually fully hight tide. For one thing slightly completely different, you will get a ship to Caldey Island (simply over half a mile away) at low tide.

Where to remain

The Broadmead Boutique B&B is simply half a mile from the centre of Tenby; in different phrases, near the motion however not too shut. The lodging makes probably the most of its quieter rural location, set aside from the vacationer crowds, with giant landscaped grounds and bespoke, up to date rooms.

Newport Sands

The largest of Newport’s beaches, Newport Sands stretches for over a mile beneath the Newport Links golf course. Backed by giant dunes and flanked by rocky cliffs, it’s one other in style space for water sports activities (together with browsing and kayaking) in addition to fishing and hen watching. In the summer season, there are secure swimming sections on the southern finish.

The city itself (to not be confused with town in the east of Wales) is a bustling seaside settlement, with a number of close by various beaches (reminiscent of Newport Parrog) and a busy centre that’s dwelling to many pubs, cafes and even fine-dining eating places. Cultural centres and artwork galleries additionally line its streets, whereas a number of strolling and mountain climbing routes (together with the Pembrokeshire Coast Path) can take you out if city and into the hills.

Where to remain

Set in an ivy-covered, Grade II-listed Georgian teaching inn, Lleys Meddyg is a chic choice in your keep in Newport. The boutique rooms are stylishly adorned with fashionable en-suite bogs, with a secret backyard and Fifteenth-century cellar bar offering distinctive ingesting and eating choices.

Broad Haven South Beach

Not too removed from Barafundle Bay lies one other of Pembrokeshire’s gems. This is seashore blessed with dunes and cliff faces together with the tempting sand and water. Moreover, its location close to Bosherton Lakes signifies that the seashore can be backed by National Trust woodland and lily ponds, giving completely different environment to different in style beaches in the world. The limestone Church Rock sits 150 yards from the shore; it’s a in style landmark to swim to, however pay attention to making an attempt the journey in something apart from calm situations.

Bosherston itself is likely one of the closest settlements to Broad Haven South, however this small village solely presents primary facilities. Exploring the native nature is the draw, with the close by Bosherton Lakes and limestone cliffs like Huntsman’s Leap among the many hottest websites.

Where to remain

Pembroke makes a very good base for exploring this space. The Best Western at Lamphey Court has a number of acres of grounds, tennis courts, a spa and swimming pool for these days the place the seashore is much less interesting, with eating places appropriate for each informal and formal eating.

Marloes Sands

Nestled on the far western fringe of the county, Marloes Sands is likely one of the area’s most distant beaches. It is over a mile lengthy (at low tide, although it may be virtually lined when the tide comes in) and is nearly completely backed by rugged cliffs and different rock formations. This is one for nature lovers, with sandstones, volcanic rocks and a variety of wildlife making its dwelling right here. The dramatic panorama makes for wonderful surroundings, with most individuals visiting to benefit from the views and secure bathing alternatives slightly than for water sports activities.

You can get a ship to Skomer Island from Martin’s Haven harbour. Heading away from the seashore, a number of native walks begin in the automobile park, whereas the villages of Dale and Marloes are additionally shut by.

Where to remain

With a scarcity of choices in the rapid space, staying in close by Milford Haven is a good choice. The Ty Milford Waterfront was an necessary a part of a regeneration challenge in thw city, with practical, minimalist rooms and scenic views over the water.

Newgale

Newgale options is two-and-a-half miles of seashore, each sand and pebbles. It’s certainly one of 10 Blue Flag beaches in the county, marked for high quality, security and environmental requirements, with loads of services: a lifeguard spot, seashore retailers and extra. Water sports activities are in style right here, with the west-facing coast open to winds from the Atlantic, making it one more great place for browsing, kayaking and related actions.

Those preferring merely lounging can cling round beside the caves and bays on the southern tip of Newgale, whereas at low tide it’s doable to stroll spherical to a different seashore at Cwm Mawr (although regulate tide occasions to keep away from getting reduce off). Basic provisions might be discovered in the beautiful villages of Newgale and Roch.

Where to remain

For a really memorable native keep, head to Roch Castle. This Twelfth-century hilltop fort has a dramatic setting overlooking St Brides Bay, with spectacular vistas from lots of the rooms in addition to its restaurant.