Beach Guide
This quick guide is provided by one of our “regulars” whose family have been coming here for over 30 years! There's also a link at the bottom of the page to a more comprehensive (and possibly more objective!) view of beaches for all of South Wales, Pembrokeshire & Ceredigion
Abercastle
Rocky inlet with some sand at low tide. A great one for exploring rockpools. Toilets, parking very limited. Dogs allowed
Abereiddy
A little bit of everything. Mixture of black sand (from the local slate cliffs), pebbles, rocks and rockpools. Good snorkelling. Blue Lagoon (old slate quarry) adjacent where the Red Bull cliff diving event has been held the last two years. Great surf sometimes. Popular with kayakers and coasteering parties. Ice cream/snack van attends. Toilets. No parking fee. Dogs allowed.
Caerfai
Predominantly sandy with some rocks and rockpools. Safe swimming. Limited free parking at top of cliff. Steep walk down to beach. No amenities.
Newgale
Long sandy beach with large shingle bank behind. Very popular with surfers, kite surfers. Little shelter. Parking (pay and display). Amenities including pub at northern end of beach and shops half way along off back of beach.
Nolton Haven
Lovely sandy beach with shingle at top. Rock pools. Beware tide rip at low water beyond cliffs. Toilets. Car parking.
Porthclais
Small, narrow harbour. Small cafe by car park. Sand/shingle at low tide.
Porthgain
No beach. Working harbour. Great (and very, very popular) pub, The Sloop Inn. Also The Shed Fish & Chip Bistro. Good fishing off harbour walls when tide in. Porthgain can get very busy, due to the popularity of the Sloop and The Shed.
Solva
Long sandy harbour when tide out. No beach when tide in. Shallow, safe swimming. Tide comes in fast. Great crabbing! Car parking, though gets very busy. All amenities at Solva - shops, several pubs, snacks, ice cream, toilets. Great walking up over the Gribyn or inland through the valley to Middle Mill.
Traethllyfyn
Accessible via Barry Island Farm on road to Porthgain, or on foot via Abereiddy (long walk). Great sandy beach, some rocks. Steep walk down iron staircase to beach. No amenities.
Trefin
Rocky cove, no sand. Great for exploring rockpools. No amenities and very little parking - what there is is adjacent to the road. Pub (The Ship) in the village.
Whitesands
Probably the best known beach in the area. Huge swathe of sand, good surfing, and generally safe swimming but beware some rip currents. Lifeguards. Shop, café, toilets. Can get very busy in peak season, but walk further down the beach and there's room for everyone! Plenty of car parking (charges apply). No dogs during summer months (May - Sept)
Further away, but we think worth the trip
Broad Haven
Large sandy beach with all amenities
Cwm yr Eglwys
On the north side of Dinas Head above Fishguard, a sheltered cove or sand and pebbles. Great snorkelling. Limited parking. Very pretty. Nice circular walk around Dinas Head taking in Pwllgwaleod (see below), or there's a direct path.
Little Haven
Small cove with some parking and amenities. Nice pub.
Marloes Sands
Marloes Sands is a superb beach at the southern tip of St Brides Bay, about an hours drive. Last couple of miles single track. Car parking (charges). Then a 10-15 minute walk down to the beach (steep in parts). Ice cream van and toilets near car park
Pwllgwaleod
North of Fishguard, a small sheltered sandy beach on the south side of Dinas Head. Slipway access. Free parking, toilets. Nice circular walk around Dinas Head taking in Cwm yr Eglwys (see above), or there's a direct path.
St Brides Haven
A lovely spot. A good hour's drive but worth it. Toilets only. Fantastic snorkelling, good fishing, safe bay for swimming and paddling.
Also follow this link for a more comprehensive and independent guide to Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and South Wales beaches
This quick guide is provided by one of our “regulars” whose family have been coming here for over 30 years! There's also a link at the bottom of the page to a more comprehensive (and possibly more objective!) view of beaches for all of South Wales, Pembrokeshire & Ceredigion
Abercastle
Rocky inlet with some sand at low tide. A great one for exploring rockpools. Toilets, parking very limited. Dogs allowed
Abereiddy
A little bit of everything. Mixture of black sand (from the local slate cliffs), pebbles, rocks and rockpools. Good snorkelling. Blue Lagoon (old slate quarry) adjacent where the Red Bull cliff diving event has been held the last two years. Great surf sometimes. Popular with kayakers and coasteering parties. Ice cream/snack van attends. Toilets. No parking fee. Dogs allowed.
Caerfai
Predominantly sandy with some rocks and rockpools. Safe swimming. Limited free parking at top of cliff. Steep walk down to beach. No amenities.
Newgale
Long sandy beach with large shingle bank behind. Very popular with surfers, kite surfers. Little shelter. Parking (pay and display). Amenities including pub at northern end of beach and shops half way along off back of beach.
Nolton Haven
Lovely sandy beach with shingle at top. Rock pools. Beware tide rip at low water beyond cliffs. Toilets. Car parking.
Porthclais
Small, narrow harbour. Small cafe by car park. Sand/shingle at low tide.
Porthgain
No beach. Working harbour. Great (and very, very popular) pub, The Sloop Inn. Also The Shed Fish & Chip Bistro. Good fishing off harbour walls when tide in. Porthgain can get very busy, due to the popularity of the Sloop and The Shed.
Solva
Long sandy harbour when tide out. No beach when tide in. Shallow, safe swimming. Tide comes in fast. Great crabbing! Car parking, though gets very busy. All amenities at Solva - shops, several pubs, snacks, ice cream, toilets. Great walking up over the Gribyn or inland through the valley to Middle Mill.
Traethllyfyn
Accessible via Barry Island Farm on road to Porthgain, or on foot via Abereiddy (long walk). Great sandy beach, some rocks. Steep walk down iron staircase to beach. No amenities.
Trefin
Rocky cove, no sand. Great for exploring rockpools. No amenities and very little parking - what there is is adjacent to the road. Pub (The Ship) in the village.
Whitesands
Probably the best known beach in the area. Huge swathe of sand, good surfing, and generally safe swimming but beware some rip currents. Lifeguards. Shop, café, toilets. Can get very busy in peak season, but walk further down the beach and there's room for everyone! Plenty of car parking (charges apply). No dogs during summer months (May - Sept)
Further away, but we think worth the trip
Broad Haven
Large sandy beach with all amenities
Cwm yr Eglwys
On the north side of Dinas Head above Fishguard, a sheltered cove or sand and pebbles. Great snorkelling. Limited parking. Very pretty. Nice circular walk around Dinas Head taking in Pwllgwaleod (see below), or there's a direct path.
Little Haven
Small cove with some parking and amenities. Nice pub.
Marloes Sands
Marloes Sands is a superb beach at the southern tip of St Brides Bay, about an hours drive. Last couple of miles single track. Car parking (charges). Then a 10-15 minute walk down to the beach (steep in parts). Ice cream van and toilets near car park
Pwllgwaleod
North of Fishguard, a small sheltered sandy beach on the south side of Dinas Head. Slipway access. Free parking, toilets. Nice circular walk around Dinas Head taking in Cwm yr Eglwys (see above), or there's a direct path.
St Brides Haven
A lovely spot. A good hour's drive but worth it. Toilets only. Fantastic snorkelling, good fishing, safe bay for swimming and paddling.
Also follow this link for a more comprehensive and independent guide to Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and South Wales beaches