Beach Guide: Wales

The first beach encountered in Pembrokeshire is the SSE facing Amroth. This beach and village mark the easterly end of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, which winds its way for 186 miles past all the coves, beaches and cliffs of the Pembrokeshire National Park.

Windsurfing and Kitesurfing from this beach is possible, with slalom blasting conditions most common, but bump and jump conditions can develop in stronger winds as chop and small waves develop in the shallow water. The shorebreak can be nasty at high tide when the waves break on the pebble bank, and groynes along the beach are another hazard.

From the A40 from Carmarthen turn onto the A477 at St. Clears and follow the signs to Amroth. Free parking is available by the slipway. Shops, toilets, cafes and pubs are all found close to the beach.

Information coming soon.

A small sandy beach, with pebbles at the high tide line. Joined to the busier Saundersfoot This is the best place to launch from for windsurfers and kitesurfers, with the best conditions being low tides when the wind is cleaner. SE or NE winds are cross shore which produces good bump and jump conditions. There are a few clusters of rocks to look out for, which become submerged at high tide.

Parking is available at Coppet Hall at a charge and all the amenities and accomodation you could want can be found at Saundersfoot. The beach is alongside the B4316. The ease of parking means that the beach can become crowded in the summer

This large, south east facing beach of golden sand is one of the most popular stretches of coastline in Pembrokeshire. Bathing here is generally safe, and Saundersfoot is very popular with families. Most windsurfers launch from Coppet Hall

Being a lively tourist beach, all the expected amenities are found close to the beach. There is disabled access to the beach, with disabled toilet facilities nearby. Dog restrictions are enforced between 1 May and 30 September, and Lifeguards are on duty from the end of June to the end of September. There are shops, cafes, pubs, toilets, phones, etc in the harbour area and a wide selection of accomodation nearby. Situated on the B4316, Saundersfoot is well signposted from all directions and there is a large car park by the harbour. The town can become very crowded in summer.

Information coming soon

Waterwynch is a tiny sand and pebble cove surrounded by high cliffs. Although not really suitable for Forces-of-Nature sports it is a perfect little hideaway to spend a sunny afternoon. Although not usually busy, its small size means that it can feel quite crowded if you are unlucky enough to be there on a day when several other people have had the same idea. Waterwynch is just off the A478. Park at the top of Wynel Lane and walk about 1km to the beach.

Tenby is Pembrokeshire's main holiday resort, and its beaches reflect this. They provide plenty of facilities, are winners of various environmental awards, and are often quite crowded. The resort of Tenby consists of four beaches: North Beach, Harbour beach, Castle Beach and South Beach.

North Beach consists of a sweep of golden sand, with occasional rocks, including the prominent Goskar Rock, dotting the beach. It is back by the harbour and castle at the southern end. The harbour and castle are at the southern end of the beach which is well sheltered from the prevailing winds. Access to the beach is good, but parking close to North Beach especially during peak times can be difficult. There is a dog ban on the beach during the summer and a lifeguard patrol. There is also a tourist information centre near the harbour, and all the shops, cafes and accomodation that you would expect from a busy seaside resort.

For windsurfing or kitesurfing it is better to head Tenby South Beach

Tenby is easy to find and well signposted with the The A478, A4139 and B4318 all leading to the town

The mile long stretch of sand that is Tenby South Beach is much larger and much quieter than Tenby North. It is also more exposed and therefore offers better windsurfing and kite-surfing conditions. SW winds are cross shore and usually provide fairly flat water blasting conditons. It is even possible to sail out to nearby Caldey Island. Easterly and SE winds are also sailable, but conditions get choppier. Northerly and NW winds are offshore and the dunes backing the beach tend to make them gusty and usually unsuitable for wind driven sports. There is a beach on Caldey Island which can offer some wave sailing conditions on Westerly winds.

The surf here can be good when big storms and northerly winds blow out all other beaches in the area. All tides are surfable, with some fun little waves.

Parking is available at the beach, and during the summer lifeguards are on duty. A cafe, shops and toilets are situated at the northern end of the beach and accomodation can be found in the town of Tenby. There is also access to the beach through the dunes at Penally.

Information coming soon.

A small sheltered SE facing cove with difficult access. There is an impressive natural arch to the NE of the main cove and picnic tables on the top of the cliff, but access to the beach itself is difficult and restricted due to an army firing range. There is a youth hostel above the beach.

One of the prettiest beaches in Pembrokeshire, overlooked by the impressive Manorbier Castle and church. The beach itself is sandy, with rocks and rockpools at either end and a peble bank along the high tide mark, To find it, follow the signs from the A4139 onto the B4585. Parking is available in a National Trsu Car Park above the beach and along the low cliff at the northern end of the beach. Toilets can be found in the car park and shops and a pub in the village.

A beautiful beach to surf from, with some good quality beach break waves and impresive surroundings. An excellent (probably the best in Pembrokehsire) right hander breaks over the rocks and is best around high tide. A well known spot that can get crowded in good conditions. In large swells, undertows and rips can be strong making it unsuitable for beginners. The cliffs around the bay tend to shelter it from the wind, so those looking to indulge in wind driven sports should head elsewhere.

A long sandy east facing beach backed by dunes. A popular place for bathers with parking available behind the dunes. Toilets, a shop, pub and caravan park can also be found behind the dunes. To get there take the the B4584 from the A4139 and follow the signs. It is possible to windsurf from here and would be suitable for beginners in light winds, but probably a little too sheltered for more advanced sailors.

Can have good surfable waves in big swells with a SW to NW wind.

A beautiful bay of golden sands and turquoise blue waters. East facing and well sheltered from the prevailing winds, this is an ideal hideaway spot. Its inaccessibility and sheltered nature make it unsuitable for 'forces-of-nature' sports.

To find it, turn off from the minor road between Stackpole and Freshwater East where a lane leads to a car park at Stackpole Quay. There are toliets and a cafe at the car park. The bech is a 1 km walk along the Coast Path to the beach. There is a steep descent from the path down to the beach.

Broadhaven south (not to be confused with Broad Haven in St. Brides Bay) is a beautiful, enclosed, sandy SE facing bay with high cliffs on either side and dunes behind it. Behind these dunes are numerous fish ponds filled with Lilies that attract all sorts of wildlife. The cliffs are full of climbing routes, but restriction do apply at certain times of the year. Can hold a good lefthand wave but only picks up the biggest of swells. Its SE facing aspect and protected nature mean that it isn't badly affected by strong W or SW winds.

Follow the signposts from the village of Bosherton. There is a car park above the beach, and steep steps from here down to the beach.

Easily the most well known, busiest and most consistent of Pembrokeshires surf beaches. It catches any swell going and provides plenty of beach breaks on sand bars and a wave that breaks on the rocks to the south of the beach. In the past Freshwater West It has been the venue for the Welsh, British, and European Amateur Surfing Championships. Not so good for windsurfing as access to the beach can be difficult, but S-SW winds do produce big swells that are perfect for wave-riding if you can avoid the surfers. For those looking for a long sandy beach that isn't too commercialised, then Freshwater West is perfect. It is backed by sand dunes with cliffs at either end and there are plenty of rock pools to explore and a restored seaweed collectors hut. The southernmost beach known as Frainslake Sands, is within the MOD's Castlemartin Artillery Range and firing times are indicated by red flags.

From Pembroke take the A4319 and follow signs to the beach where you'll find a car park at the top of the cliff. There are other car parks along the whole length of the beach too. Toilets are available in the car parks and accomoadation is plentiful in Pembroke.

A quiet secluded Bay to the West of the village of Angle. Also in this area is the wide sweep of mud known as Angle Bay. West Angle Bay is more picturesque and better for swimming.

Take the B4320 from Pembroke to Angle village from where there are signposts to the beach. There is a free National Park car park above the beach. A campsite can be found in Angle just behind the church.

Home to West Wales windsurf and saiing school, the sheltered bay of Dale is perfect for taking those first steps into the world of windsurfing. Dale has a shingle beach with some sand at low tide and an attractive seafront, all overlooked by Dale Caslte on the hill above. It offers flat water windsurfing and sailing of all sorts at all states of the tide, although its sheltered nature means the wind can be gusty. The best direction is NW when the wind channels down through the Gann creating good flat water blsting conditions. E-SE winds can offer some easy waves for those first steps into wave sailing. Car parking is plentiful in the purpose built car park just across the road from the beach. To find it head SW on the B4327 from Haverfordwest. Hotels, B&B's and campsites are available in the village of Dale itself.

A sand and shingle bay surrounded by steep unstable Old Red Sandstone cliffs. The bay itself is WSW facing and therefore takes the brunt of the stormy seas. Its difficult access, strong rips, submerged outcrops, unpredictable currents and sometimes powerful waves make this spot very unpopular for windsurfing, but fairly popular with surfers. There are no amentities at the beach, but the nearby village of Dale offers shops and accomodation. Limited parking is available along the roadside, from where it is a 10 minute walk along the coast path to the beach.

Marloes sands is a beautiful, isolated stretch of sand with rocky outcrops along its length. It is rarely busy and out of season if you make the effort to walk to the beach you are likely to have it to yourself. From the beach there are good views out to Skokholm and Gateholm Islands, the latter of which is at the NW end of the beach and can be reached on foot at low tide. The remains of neolithic to medieval settlements can be found on the island. Surfing here can be excellent, but the walk to the beach tends to deter most. This means that it can be well worth the effort as the waves are consistent and never crowded. Watch out for the rising tide though as it can cover the whole beach cutting you off. Windsurfing here is possible (W-NW winds) but not really practical due to the difficult access. To get to Marloes Sands, head to Marloes on the B4327 and just before the village turn off to Marloes Mere where you will find the car park and a signpost for the 1km walk to the beach.

Hardly a beach really, more of a stony slipway and embarkation point for boat trips to Skomer Island. Also popular with divers and it can be a cool place to kayak from. A NT car park is available 200m from the 'beach' and toilets can be found on the road to the beach.

Another quiet, secluded difficult to get to beach. Access is via a path from the Marloes to Martins Haven road. The path is steep, rocky and lippery and not to be attempted by the elderly or infirm. The beach itself is a stunning strip of golden sands with excellent views out ot St. Davids Peninsula. It may be possible to surf from here, but I've never explored it while a swell was running and haven't heard of its surf potential. It should be relatively sheltered from SWwinds, but large swells may wrap around Skomer Island into Musselwick Sands. Watch out for the tide though as the beach becomes cmpletely submerged at high tide.

St. Brides Haven is a small cove with sand exposed at low tide and shingle/pebbles further up the beach. It faces NW so is protected from the SW storms and therefore offers excellent bathing conditions, but isn't so good for 'Force-of-Nature' sports. The rockpools are interesting though and the cove provides good views aross St. brides Bay. To find it follow one of the small lanes that lead off the B4327. There is limited car parking avaiable by the church. Toilets can be found above the beach.