BEACHES


The beaches of Pembrokeshire consistently appear at the top of the worlds best. The list below features all beaches of the St. Davids peninsular including several secret spots!


Check out our hire page for everything you need to enjoy your day at the beach. 

Ynys Barry

Known locally as Barry Island this beach is a twenty minute walk along the cliff tops from Abereiddy or it can also be accessed via Porthgain. 

  • Lifeguard Service: None

  • Dog Restriction: None

  • Toilets: None

  • Park at Porthgain or Abereiddy and walk 20 minutes over the cliffs.

  • Submerged rocks and strong rip currents

Abereiddy & Blue Lagoon

Abereiddy beach is pebble backed with a rocky reef to the south side of the beach with perfect left hand waves forming on westerly swells. The right side of the beach is sandy and good for swimming. 


A five minute walk over the cliffs will take you to the famous Blue Lagoon which is home of the Red Bull Cliff Diving championship with its deep water making it perfect for cliff jumping. 

  • Lifeguard Service: None

  • Dog Restriction: None

  • Toilets: Abereiddy Car Park

  • Five minute walk from Abereiddy Beach Car Park

Aber Pwll

A 30 minute walk from Abereiddy Car park this rocky beach makes for great swimming with lots of hidden coves to explore. One of our most popular Coasteering spots. 

  • Lifeguard Service: None

  • Dog Restriction: None

  • Toilets: None

  • Park at Abereiddy beach, 30 minute walk west

Porth Melgan

This beach is nestled away from the crowds of Whitesands Beach and features a spectacular view towards Ramsey. You get a real sense of seclusion here and the twenty minute walk from deters most visitors. Perfect for swimming and sunbathing. 


If you are headed this direction then be sure to take in the magnificent panoramic views from the top of Carn Llidi and travel a little further along the head to reach Wales' most westerly tip and see the .5000 year old Coetan Burial Chamber


  • Lifeguard Service: None

  • Dog Restriction: None

  • Toilets: None

  • Park at Whitesands Beach and walk twenty minutes along the coastal path

Porth Lleuog

Just a short walk across Whitesands Beach at low tide and then a scramble over the rocks will take you to this quiet beach. Backed by steep cliffs this beach is sheltered and rarely attracts more than 10-15 people even on the busiest of days. 


If your feeling adventurous you can swim into the beach at low tide through the nostril of the Rams Nose (The headland in the picture).


Spider Crab Cave a 10 minute swim off the beach is good fun to explore when conditions suit!


  • Lifeguard Service: None

  • Dog Restriction: None

  • Toilets: at Whitesands

  • Park at Whitesands Beach and walk five minutes across the beach or along the coastal path

  • Access cut off at high tides. Submerged rocks. Rip current during big swells along headland.

Whitesands Beach

Home to our surf lessons and also where our business started over 30 years ago. Whitesands is a long sandy beach with an excellent beach break offering rights and lefts. 


The beach is backed by sand dunes and the covered ruins of St. Patricks Chapel, it's blue flag status makes it perfect for swimming although it is often crowded in the summer months.


Low tide opens up several little coves which make for a quieter experience. 

  • Lifeguard Service: Summer Months 1000 to 1800

  • Dog Restriction: No Dogs (May to September)

  • Toilets: Top of the car park next to cafe. 

  • Park in Carpark behind beach, 

  • Rip current during big swells along headland.

Porthsellau 

Porthsellau or Porthsele is a golden sand beach that sits just south of Whitesands and is accessed by a 25 minute walk over the coast path. Spectacular views of St. Davids Head and Carn Liddi and fairly protected from the elements makes this a great family beach. 


On a spring low tide the beach connects to Whitesands

  • Lifeguard Service: None

  • Dog Restriction: None

  • Toilets: None

  • Parking: Whitesands (25 minute walk)

  • Sharp rocky reef at north end of beach

St Justinians

Launching place of the St. Davids RNLI Lifeboat since 1867 and now the start point of the amazing Voyages of Discovery boat trips. 


Down the steps and to the right of the old boat house you will find a small beach backed with pebbles and boulders. Although not somewhere you might spend a whole day it makes for a great stop on a walk around the peninsular. 


  • Lifeguard Service: None

  • Dog Restriction: No Dogs

  • Toilets: None

  • Small parking area 100m from top of steps. 

  • Working harbour and busy slipway 

Porthlysgi Bay

A 30 minute walk west from Porthclais with stunning views over the headlands to Ramsey Island and beyond. Backed by large pebbles but with lots of golden sand at low tide. This beach is quiet, tranquil and a great spot for swimming. 

  • Lifeguard Service: None

  • Dog Restriction: None

  • Toilets: None (Porthclais Car Park Toilets are 30 minute walk)

  • Park at Porthclais and walk 30 minutes South along coast path. 

  • Submerged rocks

Porthclais Rock Pools

Head out along the coast path West of Porthclais, after the first gate head off the main path to take the fishermans path closer to the coast. The cliffs here are generally low and a short scramble will take you to some large rock pools. 


Best visited on a low tide when the pools have time to warm up in the summer sun. 


  • Lifeguard Service: None

  • Dog Restriction: None

  • Toilets: Porthclais Car Park (15 minute walk)

  • Park at Porthclais and walk west for 15 minutes

  • Avoid in large swell

Porthclais Harbour

TYF have been operating kayaking lessons from Porthclais Harbour for over 30 years, best visited at high tide the harbour is great for crabbing and has a small kiosk selling coffee & cake.  

  • Lifeguard Service: None

  • Dog Restriction: None

  • Toilets: In the car park next to the kiosk 

  • Park in Carpark behind beach, or walk from St. Davids via St. Nons (40mins) 

  • Working harbour

Caerfai Bay

This beautiful bay grows from a small rocky shelf at high tide to two conjoined bays at low tide with small waves for body boarding and lots of sand for beach games. Enjoy a rockpool safari along the fringes of the beach or swim out to the island (pictured) and sign your name on the geocache (only do this if you can actually swim!) 


Backed by three campsites this beach can get busy during the summer months. 

  • Lifeguard Service: None

  • Dog Restriction: None)

  • Toilets: None

  • Park in Carpark behind beach, or twenty minute walk along quiet road from St. Davids. 

  • Rip current during big swells along headland. Loose rock at back of beach.

Caer Bwdi

Our newest coasteering route runs off the left side of this beach with amazing channels, jumps and toilets. The distinctive purple stone of this beach was quarried from the right hand side of the beach to build and later repair St. Davids Cathedral.


The steep shelving shingle make this a great beach for swimming off at high tide and the rock formations to the left side of the beach make the perfect fire pits. 

  • Lifeguard Service: None

  • Dog Restriction: None

  • Toilets: None

  • Drive towards Haverfordwest, drop into the valley and take your first right, small car park on your right then 10 minute walk to the beach through the valley. Alternatively walk 20mins from Caerfai Bay car park. 

  • Submerged rocks

Nine Wells

A beautiful walk down through willow woods and marshland takes you to the lime kilns above Nine Wells beach, a short climb down over the shingle will take you to this pebble backed beach. Great for swimming at high tide but a little bit 'kelpy' at low water. 

If you swim / scramble out to the left side of the beach past the little waterfall you will come across a natural plunge pool perfect for 'slot and drop' jumps. 
  • Lifeguard Service: None

  • Dog Restriction: None

  • Toilets: None

  • Small (5 cars) Carpark is on the right hand side of the road between St. Davids and Solva, 15 minute walk from here. 

  • Parts of the beach are cut off at high tide. 

Porth y Rhaw

Known locally as 'Tug Beach' after the three tugs that ran aground here in the 1980s. The beach is accessed via a steep shale cliff and is made up of three bays. To the right you will often find flotsam and jetsam washed up, the middle beach features two of the shipwrecks and large rocks which are great for stacking into towers. At low tide you can squeeze through the gully in the rocks to reach the third wreck


Not ideal for swimming due to the lack of sand and large quantity of submerged rocks but doable if you are persistent!

  • Lifeguard Service: None

  • Dog Restriction: None

  • Toilets: None

  • Walk along coast path from Nine Wells car park or Solva

  • Submerged rocks, jagged metal, loose shale cliff. 

Sunny Beach 

Access from the Coast Path is extremely dangerous but the 30 minute paddle out of Solva Harbour to this beach is worth the effort! The headland, rock pools and sumps make for great exploring and the soft small stone shingle is great for sitting back and relaxing. Low tide reveals large boulders which are great for crabbing. 

  • Lifeguard Service: None

  • Dog Restriction: None

  • Toilets: None

  • Kayak from Solva Harbour 

  • Submerged rocks

Solva Harbour

This large harbour is at its most picturesque at High Tide and is great for swimming or jumping of the quay wall. At low tide there is excellent crabbing and a small sandy beach forms a the harbour entrance. 

  • Lifeguard Service: None

  • Dog Restriction: None

  • Toilets: In main car park 

  • Parking at back of harbour.

  • Working harbour

Gwadn Beach

Pronounced Quaden, this beach is accessible at low tide by walking through the harbour or on one of the various footpaths on the Gribin. The steep shelving pebble bank is perfect for swimming off in the still harbour water. 


On the cliff edge to the left you will find a small cave that it is possible to swim through. 

  • Lifeguard Service: None

  • Dog Restriction: None

  • Toilets: Solva Harbour Car Park (20 minute walk)

  • Park in Solva Harbour and walk

  • None

Porth y Bwch

Known by some as 'Forbidden Bay' this west facing beach is very sheltered and secluded with golden sands at low tide and a steep shelving bank at high tide this beach is an adventurers paradise with several caves to explore including a secret passage way to Aber West and another cave that you can use to swim through Dinas Fawr headland.  


Due to the direction that this beach faces it picks up lots of flotsam and jetsam, while exploring make time for a #2minutebeachclean. 


The beach is only accessible by the sea. For information on Kayak hire click here.

  • Lifeguard Service: None

  • Dog Restriction: None

  • Toilets: None

  • Park at Solva Harbour and kayak, sail or row around to the east. 

  • Submerged rocks, loose cliff face. 

Pointz Castle

Park in the lay by at Pointz Castle farm (just off Brawdy straight) and then follow the footpath signs to walk down over the fields to this secluded beach. Sheltered from most wind directions and a warm sun trap even on cloudy days this beach is perfect for sunbathing and has noticeably warmer waters than the more western beaches of the peninsular. 


The headland that juts out on the right of the image above has many caves and channels to explore at low tide. 

  • Lifeguard Service: None

  • Dog Restriction: None

  • Toilets: None

  • Park at Pointz Castle Farm and walk down across the fields

  • None

Pen-y-Cwm

Hundreds of rock pools and golden sand at low tide with a soft shingle bank at high tide Pen-y-Cwm is another secluded beach. Excellent surf spot at low tide with lefts and rights. 

  • Lifeguard Service: Roving patrol at low tide during Summer Months 1000 to 1800

  • Dog Restriction: None

  • Toilets: Newgale Beach Central Car Park (1km) 

  • Park at head of valley or at Newgale. 

  • Tidal cut off

Newgale

The beach is over 2km long and joins up with Pen-y-Cwm at low tide. The beach is backed by four car parks with access over the pebble bank. At the south end of the beach are lots of rock pools but be aware of tidal cut off. 

  • Lifeguard Service: Three stations, Summer Months 1000 to 1800

  • Dog Restriction: No Dogs between blue flags in middle of the beach (May to September)

  • Toilets: In central and south car parks 

  • Four car parks along the beach

  • Rip currents during big swells