12 Best Beaches in Pembrokeshire (2025)

Barafundle Bay

The best beach in Wales. Possibly Britain. Worth every step of the walk in.

Barafundle Bay is what happens when a beach has no road access, no car park, no facilities, and no development. The result is a half-mile crescent of golden sand, crystal-clear turquoise water, and dramatic cliff headlands — looking like it was transplanted from the Mediterranean. The 15-minute walk from Stackpole Quay filters out the casual visitors, though it's no longer a secret. On a calm summer day, the water is genuinely swimmable and the setting is breathtaking.

Marloes Sands

A mile of wild sand backed by extraordinary folded rock formations. Geology meets paradise.

Marloes Sands is a mile-long beach backed by dramatic cliffs showing 400 million years of geological history in folded, twisted rock layers. At low tide, the rock formations are extraordinary — like a geological textbook come to life. The beach faces southwest and catches afternoon sun beautifully. The 20-minute walk from the car park keeps crowds manageable. Skomer and Skokholm islands are visible offshore, adding to the drama.

Whitesands Bay (Porth Mawr)

The best all-round beach in Pembrokeshire — surf, swim, sunbathe, with Carn Llidi looming behind.

Whitesands is the beach that has everything: clean golden sand, reliable surf, safe swimming (lifeguarded in summer), stunning scenery (Carn Llidi headland behind, Ramsey Island across the sound), and proximity to St Davids. It's the most popular beach on the North Pembrokeshire coast for good reason. The water quality is excellent and the beach is big enough to absorb summer crowds, though parking can be a nightmare in August.

Broadhaven South

A spectacular cove with a natural sea arch and the finest rock formations of any Pembrokeshire beach.

Broadhaven South (not to be confused with Broad Haven on the west coast) is a stunning horseshoe bay reached by steep steps from the clifftop. The limestone cliffs feature a massive natural arch called Church Door, caves, and sea stacks. The sand is golden, the water clear, and the setting genuinely dramatic. It's less well-known than Barafundle despite being equally beautiful.

Freshwater West

A mile of wild, windswept dune-backed beach. No facilities, no crowds, no compromises.

Freshwater West is Pembrokeshire at its wildest. A mile-long south-facing beach backed by unspoilt dunes, with no buildings, no café, and no lifeguards. It's the beach used for filming Harry Potter and Robin Hood, and you can see why — it looks properly cinematic. The waves are powerful (experienced surfers only), the wind is constant, and the atmosphere is raw and elemental. Not a sunbathing beach; a 'stand and stare at nature' beach.

Tenby North Beach

The classic family beach — backed by a beautiful medieval town with everything you need.

Tenby North Beach is the best family beach in Pembrokeshire. The beach itself is beautiful — wide golden sand with views to Caldey Island — but it's the town behind that makes it special. Tenby's pastel-coloured Georgian houses, medieval town walls, harbour, and proliferation of cafés, pubs, and ice cream shops create the perfect family beach day infrastructure. Lifeguarded in summer, Blue Flag awarded, and genuinely charming.

Newgale

Two miles of open beach — big enough that there's always space, even in peak summer.

Newgale's sheer scale is its superpower. Two miles of sand facing the Atlantic, backed by a distinctive pebble storm bank. There's always room, the surf is reliable, and the setting — with views to the distant Preseli Hills — is expansive. It's the best beach in Pembrokeshire for those who want space to breathe. The Duke of Edinburgh pub at the north end overlooks the beach.

Traeth Llyfn

A tiny, hidden cove between Porthgain and Abereiddy that rewards the adventurous.

This is the hidden gem entry. Traeth Llyfn is a tiny sandy cove accessed via a scramble down the coast path between Porthgain and Abereiddy. There's no sign, no car park (walk from either village), and no facilities. What you get is a small, perfect cove with clean sand, clear water, and dramatic cliff scenery. On a good day, you might have it completely to yourself. It's the kind of beach discovery that makes you feel like an explorer.

Broad Haven

The accessible family beach — village behind, gentle waves, and everything within walking distance.

Broad Haven is the most convenient family beach on the west Pembrokeshire coast. The village sits right behind the beach with cafés, pubs, a surf shop, and public toilets. The beach is sandy, gently shelving, and lifeguarded in summer. Waves are usually small and manageable for children. It's not the most spectacular beach in Pembrokeshire, but for hassle-free family days it's hard to beat.

Manorbier

A castle overlooking the beach. Gerald of Wales called it 'the pleasantest spot in Wales.' He was right.

Manorbier has something no other beach in Pembrokeshire has: a proper medieval castle perched on the headland above. The beach itself is a sheltered horseshoe of sand with gentle waves and clean water. Gerald of Wales (born in the castle in 1146) called this 'the pleasantest spot in Wales', and the combination of castle, beach, and village gives it a timeless quality. Excellent rock pooling at low tide.

Newport Sands (Traeth Mawr)

North Pembrokeshire's best swimming beach — backed by estuary, dunes, and the Preseli Hills.

Newport Sands is a beautiful golden beach at the mouth of the Nevern estuary with the Preseli Hills as a backdrop. It's the best swimming beach in North Pembrokeshire — sheltered, sandy, and usually less crowded than the St Davids area. The estuary behind the beach is excellent for wading and paddling at low tide. The beach is Blue Flag awarded and has a real 'undiscovered' feel compared to the south coast beaches.

Druidston Haven

A hidden beach below one of Wales's best pubs. The local's secret.

Druidston Haven is the beach that Pembrokeshire locals go to when they want to avoid tourists. There's no car park at the beach — you walk down from the clifftop — and no facilities on the sand. What you get is a beautiful, quiet beach with clean sand and clear water, plus the legendary Druidstone Hotel sitting on the cliff above. The hotel's food, atmosphere, and clifftop garden are reason enough to visit. The beach is the bonus.