Beaches to Visit in West Wales

New Quay Beach

New Quay is a pretty seaside village with terraced streets sloping down to its three beaches; Harbour Beach, Traeth Gwyn and Dolau. Harbour beach is the main safe beach for swimming and it is patrolled by lifeguards during the summer months. Dolau is a smaller sheltered beach east of the pier and Traeth Gwyn is a long stretch of golden sand between New Quay and Cei Bach. The sheltered harbour...

Little Haven Beach

Little Haven Beach is a sheltered, small sandy and rocky inlet in the village of Little Haven in St Bride’s Bay. The village is a quaint fishing village with steep streets descending to the beach where there is a slipway making it popular for boating and it hosts the RNLI lifeboat station and shop for the area. The beach is a mix of pebbles and sand and when the tide...

Goodwick Beach

Experience the captivating charm of Goodwick Beach near Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, a stunning blend of sandy shores and ornamental pebbles. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the sea wall, and venture along the promenade or breakwater for breath taking views and thrilling encounters with seals, dolphins, and even basking sharks. Discover a haven of wildlife at this incredible destination, as the Pembrokeshire Coast Path meanders through unveiling hidden treasures on its...

Cefn Sidan Beach

Cefn Sidan has been described as one of Europe’s best beaches and its eight mile stretch of golden sand is one of the treasures of Pembrey Country Park. The flat sands and excellent access make it a safe and friendly beach for disabled visitors and young children. The beach faces southwest towards Carmarthen Bay and is backed by dunes, salt marshes, Pembrey Forest and Pembrey Country Park. Pembrey nearby offers seaside...

Ynyslas Beach

The sandy beach and dunes of Ynyslas are 1.5 miles north of Borth in Cardigan Bay. It is a lovely place to walk or to relax on the beach but strong currents make it unsuitable for swimming. The area is part of the Dyfi National Nature Reserve, which includes Borth Bog (Cors Fochno), The Dyfi Estuary and the dunes at Ynyslas. Cors Fochno is one of Britain’s finest raised peat...

Newport Beach

The historic town of Newport stands near the mouth of the River Nevern and it has two beaches – one on each side of the estuary. The Parrog is on the Southern side, nearest to the town, and although it is sheltered, the unpredictable currents around the river here make swimming dangerous. Newport Sands (or Traeth Mawr – Big Beach) is almost a mile of flat sand stretching across the...

Cwmtydu Beach

Cwmtydu Beach is situated between Llangrannog and New Quay on the Ceredigion Coast Path, and there are stunning views from the footpath on both sides of the beach over the Cardigan Bay coastline. Seals and dolphins can be spotted, and in late summer, Atlantic Grey seal pups can sometimes be seen on the beach. Once very popular with pirates and smugglers, the beach is mostly shingle with an area of...

Freshwater West Beach

Freshwater West near Castlemartin in South Pembrokeshire is a popular destination for surfers. The beach, which faces due West, is surrounded by sand dunes and has a mixture of fine sand and pebbles. The water quality is excellent and the area is home to many types of bird, seals, otters and the occasional dolphin. There is a thatched shack on the foreshore which is a rebuilt shelter used for drying...

Freshwater East Beach

A wide sheltered bay of golden sand backed by dunes, Freshwater East, is well known for its clear blue water and is a favourite with families. It rarely gets crowded, even in summer, and there is plenty of space for ball games at low tide. There are many fossils in the sand, and watersports such as kayaking, surfing, and windsurfing are popular. Join the Pembrokeshire Coast Path in either direction...

Swanlake Bay Beach

Swanlake Bay is a secluded shingle beach with sand exposed at low tide, situated in a bay and backed by low cliffs. Located on the south coast of Pembrokeshire between Freshwater East and Manorbier Bay, Swanlake Bay is popular for swimming, fishing and walking and is close to the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path. Swanlake Bay is best approached from East Moor Farm where the owners provide limited car parking with an...