North Pembrokeshire's Beaches
Pembrokeshire has over 50 beaches, so more than enough to keep you busy during your visit. Here's beaches, coves and shores you can visit on the northern coast of the county, between Fishguard and St David's.
Pembrokeshire's Beaches: Fishguard to St David's
Aberbach Beach
Aberbach is pretty little cove on the north coast, with a steep pebble bank facing the Irish Sea. It is reached by road from Mathry, just off the St Davids to Goodwick A487 road, by way of a winding, high-hedged, leafy road via Granston and Tregwynt.
It’s a lovely road but a narrow one so drive carefully - and be prepared to meet the occasional tractor or combine harvester!
There is limited parking near the little cove which is accessible via a lane leading off the road about 100 yards distant.
Miles from Bluestone: 25
Time to drive from Bluestone: 41 minutes
Nearest postcode: SA62 5UX
Toilets available: No
Parking available: Yes
Abercastle
A beautiful beach by a hidden harbour reminiscent of the busy fishing villages of Devon and Cornwall – without the summer crowds.
Abercastle is popular with artists, photographers and wildlife watchers. There are plenty of seabirds living among the clifftops and out at sea you might be lucky enough to spot harbour porpoises, seals, or the occasional dolphin or basking shark.Miles from Bluestone: 25
Time to drive from Bluestone: 45 minutes
Nearest postcode: SA62 5HJ
Toilets available: Yes
Parking available: Yes
Abereiddy Beach
Abereiddy is one of Pembrokeshire's smaller beaches but no less attractive near Pembrokeshire’s famous Blue Lagoon. The lagoon was created from a former slate quarry, now a deep pool surrounded by craggy rocks and beautiful beaches like Abereiddy. It is now a world class venue for watersports – including the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.
The beach itself has eye-catching dark sands and is usually quiet there with plenty of space to find a pitch and is easily accessible by car and with ample parking.Miles from Bluestone: 28Time to drive from
Bluestone: 48 minutes
Nearest postcode: SA62 6DT`
Toilets available: Yes
Car Parking available: Yes
Aberfelin
Aberfelin is a quiet and quaint little cove near the village of Trefin on the north Pembrokeshire Coast.
Aberfelin beach, when the tide is out, is a little sand and shingle beach which has safe swimming for families and lots of rock pools which make a happy hunting ground for children. They can catch the shrimps and small fish and crabs or just look in awe at the colourful sea anemones and the occasional starfish.
Surrounded by high cliffs the beach is sheltered from the wind and is a perfect sun trap in summer with clear, blue waters and gentle waves. Be careful if the sea is rough as there are strong currents further out. It has its own little island, an imposing stone arch and a cave tunnel to walk through, where you can smugglers and pirates sneaking through once upon a time.
You won’t always find Aberfelin marked on the maps, but it is sometimes called Aberdraw, and is so close to the mill at Trefin that it cannot be missed.
Miles from Bluestone: 26
Time to drive from Bluestone: 42 minutes
Nearest postcode: SA62 5AU
Toilets available: No
Parking available: Yes – Roadside
Abermawr
This beach looks out towards the north-west on the rugged northern coast of Pembrokeshire. It’s a wide, sandy beach in summer time, and while winter can sometimes strip away the sand it often reveals the submerged forest underneath.
Abermawr has a massive pebble bank which dams the small stream in the valley, but also protects it from the winds.
Miles from Bluestone: 25
Time to drive from Bluestone: 41 minutes
Nearest postcode: SA62 5UX
Toilets available: No
Parking available: Yes – Roadside
Ceibwr Bay Beach
Ceibwr Bay is a little notch in the north-west coast between Newport Head and Cemaes Head. It’s owned by the National Trust and the beach is reached from Moylegrove where there is free parking for about 20 to 25 cars at the roadside, toilets, a church, a chapel and a picture gallery.
There are no facilities at Ceibwr, which is a beautiful, unspoilt picnic area with swimming if you make it over shingly and pebbly sand.
A little way to the south is a large collapsed cave forming a massive blow hole in the clifftop. This is Pwll-y-Wrach or the Witch’s Pit, sometimes called the Witch’s Cauldron, where in rough weather the sea comes surging into the cauldron in a boiling mass of water and spray.
Miles from Bluestone: 31
Time to drive from Bluestone: 55 minutes
Nearest postcode: SA43 3BU
Toilets available: No
Parking available: Yes – Roadside
Cwm Yr Eglwys Beach
The remains of a storm-wrecked seaside church, standing stark and dramatic like part of a film set or TV scenario, give Cwm-yr-Eglwys (Church Valley) in North Pembrokeshire its name.
Cwm-yr-Eglwys is a tiny hamlet and popular family beach at the eastern end of a little valley which runs from there to Pwllgwaelod in the west, separating the high headland called Dinas Island from the mainland by a narrow stream. Dinas Island is a misnomer as you can cross the valley without getting your feet wet. The cliffs here soar to a height of 463-feet at at Pen-y-fan on its northern tip overlooking Fishguard Bay and the Irish Sea.
The walk round Dinas Island is a thrilling whether you climb the steep cliff slopes from the western or eastern end.
Cwm-yr-Eglwys has a small sandy beach and the churchyard is a grassy area popular for picnics and children’s games. It’s safe for swimming and sheltered. There is limited parking for a small fee. The beach has a Seaside Award and a Green Coast Award, which is similar to Blue Flag status, but for rural beaches.
During the first two weeks of August the local Boat Club puts on its colourful regatta with swimming races, rowing races, sandcastle competitions and many other activities in which anyone can join.
Miles from Bluestone: 29
Time to drive from Bluestone: 46 minutes
Nearest postcode: SA42 0SL
Toilets available: Yes
Parking available: Yes
Goodwick Sands Beach
Goodwick sands is popular with families as its shallow, sheltered waters are ideal for swimming and messing about in small boats.
Twice daily the Stena Ferries sail to and from Rosslare in Ireland with ferry passengers often taking in the local tourist attractions and learning something about the area’s interesting history.
The little North Pembrokeshire town of Goodwick is not so well-known as its twin on the other side of the bay - Fishguard.
Goodwick beach was the scene in February 1797 of the surrender of French troops and mercenaries who took part in the Last Invasion of Britain when they landed on the coast near Strumble Head.
Miles from Bluestone: 24
Time to drive from Bluestone: 35 minutes
Nearest postcode: SA64 0DE
Toilets available: Yes
Parking available: Yes
Lower Fishguard Beach
Lower Fishguard, also known as Lower Town to the locals, is the old historic trading and fishing port which served Fishguard Bay before the present day Ferryport at Goodwick was built in 1906.
The quay and houses are all on the eastern side of the harbour which dries out at low water, but at high tide the quay is a good diving platform.
A few locals also fish from the harbour for lobsters, crabs and clams.
Miles from Bluestone: 24
Time to drive from Bluestone: 37 minutes
Nearest postcode: SA65 9LX
Toilets available: Yes
Parking available: Yes
Newport Parrog Beach
Part of the Nevern Estuary, Newport Parrog beach is sandy at low water but stony when the tide is in. It is safe for swimming in calm weather at high water but dangerous currents make it treacherous around the low tide.
There’s a large carpark above the beach and easy access. The Parrog is a popular boating area and in summer the colourful sails of yachts and wind surfers are seen racing in the Bay.
There’s plenty of facilities with good shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs – with good shellfish caught by the local fishermen including crabs and lobsters.
Miles from Bluestone: 23
Time to drive from Bluestone: 48 minutes
Nearest postcode: SA42 0RW
Toilets available: Yes
Parking available: Yes
Newport Sands Beach
Newport Sands is much-loved by locals and known as one of the best beaches in North Pembrokeshire.
It is known by its Welsh name ‘Traeth Mawr’ (Big Beach) and is good for swimming. It’s half a mile wide with plenty of space when the tide is out, wit ideal conditions for family beach outings as well as for sailing, canoeing, kayaking, surfing of all kinds and some sea angling.
On the northern side near the car park is a shop, toilet and a Surf Lifesaving clubhouse.
The nearby Golf Club is worth a mention as it is probably the most picturesque in West Wales, with golfers playing among gorse-topped hillocks and little hollows and valleys. And the view from the Clubhouse windows, particularly the popular restaurant, is absolutely spectacular; a wide panorama which includes the beaches and Newport town, with a splendid backdrop of Carn Ingli (Angel Rock), the ‘mystic mountain’ celebrated in novels by local author Brian John.
Miles from Bluestone: 25
Time to drive from Bluestone: 50 minutes
Nearest postcode: SA42 0NR
Toilets available: Yes
Parking available: Yes
Poppit Sands Beach
On the north coast of Pembrokeshire, Poppit Sands sits at the entrance of the Teifi Estuary, near St Dogmaels.
In calm weather when the tide is more than halfway in, Poppit is great for swimming but be careful of the incoming tide cutting you off.
In the right conditions there is plenty of space for beach games of cricket or football and for wearing out toddlers. There is often a brisk sea breeze, too, which is ideal for kite flying, while gentle surfing is possible when the tide is right.
Boat tours run from Poppit – where there’s a good chance of spotting the local population of bottlenose dolphins. Nearby St Dogmaels and Cardigan are worth visiting for the ruins of St Dogmaels Abbey.
Poppit can also be either a starting point for the coast path between Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire. You can walk south to Newport in a few hours.
Miles from Bluestone: 29
Time to drive from Bluestone: 50 minutes
Nearest postcode: SA43 3LN
Toilets available: Yes
Parking available: Yes
Porthlleuog Beach
Porthlleuog is a circular rocky cove tucked into the cliffs just east of Strumble Head near Goodwick.
It is only a mile or so along the coast path west of Carreg Wastad. Where it got its name is a mystery, as Porthlleuog means Lousy Harbour, which is not a bad description as it is virtually inaccessible to boats because of its rocky shore and high cliffs.
Miles from Bluestone: 28
Time to drive from Bluestone: 44 minutes
Nearest postcode: SA64 0JL
Toilets available: No
Parking available: No
Porthmelgan Beach
The beautiful sandy cove of Porthmelgan is at the northern tip of Whitesands Bay, and is a tranquil haven for visitors and locals alike.
It has a triangle of golden sand surrounded on three sides by protective cliffs so is a virtual sun trap, with safe swimming and rockpools full of the creatures that children love to dredge up in their nets, like shrimps, crabs and small fish, or simply to watch and admire starfish and sea anemones.
To the north of Porthmelgan is a virtually inaccessible cave called Ogof Crisial (Crystal Cave) where fine quartzspar has been found by intrepid explorers. Its cliffs are also the haunt of ravens and peregrine falcons.
Miles from Bluestone: 28
Time to drive from Bluestone: 51 minutes
Nearest postcode: SA62 6PS
Toilets available: No
Parking available: No
Pwllcrochan North Beach
Pwllcrochan North is best approached by the coast path either from Porthgain to the west or Trefin to the east, where limited parking can be found.
The little bay is flanked by Ynys Fach (Little Island) to the west and Trwyn Llwyd (Grey Nose) to the east.
Locals swim here or enjoy a quiet few hours on the beach, but they know that their time is limited by the tides as the beach is not particularly deep. Coasteering groups love it and canoeists and kayakers often paddle in and out, while in autumn its isolation makes it a haven for seals.
All along this coast in the coves, seals haul ashore to have their calves or pups.
Miles from Bluestone: 24.1miles
Time to drive from Bluestone: 40 minutes
Nearest postcode: SA64 0LJ
Toilets available: No
Parking available: No
Pwllgwaelod Beach
Pwllgwaelod is one of the starting points for a popular three-mile walk along the coast path around Dinas Head. From Pwllgwaelod you can walk up a steep climb to the 465-feet high triangulation station on Pen-y-Fan.
Pwllgwaelod’s counterpart beach on the other side of the valley is Cwm-yr-Eglwys. The walk is well worth the effort, particularly for the wildlife and the high cliffs overlooking Fishguard Bay.
Miles from Bluestone: 29
Time to drive from Bluestone: 45 minutes
Nearest postcode: SA42 0SE
Toilets available: Yes
Parking available: Yes
Traethllyfn Beach
Traethllyfn is a westerly-facing sandy beach between Porthgain and Abereiddy on Pembrokeshire’s rugged north-western coast.
Traethllyfn is a fine beach, sheltered from the northerly and north-easterly winds, and its golden sands look very tempting from the coast path above. It is accessible from the footpath either from Abereiddy or Porthgain, approached via steep steps. They are said to have been cut by Italian Prisoners of War working on the farm after World War Two.
The climb is well worth the effort for the sandy beach, great swimming and the delightful rockpools
Miles from Bluestone: 25
Time to drive from Bluestone: 47 minutes
Nearest postcode: SA62 5BJ
Toilets available: No
Parking available: No