The best Beaches in North Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire National Park has 186-miles of beautiful coastline lined with some of the most incredible beaches in the UK.
Some of the best beaches in the National Park are located on it’s Northern coastline, a place which is often overlooked for the more populated tourist hotspots inn the South.
Within this blog I have listed 7 of my favourite beaches on the north coast of Pembrokeshire which are worthy of a visit. I have also included 3 beautiful beaches on the Ceredigion coastline which are located just a short distance away across the county border.
Some are easily accessible and others require a bit more of a trek. So fill up a backpack, slap on the sun cream, and don’t forget to bring a towel.
If you’re looking for a dog friendly property on the North Coast of Pembrokeshire, then I would recommend Cae Cwsg, a beautiful 4 bed house just outside of Dinas Cross.
At a Glance
Caerfai Beach
Whitesands
Abereiddi and Blue Lagoon
Traeth Llyfn
Abermawr
Pwllgwaelod
Cwm-yr-Eglwys
Mwnt
Tresaith
Llangrannog
Caerfai Bay
Caerfai Bay beach is nestled between stunning cliffs just outside of the city of St Davids.
Located on Wales’ Heritage coast, The south facing beach is back by high cliffs which contain several caves and is quite sheltered.
Towards high tide much of the beach at Caerfai Bay is made up of pebbles, however as the tide drops out you will find golden sands which are lined by rockpools and cliffs. Access to the beach is via a steep path from the car park above the beach.
There are no facilities of lifeguards at Caerfai Bay so care should be taken if swimming here as currents are strong and changeable.
Key Information
Beach type: Sandy
Parking: limited free parking above the beach
Facilities: none
Accessibility: Via a steep path
Doggos: Year round
Lifeguards: none
Whitesands Bay
Situated on the St David’s Peninsula in the North-west of Pembrokeshire, Whitesands (Porthmawr in Welsh) award-winning beach overlooked by the imposing craggy headland of Carn Llidi.
The blue flag beach is extremely popular with families due to its easy access and a wide range of facilities.
If you’re looking for a quieter location then the sheltered Porthmelgan Beach located directly below Carn Llidi is a perfect little cove to escape the crowds. The beach is located less than one mile from Whitesands and is reachable via 15-minute walk north along the coastal path.
For those wanting to stretch their legs, a short ramble is available up the summit of Carn Llidi. The 181m hill is rich in history and has terrific views westwards towards Ramsey Island and northwards towards Strumble Head.
Space for 60 vehicles is available right next to the beach, however, this fills up quickly in the busy summer months. If no spaces are available you can catch the Celtic Coaster shuttle bus from the Oriel Y Parc in St Davids during the summer.
Key Information
Beach type: Sandy
Parking: Space for 60 cars, 50m from the Beach
Facilities: Toilets and café
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible via slipway
Doggos: From 1st October - 31st April
Lifeguards: From May to September
Abereiddi and Blue Lagoon
Pembrokeshire's Blue lagoon is abandoned slate quarry, filled with turquoise water on the north coast of the coastal path. Shut down in 1910, the seaward wall of the quarry was blasted open by fisherman in order to flood the mine and provide refuge for their boats.
With the fishing industry all but disappeared, Blue Lagoon is now an oasis for swimming, coasteering and even cliff diving. Despite the name, the water within the quarry has a beautiful greenish hue due to its high mineral content.
The spectacular nature and location of Blue lagoon has resulted in it being chosen as a stop on the Red Bull cliff diving series in 2012, 2013 & 2016. The events saw the world's best divers leap from a man-made platform, suspended 27 metres above the quarry.
The diving board has since been taken down, however if you are feeling brave enough you can leap from several platforms, ranging from 2 to 10m, on the far side of the quarry. Don’t worry about hitting the bottom, the water is over 25m deep.
Parking is available at the nearby Abereiddi Beach, which cost £5 . From here the quarry is easily accessible via a short 500m walk which passes the ruined quarry buildings and slate-workers' cottages. From the base of the lagoon you can climb up and around the cliffs and visit the watch tower perched on the tip of the peninsula.
Key Information
Beach type: Rock and Shingle
Parking: 500m away in Abberiddi
Facilities: Toilets and burger van
Doggos: Year-round
Lifeguards: No
Traeth Llyfn
Translated from Welsh to ‘Smooth beach’ this is a real hidden gem on the northern coast of Pembrokeshire and one you should stop by if you are visiting the spectacular Blue Lagoon.
Located slightly off the beaten track between Abereiddi and Porthgain harbour, the sandy beach is backed by towering cliffs which can be accessed by a steep metal staircase cut into the cliff face.
The beach does experience rip currents on the south side so take care when swimming. Also, keep an eye on the incoming tide as the steps are the only way off the beach and I wouldn’t fancy a swim or rock climb to get back onto the coastal path.
The beach can be reached by walking 1km from Blue Lagoon in Abereiddi, or just under 2km from Porthgain. My recommendation would be to park at Porthgain, complete an out and back 6km walk stopping off at Blue Lagoon for a dip, then finishing up with fish and chips at The Shed back at Porthgain.
Key Information
Abermawr & Aberbach
Located on the North Coast of Pembrokeshire, Abermawr is a remote, pebble banked beach backed by earthed cliffs.
Low tide exposes the golden sand and buried tree stumps – the remains of a forest drowned by a sudden flood as an ice sheet melted 8000 years ago. The stumps have been perfectly preserved by salt. Behind the beach are an interesting ruined cottage, a wildlife-rich marshy area and bluebell woods.
Aber Bach located a hundred or so meters further up the coast, this is a smaller and rocker cove. If you’re planning to visit, check out the tide times to make sure you’ve plenty of beach to play on.
Very limited parking is available just above the beach at the end of a narrow single track road. so i would head here early or late to try and get a
Key Information
Beach type: Sandy
Parking: Very limited on the roadside above the beach.
Facilities: none
Accessibility: Via a gentle rocky path
Doggos: year round
Lifeguards: none space.
Pwllgwaelod
Looked on Dinas head, on the north coast of Pembrokeshire, this is a beautiful little black sanded beach.
If you want to stretch your legs, there’s a lovely 5km loop which ill take you up and around Dinas head to Cwm-yr-Eglwys. Its also a great place to watch the sunset.
Pay and display parking is available just behind the beach and from there its a short 300m walk over to the wheelchair friendly beach. Next to the beach you will also find a seasonal cafe alongside toilets.
Key Information
Beach type: Sandy
Parking: behind the beach
Facilities: Toilets and a seasonal café
Doggos: year round
Lifeguards: none
Accessibility: Wheelchair Friendly
Cwm-yr-Eglwys
Cwm-yr-Eglwys is a beautifully quiant beach on the eastern side of Dinas island.
On the eastern side of the bay is a sheltered cove backed by sea cliffs which can be reached by walking over the rocks at low tide, or else by a 200 yard swim.The beach is best visited at mid to to low tide, at high tide there isn't really a beach to speak of.
Overlooking the beach lie the ruins of St Brynach's church which was destroyed in the great storm of 1859.
Behind this is a (pay) car park with toilets and a small caravan site. The beach has a slipway, and is mostly comprised of sand and rocks. A level wheelchair-friendly path leads to the neighbouring beach of Pwllgwaelod along the sheltered Cwm Dewi valley, which is rich in wildlife.
Key Information
Beach type: Sandy
Parking: 100m behind the beach
Facilities: Toilets
Doggos: year round
Lifeguards: none
Accessibility: Wheelchair Friendly
MWNT
Situated on the southern section of the Ceredigion coast, Mwnt is a delightful rectangular shaped beach which is backed by steep cliffs and overlooked by the dome-shaped headland of Foel y Mwnt.
Located within the Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation and owned by the National Trust, Mwnt beach’s allure lies within its unspoilt natural beauty. With fine golden sand, turquoise sea and barely a sign of development this is a special place.
The beach isn’t wheelchair friendly and can can only be accessed by a set of steps. There here is a large national trust car park above the beach and a small café situated half way down the steps.
While you are at the beach, recommend taking the short walk up to headland Foel y Mwnt. From the summit you will be afforded incredible views up the Ceredigion coast and you might even be able to spot some marine life including dolphins, basking sharks and porpoises.
Key Information:
Type of Beach: Sandy
Parking: Pay & display above the beach
Facilities: Café, toilets
Doggos: Outside of 1st May to 30th Sep.
Lifeguards: No
Wheelchair friendly: No
TRESAITH
Located on the southern section of the Ceredigion coast, Tresaith is a small sandy bay with a waterfall.
The name comes from the River Saith which cascades down the cliffs and onto the rocks below.
A great spot for families, Tresaith has been granted the Blue Flag award and has a range of facilities in the small village which sits behind the beach. These include a shop, café, pub, and public toilets.
At low tide you can access a smaller beach just around from the waterfall at the northern end of the beach. As always keep an eye on the tide as the beach has no other access and will be cut off by the incoming tide.
There’s very limited parking on the beach front, and its narrow roads can result it getting very busy during the holiday season. There’s a pay and display car park at the top of Tresaith where you can park all day.
Key Information:
Type of Beach: Sandy
Parking: Pay & display above the beach
Facilities: Café, Pub, toilets
Doggos: Year round
Lifeguards: No
Wheelchair friendly: yes
LLANGRANOG
Popular with families and surfers alike, Llangrannog is one of Ceredigion's best loved seaside villages.
It actually has two beaches which are divided by the distinctive rock formation known as Carreg Bica. Cilborth Beach is located to the north of Llangrannog. It can be accessed at low tide via the beach, or alternatively you can hike up and over the coastal path and take the steps down to the beaches.
Llangrannog sits close to neighbouring Ynys Lochtyn, a high grass-topped tidal island which stretches out into Cardigan Bay. Surrounded by steep cliffs, it is an extraordinary spot from which to enjoy the magnificent Ceridigeon coastline from.
There is small pay and display car park located directly in front of the beach alongside a restaurant and public toilets. There is also free parking available further up in the village.
Key Information:
Type of Beach: Sandy
Parking: Pay & display above the beach
Facilities: Café, Pub, toilets
Doggos: Year round
Lifeguards: Yes
Wheelchair friendly: yes
Where to stay in North Pembrokeshire?
If youre looking for a dog friendly property on the North Coast of Pembrokeshire, then I would recommend Cae Cwsg at Classic Cottages.
Ideally located in Dinas Cross, which is in the centre of the North Pembrokeshire coastline, you are less than 1km from both Cwm yr Eglwys and Pwllgwaelod beaches.
You’re also a short drive from the village of Newport where there’s plenty of places to eat and drink.
The property sleeps up to eight people, is beautifully furnished and is very spacious, with a huge garden and stunning coastal views.
I genuinely loved my three day stay here and would wholeheartedly recommend the property.
If you are looking for other properties in Wales, you can search for additional properties on their website.
So there we have it, 10 of the best beaches in North Pembrokeshire National Park (and Ceredigion).
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For more content and information on this beautiful region check out my guide to Pembrokeshire below.
Alternatively for more travel, hiking, & photography inspiration around Wales check out my in-depth guides to each of my favourite regions below.