The South Pembrokeshire coastline offers some of the best beaches in Pembrokeshire, with Pembrokeshire Beaches consistently being voted the best in the UK and Europe.
From it’s rugged cliffs, spectacular coastal scenery, and fine sand and clear blue waters, Pembrokeshire beaches have it all. Think Cornwall, but quieter – Shhh, don’t tell anyone!
The Pembrokeshire coastline encompasses 240 spectacular square miles of Pembrokeshire National Park, Britain’s only coastal national park. The Pembrokeshire Coast contains more Blue Flag and Green Flag beaches than any other county in the country. If you are visiting for the first time and want to see the best Pembrokeshire beaches, these are my recommendations for must-visit sandy beaches in Pembrokeshire.
Church Door Cove and Skrinkle Haven
A visit to these two beaches provides a great sense of adventure due to the stunning surroundings and the ‘secret’ access to Skrinkle Haven (Read more about that in my detailed article all about Church Door Cove and Skrinkle Haven beach).
Church Door Cove gets its name from the huge door-shaped arch that has been carved into the cliffs by the natural forces of the sea. Round the corner at high tide, you will find the green-cliffed seclusion of Skrinkle Haven beach. Please note that Skrinkle Haven is only accessible at high tide, keep an eye on the tides so you don’t get cut off.
If you have time to walk the coastal path by Church Door Cove, you get one of the best photo opportunities along the South Pembrokeshire coastal path.
The small rocky beach in the foreground is Church Door Cove. The larger green-cliffed beach behind is Skrinkle Haven beach.Church Door Cove key information
Parking at Church Door Cove:
Free parking at Manorbier Youth Hostel
Walk from car park to Church Door Cove:
5 mins walk to Church Door Cove, 140 steps down to the beach.
Facilities at Church Door Cove and Skrinke Haven:
None. Cafe and Toilets at Manorbier Youth Hostel.
Are Dogs allowed at Church Door Cove and Skrinkle Haven?
Dogs are allowed all year round at Church Door Cove and Skrinkle Haven
Marloes Sands
This was one of my favourite beaches for dramatic geological landscape and rock pools a-plenty.
Top tip: Arrive at high tide and you will find next to no sand. We arrived early in the morning and had to wait on the rocks for enough sand to appear.
Marloes Sands Key Information
Parking at Marloes Sands:
£6 National Trust car park, or £4 to park in a farmer’s field
Walk from car park to Marloes Sands:
10 / 15 mins, some steep sections.
Facilities at Marloes Sands:
None. Runwayskiln Cafe by the National Trust car park https://www.runwayskiln.co.uk/
Are Dogs allowed at Marloes Sands?
Dogs are allowed all year round at Marloes Sands.
Walk from Bosherton Lily Ponds to Broad Haven South
The walk through Bosherton Lily Ponds to Broad Haven South beach is very tranquil and memorable. Forming part of the Stackpole Estate, this is one of the best local areas in Pembrokeshire to visit.
At Bosherton Lily Pond, there are fun bridges to walk over, the famous lily pads, an 8 arch bridge to visit, with the reward at the end being a spectacular and pristine beach – Broad Haven South.
Broad Haven South is a huge beach with dramatic towering cliffs. Towards the back of the beach, where you enter from the Bosherton Lily pond walk, is a shallow section of water that empties out of the clean stream from the lily pond – this is the perfect place for small children to paddle in, with lots of young families basing themselves by this section of Broad Haven South.
Broad Haven South Key Information
Parking at Boshteron Lily Ponds:
There are several places to park for Bosherton Lily Ponds. The car park at the Stackpole Estate, or the National Trust car park in Bosherton Village. Parking for Bosherton Lily Ponds cost £3 for 3 hours or £6 all day.
Parking for Broad Haven South:
If you want to skip the lily pond walk and just want to head straight to Broad Haven South beach, parking is available at Broad Haven Beach South National Trust car park, £6 for all-day parking.
How long does it take to walk from the car park to Broad Haven South:
It takes approximately 6 minutes to walk from car park to Broad Haven South beach, easy access via path and steps.
Facilities at Broad Haven South:
None on the beach. Toilet and ice cream van at Broad Haven South car park.
Are Dogs allowed at Broad Haven South?
Dogs are allowed all year round at Broad Haven South.
Is Bosherton Ponds wheelchair or pushchair friendly?
The circular walk at Bosherton Ponds is listed as wheelchair-friendly, however in our opinion that is not strictly the case.
We do not have a wheelchair user in the family, but I have seen several online comments saying the same thing about Bosherton Ponds not being totally accessible with a wheelchair. The walking route to Bosherton Ponds is not a completely flat, paved surface. There are a lot of uneven areas, and some steps.
We took a pushchair for our baby, as the websites informed that Bosherton Ponds was pushchair friendly, but we had to lift the pushchair quite a bit.
Barafundle Bay
Barafundle Bay is certainly one of the best beaches in Pembrokeshire and beyond, having consistently been voted one of the best beaches in the UK!
Barafundle Bay has striking blue waters and golden sand – at a glance it could be mistaken for a Mediterranean beach!
In my opinion, part of what makes Barafundle Bay so special, is the walk to get there. Read my article on Barafundle Bay for the specifics on the walk from the car park, and an FAQ all about Barafundle.
Barafundle Bay does get busy. It’s no secret that Barafundle Bay is one of the best beaches in Pembrokeshire! In the summer months, you won’t find this beach as deserted as some of the other stunning beaches in Pembrokeshire, but Barafundle Bay is always worth the visit.
Barafundle Bay Key Information
Parking at Barafundle Bay:
£3 for 3 hours parking at Stackpole Quay.
Walk from car park:
It takes an average of 15 mins to walk from Stackpole Quay car park to Barafundle Bay. It is a lovely clifftop walk over a grassy field with a spectacular view, some stairs sections.
Facilities at Barafundle Bay:
None at the beach. Cafe by the National Trust car park at Stackpole Quay
Are Dogs allowed at Barafundle Bay?
Dogs are allowed all year round at Barafundle Bay.
I honestly couldn’t pick a favourite between these five stunning beaches in Pembrokeshire, if you are looking to visit the best beaches in Pembrokeshire, definitely try to visit as many on this list as you can!
