Top 10 Beaches
The Pembrokeshire coast is filled with beautiful beaches with golden sands, secret coves, and fascinating rock pools - in fact, there are over 50 to explore. We’re lucky to have so many Blue Flag beaches dotted along the 186-miles of stunning coastline. Perfect for families with lots of useful facilities that make for a fun-filled day out near Everwyn Lodge.
2. Tenby's Four Beautiful Beaches
We’ve cheated a little here because Tenby doesn’t just have one beach – it has four and they are all within 6-7 minutes from Everwyn Lodge! You can even walk to the beach from our lodge in under 25 minutes. But, it’s impossible to choose just one to focus on, so here’s an overview of the four different beaches you can visit. The historic and picturesque seaside town of Tenby is surrounded on three sides by the sea, so it’s not surprising that it boasts so much sandy coast. The two main beaches of North and South, are at either end of the town while Harbour and Castle beach is the nearest to the town centre. Tenby is a beautiful spot where the small town can be enjoyed just as much as the town itself and has been a favourite for holidaymakers for centuries. When the tide is out you can (almost) walk between all four beaches.
Tenby North Beach
Instantly recognisable thanks to the magnificent Goskar rock in the middle, the view of North Beach with the harbour behind is probably the most well-known of Tenby. Looking out over Carmarthen Bay, when the tide is out, this beach offers a magnificent stretch of sand to play on and as it’s relatively sheltered misses out on the windiest weather.
Parking: North Beach car park (SA70 8AG) is the closest; however it can fill up in the summer and with cars restricted from entering the town centre between 11 am and 5.30 pm in peak season, parking in the centre can become difficult. If you fail to get a spot, there is a daily park and ride service that operates in the summer. From 11 am to 6 pm it brings visitors from The Green car park (SA70 7NG) and The Salterns car park (SA70 8DU) into the town centre. Accessibility: Access to the beach can be made via steps from the North Cliff, via a long winding, steep ramp, or from the harbour via a long, flat walkway. Facilities: Toilets with disabled access available; cafes, shops, restaurants are located just above the beach and a tourist information centre can be found along the promenade. Lifeguards patrol the beach daily from 10 am to 6 pm during the summer.
Tenby Castle Beach
At high tide, this beach disappears completely, but if you hit it at the right time you can find a beautiful, sandy stretch in the cove between Castle Hill and East Cliff, perfect for swimming and paddling. The beach is backed by towering cliffs, where you can go rock pool hunting and cave exploring, and as the closest to the town – it’s ideal for families who don’t want to venture too far. Enclosed by Castle Hill and St Catherine’s Island, and Caldey Island in the distance, it’s a picture-perfect setting to enjoy a classic beach day. At low tide, you can catch a boat to Caldey Island that lies 0.6 miles off Tenby. To purchase tickets, head up the slipway to the harbour.
Parking: Tenby’s multistorey car park (SA70 7LT) is the closest; however in the summer it fills up quickly and with cars restricted from entering the town centre and harbour between 11 am and 5.30 pm in peak season, parking and driving in the centre can become difficult. In summer there is a daily park and ride service that operates from 11 am to 6 pm and brings visitors from The Green car park (SA70 7NG) and The Salterns car park (SA70 8DU) into the town centre. Accessibility: Access to the beach is via a slipway from the harbour and is just a short walk from the town centre where you can find shops, cafes, and restaurants. Facilities: Toilets with disabled access are available on Castle Beach.
Tenby Harbour Beach
Harbour Beach is often overlooked but is a real gem!. Head to the harbour at low tide, and between the boats and the old town walls, you’ll find a small, golden stretch of sand. Perfect for those with small children - the compact beach has great views of the harbour and old town – just make sure to check the tides before you visit. The small place of worship next to the beach is St Julian’s Chapel. It was built in 1878 as a fisherman’s chapel, to replace a chapel on the pierhead.
Parking: Tenby’s multistorey car park (SA70 7LT) is the closest; however in the summer it fills up quickly and with cars restricted from entering the town centre and harbour between 11 am and 5.30 pm in peak season, parking and driving in the centre can become difficult. In summer there is a daily park and ride service that operates from 11 am to 6 pm and brings visitors from The Green car park (SA70 7NG) and The Salterns car park (SA70 8DU) into the town centre. Accessibility: Access to the beach is via a slipway from the harbour and is just a short walk from the town centre where you can find shops, cafes, and restaurants. Facilities: Toilets with disabled access available on the slipway. Lifeguards patrol the beach daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm during the summer.
Tenby South Beach
A personal favourite of ours (and the closest to the lodge)and perfect for a long walk, the mile and a half long South Beach is a beautiful stretch of sand that looks like something you might find in Australia or the Mediterranean. Backed by magnificent sand dunes, there’s more than enough space for you to enjoy – at low and high tide – and is perfect for a family day at the beach. Looking out over Caldey Island and Carmarthen Bay, on clear days you can see as far as the Gower or even North Devon.
Parking: The nearest car parks are South Beach Car Park (SA70 7EG) and the Rectory Car Park (SA70 7EA). Like all car parks in Tenby though, they fill up quickly. If you're visiting in the summer, there is a daily park and ride service that operates from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm and brings visitors from The Green car park (SA70 7NG) and The Salterns car park (SA70 8DU) into the town centre. You can also access the beach from Penally and join the coast path to the south end of the beach. There is limited parking at the train station (SA70 7PS) and public toilets. Accessibility: If you are coming from the direction of the town, access to the beach is via steps and a ramp from the Esplanade. The South Beach Car Park gives access straight onto the beach. Facilities: At the north end of the beach there are toilets with disabled access; hire facilities; cafes and restaurants. Lifeguards patrol the beach daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm during the summer