Many of Pembrokeshire's award-winning beaches allow easy access, usually via concrete ramps or slipways. The beaches listed are shown on the map below and given as Ordnance Survey grid references. The letters (SN, SM etc) identify one of the large 100km squares on the Ordnance Survey map. The first three figures identify the site’s position in relation to the vertical grid lines, the second three outline the site’s position in relation to the horizontal lines.
1. Amroth (SN163070)
Sandy with pebble bank and breakwater, facing south-east. Large car park (seasonal charges apply) behind shops. Access path from car park to shops and beach via ramped bridge over stream. Lifeguards in summer. Concrete ramp by toilets: 1:8 to 1:7 for 45 metres, base often covered in large pebbles. At Amroth Castle (away from shops and toilets) there is access to sandy part of beach via concrete slipway: 1:6 to 1:51⁄2 for 44 metres. Concrete esplanade along entire seafront.
2. Wiseman’s Bridge (SN145060)
Pebbles and rocks, sand at low tide, facing south-east. Toilets. Access via concrete ramp: 1:6 to 1:41⁄2 for 23 metres, changes in sand conditions may result in large step at bottom. Limited parking at top of slipway.
3. Saundersfoot (SN137048)
Large sandy beach facing south-east. Beach wheelchair available for hire. Large car park, shops, telephone. Lifeguards in summer. Access to beach via concrete slipway at north end: 36 metres, mostly no steeper than 1:12, but 13 metres in middle at 1:6 to 1:5. Also to Glen beach (at west end) via zigzag ramp at end of harbour.
4, Tenby (SN132004)
North Beach: large sandy beach facing east, refreshments. Lifeguards in summer. Concrete ramp to beach: 1:7 to 1:6 for 25 metres.
Harbour Sands: small sandy beach facing north-east, limited blue badge parking, nearest toilets at Castle beach. Paved ramp: 1:18 to 1:12 for 19 metres.
Castle Beach: large sandy beach, facing southeast, refreshments, toilets. Lifeguards in summer. Sloping Tarmac path and concrete ramp: 1:10 to 1:18 for 72 metres.
South Beach: large sandy beach facing South East. Lifeguards in summer. Wooden walkway (can be covered with sand in places): 60 metres, starting level, then increasingly steep to 1:51⁄2.
5. Manorbier (SS058975)
Sandy beach with pebble bank, facing south-west. Car park (seasonal charges apply), telephone, toilets. Access to beachhead platform and seat via level path, but surface can be rough. The last 40 metres have three short gradients of up to 1:10.
6. Freshwater East (SS018976)
Large sand and shingle beach with sand dunes, facing south-east. Beach wheelchair available for hire. Telephone and toilets. Separate blue badge holders only car park. Crushed stone path from permit holders’ car park to main access to beach: 1:12 to 1:10 for 8 metres, then level concrete path onto soft sand.
7. Freshwater West (SR882998)
Large sandy beach backed with sand dunes, facing south-west. Several parking areas and roadside parking. Access easiest from car park by public toilets. Lifeguards in summer. Concrete ramp: 1:10 to 1:9 for 54 metres, but changes in sand conditions may result in step at bottom. Southern end of beach shingle, with rocks and quicksand. Bathing very dangerous. Army range to south is closed to public.
8. West Angle Bay (SM854033)
Sandy bay facing north-west. Beach wheelchair available for hire. Large car park (seasonal charges apply), toilets (not wheelchair accessible). Concrete zig-zag path (level at turning points): no steeper than 1:15 for 20 metres. Then concrete ramp: 1:6 to 1:51⁄2 for 10 metres.
9. Gelliswick Bay (SM887056)
Shingle and silt beach, facing south. Car parking along seafront, with picnic site. Concrete ramp on to shingle: 1:15 to 1:7 for 40 metres, steepest at the top. Dangerous currents.
10. Little Haven (SM856129)
Small sandy beach with pebbles above high-tide line, facing northwest. Car park (seasonal charges apply), shops, telephone. Concrete slipway: 1:12 to 1:8 for 33 metres, steepest at the top.
11. Broad Haven North (SM861135)
Good-sized sandy beach, facing west. Lifeguards in summer. Best accessed from the southern end using concrete slipway: 1:12 to 1:7 for 29 metres, steepest at the bottom. Car park opposite, with toilets, shop/post office and telephone nearby. Concrete ramp just to the north of slipway: 1:12 to 1:6 for 19 metres, steepest at the bottom.
Large car park at northern end with toilets, telephone and tarmac path to beachhead. Concrete ramp: 1:12 to 1:9 for 25 metres, then 1:5 for 3 metres, base can be pebbly at times. Esplanade along most of seafront.
12. Whitesands Bay (SM732268)
Large sandy beach, facing west. Beach wheelchair available for hire. Large car park, café, shop, toilets and telephone. Lifeguards in summer. Concrete ramp: 1:5 to 1:41⁄2 for 17 metres on to sand. Changes in beach conditions, especially in winter, may result in a step forming at base of the slipway. Level surfaced area in front of Surf Life Saving Club building with viewpoint and picnic tables. Dangerous currents in some places.
13. Abercastle (SM852338)
Small muddy sand and shingle beach, facing north-west. Very limited roadside parking. Concrete ramp: 1:15 to 1:12 for 19 metres, leading on to soft sand.
14. Pwllgwaelod (SN004399)
Small sandy beach facing west. Car park and toilets. Concrete ramp: 1:8 to 1:6 for 16 metres. See Pwllgwaelod walk in this guide for path linking to Cwm-yr-Eglwys.
15. Cwm-yr-Eglwys (SN105401)
Small shingle and pebble beach, sand at low tide, facing north-east. Limited parking in private car park with honesty box. Concrete ramp which gets gradually steeper: 1:20 to 1:12 for 11 metres, then 1:12 to 1:6 for 4 metres and finally 1:6 to 1:5 for 8 metres.
16. Newport Parrog (SN051398)
Beach with sand, silt and pebbles, facing north. Car park, toilets and café. Shops in centre of Newport. Paved and concrete ramp near the boat club: 1:6 to 1:5 for 10 metres. Dangerous and unpredictable currents. See Newport Parrog and Newport Town walks in this guide for paths in both directions from car park.
17. Newport Sands (SN050400)
Large sandy beach backed by dunes, facing west. Beach wheelchair available for hire. Car park (seasonal charging), toilets, seasonal shop. Lifeguards in summer. Concrete ramp by disabled parking bays: 1:12 to 1:10 for 14 metres, then 1:8 to 1:6 for 9 metres, leading on to hard sand. Two further ramps are also available: the concrete access road onto beach is 1:24 to 1:18 for 50 metres; the concrete access ramp to get off the beach is 1:10 for 15 metres, then 1:6 for six metres.
18. Poppit Sands (SN155487)
Large sandy beach backed by sand dunes, facing north-east. Beach wheelchair available for hire. Car park, toilets, telephone, café. Lifeguards in summer. Concrete ramp with staggered barrier: 1:8 to 1:10 up for six metres to wooden walkway, then 1:22 down for 12 metres to viewpoint at head of beach. Unpredictable tide and river currents. Bathing can be dangerous.
