5 of the best beaches in St Davids

Beaches, Coastal, Days out

Posted by Ellen Drowne on 1st March 2024

Blue skies over the sand and rocks at Whitesands, Pembrokeshire

The Pembrokeshire coastline is truly exceptional and one of the best ways to experience it is to check out the beaches around St Davids.

Whether you want a family-friendly, sandy beach with facilities close by, or somewhere more dramatic and secluded, you’ll find a St Davids beach for you. We have selected five of our favourites below – which one will you visit first?

If you’re spending days on the beach, you’ll want somewhere to wash off all that sand and rest up, ready for the next day’s excursion. Worry not, we’ve got you covered. We have some fabulous holiday cottages in Pembrokeshire, and St Davids all ready and waiting.  

St Davids holiday cottages


Montage of Abereiddy Beach and Blue Lagoon

Abereiddy/Blue Lagoon

Abereiddy Beach is one of the most unique beaches near St Davids, being so close to the iconic Blue Lagoon. The beach consists of coarse dark sand and pebbles, and its rugged backdrop hints at the area’s industrial past. Indeed, the lagoon was a thriving slate quarry until 1910 and the slate is the reason behind its remarkable aqua-blue waters. Abereiddy is a popular spot for coasteering and kayaking, and this stretch of coastline is a hit with walkers.

Good to know:

Location: Abereiddy, Pembrokeshire, SA62 6DT

Parking: Very limited parking above the beach (charges apply)

Toilets: Yes, near the car park

Dog friendly: Yes, Abereiddy Beach and the Blue Lagoon are dog friendly all year round

Facilities: Ice cream van visits the car park, further facilities available in nearby Porthgain and St Davids

Stay nearby: Hafan Penrhyn | sleeps 4


Looking out to sea over Whitesands Beach

Whitesands Beach

A gorgeous sandy St Davids beach that’s perfect for family-friendly days. Build sandcastles, relax with a book or stroll along the shoreline, while taking in the magnificent views out towards Ramsey Island. History fans will be intrigued to know that traces of a 6th-century cemetery and the chapel of St Patrick are buried in the dunes here. This wonderful beach is just 2 miles from St Davids, so you can spend the day here and then enjoy dinner in one of St Davids’ restaurants.   

Good to know:

Location: St Davids, Pembrokeshire, SA62 6PS

Parking: Car park above the beach. It gets busy in summer, so it’s recommended to catch the Celtic Coaster shuttle bus from The Oriel y Parc car park on the edge of St Davids

Toilets: Yes, next to the car park

Dog friendly: Dog restrictions apply between 1 May and 30 September

Facilities: Café, lifeguards from May to September

Stay nearby: Bishops Court Cottage | sleeps 4 + 1 dog


Looking down from the cliffs towards Caerfai Beach with people on the sand and in the water

Caerfai Bay

Sat just 1 mile outside St Davids, Caerfai is nestled between towering sandstone cliffs at the bottom of a steep, winding path. At high tide, it comprises rocks and boulders but when the tide goes out, a golden expanse of sand is revealed. This south-facing bay in Pembrokeshire is ideal for swimming and snorkelling, with rockpools to explore. If you’re on holiday with your pet pooch, it’s one of the best dog-friendly beaches near St Davids.  

Good to know:

Location: St Davids, Pembrokeshire, SA62 6QT

Parking: Free car park above the beach

Toilets: Nearest toilets are in St Davids

Dog friendly: Yes, all year round

Facilities: None

Stay nearby: Bwthyn Clyd - St Davids | sleeps 4


From the pebble ridge down to the sand and sea at Newgale Beach

Newgale

At 2 miles long, Newgale is one of the larger beaches near St Davids, so there’s plenty of room for everyone. It’s made up of sand with a large pebble ridge behind it. Water sports enthusiasts are well served, as Newgale benefits from winds from the Atlantic, providing optimal conditions for surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. So whether you want to kick back on the sand and catch some rays or get the blood pumping with an invigorating dip, Newgale has it all.  

Good to know:

Location: Newgale, Pembrokeshire, SA62 6BD

Parking: Three car parks along the length of the beach

Toilets: Yes   

Dog friendly: Dog restrictions apply on the middle section of the beach between May and September 

Facilities: Surf shop, café and pub at the northern end of the beach, café/shop at the southern end, lifeguards on duty between June and September 

Stay nearby: Kilbarth Cottage | sleeps 6 + 1 dog 


Looking across the sand at Broad Haven

Broad Haven North

Broad Haven is a gem on the West Wales coast and a lovely place to take the whole family on a seaside adventure. The sandy expanse of beach is made for building sandcastles and splashing around, jumping the waves. The kids can play safely, and it’s conveniently close to all the amenities you could need, so there’s no danger of anyone going hungry or thirsty. It’s one of our favourite locations for a family holiday in Pembrokeshire. Take a look at our full range of holiday cottages in West Wales for even more holiday inspiration. 

Good to know:

Location: Broad Haven, Pembrokeshire, SA62 3JW

Parking: Car parks at both ends of the beach

Toilets: Public toilets in both car parks 

Dog friendly: Seasonal dog restrictions apply at the north end of the beach

Facilities: Shops and places to eat in Broad Haven itself   

Stay nearby: Broad Haven Beach View | sleeps 4


Holiday cottages in St Davids

Visiting one of the beaches around St Davids is a great day out, and the above recommendations give a flavour of what’s on offer. There are also plenty of other ways to spend your time in Pembrokeshire, so why not browse our collection of St Davids holiday cottages and start planning your West Wales getaway today?

St Davids cottages

Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing, please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.