My top 3 surfing beaches in Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire surfing beaches are wildly beautiful and unspoiled

If you want to try surfing for the first time, or you are more experienced surfer looking for a less commercial surfing scene, Pembrokeshire in Wales can provide all of this!

With over 50 beaches in Pembrokeshire alone, I have picked 3 of my favourites, for different surfing experience levels.

1. Whitesands Beach - Best for all levels, with friends & family with mixed surfing abilities

My favourite spot, Whitesands has been described as one of the best surfing beaches in Wales and one of the best tourist beaches in the world (it can get busy in the summer holidays). A sandy beach with rocky outcrops either end, there is white water for beginners and improvers, a popular peak and plenty of others for more intermediate and advanced.

Particularly on bigger days, beware of a rip to the north end of the beach – great for intermediate/advanced to get out back but to avoid for beginners/improvers. This can create a lateral current so keep an eye on your position and keep closer to the shore.

Perfect conditions: south to west swell, east wind, all tides.

The Blue Flag beach sits in the rocky outcrop of St David’s peninsula, 2 miles from St David’s City (smallest city in the UK) with the Pembrokeshire coastal path running though.

• Awards - Blue Flag Beach 2016 and Seaside Award (Resort) 2016

• Parking – Car park, short walk to the beach (parking fees) (gets busy in summer)

• Facilities – Coin operated toilets

• Eating - Café, shop and ice cream

• Lifeguard - May – Sept

• Surf School (check with provider minimum age for children)

• TYF Adventure Lessons

• Ma Simes surf hut - Lessons & equipment hire

• Dogs - Banned from May to September

• Directions - Postcode is SA62 6PS (approx 1 hr from Top of the Woods)

• Close to - St David’s, Solva and Roch

​2. Newgale Beach - Best for all levels, with plenty of space to surf

This Blue Flag award winning beach stretches for 2 miles with golden sand and a strip of pebbles, and is one of the most accessible beaches in Pembrokeshire.

The beach is SW facing and generally has a consistent surf with good swells and easterly winds that are not too powerful which makes it suitable for all levels and beginners. At high tide the waves can break onto the pebbles that line the top of the beach, so best to avoid high tide and avoid either side of high tide if you are a beginner/improver.

Perfect conditions: south to west swell, north-east wind, mid-tide

• Awards - Blue Flag Beach 2016 and Seaside Award (Resort) 2016.

• Parking – 3 car park (2 pay and display) , with a short walk to the beach

• Facilities – Toilets

• Eating – there is a couple of cafes and pub close to the beach

• Lifeguard – During the summer holidays they patrol the popular part of the beach

• Surf school (check with provider minimum age for children)

• Newsurf - Lessons, surf shop and equipment hire

• Preseli Venture

• Big Blue Experience – all types of hire and lessons including kitesurfing

• Dogs - allowed on restricted parts of the beach (see marked map at the beach).

• Directions - closest postcode is SA62 6AS, continue till you see the beach, approx. 1 Km from postcode. (approx 1 hr from Top of the Woods)

• Close to - St David’s, Solva and Roch

Freshwater West Beach

Best for intermediate & advanced who want a wild and challenging surf

Freshwater West, noted for its strong waves and currents, is probably Wales' top surfing location, and regularly hosts surfing tournaments such as the Welsh National Surfing Championships.

Freshwater West, is one of Wales best surfing beach for the intermediate and experienced surfer. It has a pristine, secluded beach and sand dunes. It has a reliable and consistent surf, waves can be fast and powerful, with strong undercurrents in places and rocks, this is not a beach for beginners. Perfect conditions: south to west swell, east wind, all tides.

• Parking – 2 small free car parks that gets busy if the surf is up and bank holidays. Short walk to the beach

• Facilities – Toilets

• Eating - Multi-award winning gastro "beach shack "– Café Mor (check for opening times)

• Mobile Surf school - available for Adults and Children (call ahead to book)

• Outerreef surf school

• Dogs - Allowed

• Directions - Use postcode SA71 5HN (Castlemartin), continue for 3km on the B4319

• Close to - remote!

• Book your stay with us Top of the Woods & try out the surf in Pembrokeshire!

• Contact Leanne for your surfing adventure – Woman only, men only and mixed sessions available for small groups beginners and improvers. Paddleboarding, paddleboard yoga and fitness also available

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