Best Beaches in West Wales: A Guide to the Coast

West Wales has lots of beautiful beaches to enjoy now that the hot weather is here Now that summer is really here and temperatures are soaring, we all have one thing in mind – a trip to the seaside. West Wales is famous the world over for its stunning coastline and beautiful beaches. Whether visiting the south or west coasts, there are a wealth of opportunities to explore the golden sands or simply lay back and relax to the sounds of the waves lapping at your feet. West Wales is, in many ways, defined by its relationship to the sea, and where the water meets the land, heaven is never too far away. Here are just some of our favourite beaches across the three counties: Visiting the beach involves a bit of a walk from the car park but its pristine sands and crystal-clear waters really are worth the trip – and on a hot summer day you really could image yourself being anywhere in the world.

Cefn Sidan, Carmarthenshire Backed by golden sand dunes along its length and with Gower Peninsula on the horizon, Wales’ longest beach is an eight-mile dog walkers’ paradise. Roughly translated from Welsh as "silky back", Cefn Sidan Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire Despite being relatively small and off the beaten track, Barafundle is an absolute gem of a beach. Proudly boasting a host of Best Beach awards, Barafundle sits in a small bay on the southern leg of the glorious Pembrokeshire Coast.

sparkles and shines at low tide as the wet sand glistens in the sun. Easily accessible and part of the fabulous Pembrey Country Park, where nature trails and cycle paths explore further inland, Cefn Sidan offers something for everyone, whatever the weather.

Beaches across the three counties

Mwnt Beach, Ceredigion Mwnt Beach is something of a hidden gem that has become more and more popular as its fame has spread. The beach itself lies in a beautiful, sheltered and sandy cove. Accessibility can be a little bit tricky as steep steps lead from the Welsh Coast Path down to this unspoiled bay, which is owned and run by the National Trust. The views from the cliffs are spellbinding and there is every possibility of spotting dolphins, porpoises and seals who happily share the clear blue waters with bathers.

Whitesands Bay, Pembrokeshire Whitesands Bay curves round close to St David’s head as a wide and sometimes wild beach with a perfect mixture of open sands and rocky crags protected from the rear by sand dunes, Whitesands has been a top spot for Welsh surfers for decades and the size of the waterfront ensures all kinds of watersports are on offer. Part of the famous Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Whitesands is a beautiful spot in summer or winter where, on Pendine Sands, Carmarthenshire Between Amroth and Laugharne on Carmarthen Bay, this vast seven-mile stretch of beach is famous for the car racing of yesteryear. The "sands of speed" are still as smooth and straight as they were when Sir Malcolm Campbell set the world land speed record here in the 1920s. Cars are still allowed on the beach, but today it’s more likely to be kite buggies that race up and down. Although not renowned for bathing, a picnic on the sands makes for a perfect day out.

A wider perspective

Llangrannog Beach, Ceredigion Llangrannog is another of Ceredigion’s stunning small beaches with the village reaching to the very brink of the sands. Sebastien Boyesen’s statue of St Caranog overlooks the beach from the coast path. Although the small size of the beach means it can get little crowded in high season, for those in search of peace and quiet, the hidden cove of Cilborth just to the north and accessible from the main sands at low tide is a stunning, sheltered spot. Llangrannog is a picturebook West Wales beach with its fishing boats, cottages and beautiful golden sands.

small and can be filled to bursting in mid-summer, New Quay is a lovely spot for a day out and is one of a number of places said to have inspired Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood. Famed more for its boat trips and sightings of the resident dolphins of Cardigan Bay, it might not be everyone’s idea of a perfect beach, but nothing beats splashing about in the waters on a hot day followed by an hour on the sea wall watching the playful nautical visitors while eating sizzling fish and chips, doused in salt and vinegar, as the sun begins to set.