Glorious Beaches for holiday dogs
There are many glorious dog friendly beaches within a short drive, and a great many more just a little further. We can neither display nor describe them all here, nor do justice to their beauty and splendour with just a few lines of text. Choose whichever ones appeal to you and just set off for a great day out. One of the benefits of so many beaches close by is that if you don't like one, there is always another close by. Many have free parking. Where it is charged the prices are generally low, but there are exceptions. We have our own recommendations - ask when you get here!
Pendine Beach
Pendine beach is 7 miles of golden sand, and on the weekends you can often drive onto the beach itself. It is famous for various land speed records; many rallies take place here and, of course, the filming of Top Gear and various movies takes place here. There are some dog restrictions here mainly at the tourist end of the beach and the notices displayed will inform you accordingly. As you turn right onto the beach there are no dog restrictions and your dogs can freely enjoy the rock pools and caves.
The Secret Beach
This is at the far end of Pendine beach (ask us for directions), and used by the military as a firing range. As such it's not signposted, nor do some of the locals even know it's there! This beach is usually open in the evenings and weekends and it's a glorious unswept beach - there's always plenty of driftwood and whatever else the tide brings in. Your dogs will never be short of sticks to carry. After storms, the beach is sometimes littered with washed up jellyfish - the size of dustbin lids, as well as the odd coconut washed up from the south seas! Find out when the beach is open.
Saundersfoot*
A popular resort with all the facilities you might expect from a lovely small seaside town. There are some lovely little shops and fish and chip restaurants galore. A wide flat, sandy beach with a pretty harbour at the eastern end. Dog restrictions apply to the whole beach between 1st May and 30th of September, but there is a dog area at the side of the harbour. Saundersfoot hosts regular events such as "The World Cawl Cooking Championships" in February. (Cawl is a delicious thick Welsh broth made of meat, usually Welsh lamb, and vegetables). Like Tenby, most people who visit here don't want to go back home again.
Tenby*
A beautiful sunny seaside town which once visited sees every visitor wanting to sell up and relocate here. It consists of two main sandy beaches, a small tidal harbour, and a picturesque town selling all the goodies you'd expect of such a wonderful place. The dog friendly beach area is towards the east where there are dunes to climb. Boat trips over to Caldy island leave regularly for those who want to visit the island with its range of wildlife and working Monastery. Note: No ladies are allowed inside the monastery; it puts the monks off their work!!
Ferryside
So named because of the ferry that once operated there (and still does) to the far side of the estuary. This is a lovely little seaside village which has two pubs, a restaurant, two shops and a post office, and a glorious sandy beach without dog restrictions. The car park, which is right in the centre, and less than fifty metres from the beach, provides adequate parking. Go there if either you or your dog like treasure hunting and beachcombing - you'll be amazed at what you might find washed up on the shore line. (picture taken from Llansteffan side of river).
Llansteffan
A small village opposite Ferryside. Parking is easy and there's plenty of driftwood for dog chewing as well as other treasure that gets washed up by the tides. The imposing beauty of the ruins of Llansteffan Castle overlook the bay. Walks here will produce spectacular views of Carmarthen Bay, evidence of the area's industrial heritage, salt marshes, woodland and grassland habitats, and you might see a range of species, from the common to the very rare. Or on the other hand, lots of golden sand and clean water to paddle in.
The Gower Peninsular
This will require an approximately 40 minute drive. Once there, don't expect to cover all these glorious beaches, bays and coves in a single day! The scenery is spectacular ranging from wide sandy bays (with good surf on wild days), rocky coves, to steep and imposing cliffs. Three Cliffs (or Pobbles Bay) frequently appears on Welsh tourist office publications giving an indication of what you might expect. The most popular beaches have the most dog restrictions and the bays get more beautiful the further you venture from Swansea. Cliff paths link many of the beaches and coves so they're great for walking.
Wisemans Bridge beach
This is a much smaller and intimate bay, which has a small sandy beach with rocks on both sides, and patches of pebbles at various places. Car parking here is usually free and it provides the benefit of a tavern and terrace on the east side of the bay. The west side has a small stream that pours fresh water into the sea. This is a hidden little bay that tourists often miss, but those who know where it is love it and return there again and again. It's also close to Saundersfoot, which is the next bay to the west and Amroth, another lovely bay, full of pebbles at high tide, and sandy at other times, nearby to the east.
Fishguard
This small town has a nice shopping centre and several bays, some stony with lots of pebbles, and some sandy, but with pockets of silt - make sure doggie has his paws washed before jumping back into your car! There are spectacular views from the higher parts of the roads, and it's also a busy port if you want to pop over to Ireland on the ferry - destination Rosslare. It's one of the more distant bays (in Cardiganshire), but we thought we'd show you a few things further afield as well. This was the location where Dylan Thomas' "Under Milk Wood" was filmed.
Newgale
This wonderful long beach creeps up on you when you drive towards St. Davids. For a while there are just grass and fields and then suddenly "WOW" this beautiful sandy beach suddenly fills your view. Towards the North are a wall of pebbles thirty feet high and then cliffs and caves, while to the south there's lots of golden sand. It's easily accessible but far enough from towns and cities that you're never short of space to either run and explore or just picnic. Please don't tell too many people about this!
Solva - the sunken valley
This really is a bay worth visiting twice. Once when the tide is out, when your dogs can run amongst the yachts resting on the sand and rocks, and search out the shrimps and little fishes that live in the little rock pools. A fresh water stream runs down the middle so your dog can always get a drink. Then return when the tide is in. All the yachts and boats will be afloat, and from the coastal paths you'll see all the water weeds and kelp slowly moving with the current, and fish, some quite large, swimming amongst them. Seals are often seen here, and if you're particularly lucky, may even see the odd dolphin.
There's too much!
There really is too much to describe here. Most of the bays, coves and beaches in West Wales are dog friendly while others have areas restricted to people only. The most populated beaches are those nearest towns and cities, but go a little further and you'll be astounded at the beauty that most people will never see. By the way, A WARNING: Wales is full! Everyone that comes on holiday wants to relocate here and some have! There's no more space, and we don't want you spending all your time looking in estate agents windows! (Also we want you to come back here on holiday!)
* These beaches are not completely dog friendly, though most have sections at some point for dogs, these may be hidden away or require a longer walk to get to them. Click here for links to more dog friendly beaches. Note that some beaches are supposedly 'No dogs' but have no signs on the beach to indicate this.
IMPORTANT: This information is subject to change without notice.