Barafundle beach, 50 minutes from St Brides Castle
The 2019 Wales Coast Awards have highlighted the beauty of Pembrokeshire’s coastline, awarding over 30 Blue Flag, Green Coast or Seaside awards across the county.
Pembrokeshire is known for its 50+ beaches, which are some of the best in Wales. From long swathes of golden sand to untouched pebbled shores, there’s plenty of gems to discover along the 180-miles of coastline. With much of the county having National Park status, the beaches are famous for their crystal-clear waters and clean, untouched sands and dunes.
With this in mind, it’s perhaps no surprise that so many of Pembrokeshire’s beaches have been awarded an iconic Blue Flag. This famous eco-label celebrates water quality, environmental awareness, protection, safety and services. 2019 is the 31st year that Blue Flags have been given out and Pembrokeshire has received 220 since they arrived in the county in 1990. This year, 11 beaches have been awarded a Blue Flag; Amroth, Newgale, Saundersfoot, Dale, Whitesands, Coppet Hall, Tenby North, Tenby South, Tenby Castle, Poppit Sands and Lydstep.
Newgale beach, 30 minutes from St Brides Castle
Meanwhile, the Seaside Award is the national standard for the best beaches in the UK. The variety of beaches receiving the award is huge, from sandy family attractions to untamed dunes and shingle banks. However, these awards mean that visitors can be sure that the beach is clean, attractive and well-managed. In 2019, Broad Haven (north), Cwm yr Eglwys, Goodwick, Little Haven. Newport, Nolton Haven and Wisemans Bridge are all recipients of Seaside Awards.
Last but not least, Green Coast Awards are given out to hidden coastal gems, recognising excellent water quality and unspoiled environments. The Pembrokeshire beaches of Caerfai, Druidstone, Priory Bay on Caldey Island, West Angle Bay and West Dale all received a Green Coast Award this year.
Last but not least, Abereiddy, Barafundle, Broadhaven (south), Freshwater East, Manorbier, Marloes, Martins Haven and Penally all managed the elusive ‘double’ honour or receiving both a Green Coast and Seaside Award!
Caerfai beach, 45 minutes from St Brides Castle
Luckily for beach-lovers staying at St Brides Castle, nine of these beaches are less than half an hour from the property. In fact, the beautiful beaches of Dale and Marloes Sands are less than a 15-minute drive away!
Dale is well known as a haven for water sports enthusiasts, with its wide, sheltered bay and activity centre, which provides tuition as well as boat and equipment hire. It’s a large, mainly pebble beach with plenty of room for games and playing, although it’s recommended to check the tides before your visit. There are also dog-restrictions on the Northern end of the beach between May and September.
Meanwhile, Marloes Sands is known for its wide swathes of sand and interesting cliff formations. The beach disappears completely during high tide, but when the water retreats it reveals a beautiful beach made up of several ‘bays’, separated by rock strata. The western end of the beach has plenty of rock pools to explore, as well as a perfect sandy bay known as Albion Sands. You can also spot the prop shaft of a wrecked ship just poking out of the water!
Marloes Sands, 15 minutes from St Brides Castle
Of course, this is just the start. The vast majority of Pembrokeshire beaches receiving awards in 2019 are less than an hour’s drive from St Brides Castle, making it an ideal base for exploring this beautiful part of the Welsh coast. With over 50 charming properties, sauna and steam room, barbeque area and breathtaking scenery, it’s the perfect place to relax after a long day of fresh sea air.
Learn more about staying at St Brides Castle, or any of our other properties.
