Wales secret beaches
You may have thought that secluded beaches with fine sand, crystal clear water and just the cry of the gulls for company were long gone, but they're not. Tucked away in the nooks and crannies of the Wales coast are any number of unspoilt hidden gems where you can enjoy a little peace and quiet.
Here at the Beach Guide we have compiled a list of your favourite hidden beaches in Wales that are just far enough off the beaten track to never get too busy.
Of course escaping the crowds may not be your only reason for visiting these little known spots. Not only are they a little tricky to find and get to, they are also some of the loveliest beaches in Wales.
-
1. Musselwick Sands Beach
Marloes, Pembrokeshire
Located close to Marloes village on the southern edge of St Brides Bay is the lovely sandy beach of Musselwick. Backed by the high cliffs of Wooltack Point and Nab Head the north-facing beach here is…
-
2. Church Doors Cove
Manorbier, Pembrokeshire
Like neighbouring beaches along this stretch of the Pembrokeshire coast, Church Doors Cove is something of a geological wonder, and it is to this that the beach's name refers. The cove has sheer stratified…
-
3. Blue Pool Bay
Llangennith, Glamorgan
Blue Pool Bay is one of the Gower Peninsula's prettiest bays and also one of the quietest. This is thanks to the fact it can only be reached on foot from Broughton just under a mile away. It also helps…
-
4. Porthmelgan Beach
Pembrokeshire
Just to the north of the popular Whitesands beach is the pleasant little cove of Porthmelgan. Only accessible from the coast path this is a great spot to escape the summer crowds. As with many of the…
-
5. Traeth Mawr Beach
Wick, Glamorgan
Traeth Mawr, meaning Big Beach, is one of Wick\'s two beaches (the other being Little Beach). The beach here is composed of pebbles above the high tide mark with a good stretch of sand when the tide goes…
-
-
6. Conigar Pit Beach
Manorbier, Pembrokeshire
The secluded little Conigar Pit beach lies about halfway between the slightly better known beaches of Manorbier and Shrinkle Haven. It is formed of a twin cove tucked in behind Old Castle Head and joins…
-
7. Drinkim Bay
Caldey Island, Pembrokeshire
Drinkim Bay is one of a number of beautiful sandy beaches on the little island of Caldey, just off the Pembrokeshire coast. This is not the easiest beach to get to by any stretch of the imagination. Being…
-
8. Monk Haven Beach
St Ishmaels, Pembrokeshire
Set at the end of a wooded valley near the village of St Ishmaels is a cove that is every bit as tranquil as its name - Monk Haven. This comes from a monastic settlement that existed here long ago. Whilst…
-
9. Mowingword Bay
Pembrokeshire
About half a mile to the south of Barafundle Bay, on the far side of Stackpole Head, is Mowingword Bay. Relatively unheard of compared to its much vaunted neighbour the beach here rivals any in Wales.As…
-
10. Porthsychan Beach
Fishguard, Pembrokeshire
Set in a sheltered cove near the north-westerly tip of Pembrokeshire is the pleasant little beach of Porthsychan. What the beach lacks in sand (it is mostly shingle and pebble) it makes up for in charm.…
-
11. Traeth Gwrddon Beach
Aberporth, Ceredigion
The tiny cove of Traeth Gwrddon is a real gem for explorers. Set at the foot of a steep, lush green valley this is a spot to get away from it all. The valley here was carved millenia ago by the water…
-
12. Marros Sands Beach
Pendine, Carmarthenshire
This long stretch of beach is somewhat off the beaten track and largely untouched. Whilst it isn't quite bucket and spade fare Marros Sands are a great place to enjoy some solitude and take a bracing…
-
13. Presipe Bay
Pembrokeshire
Presipe Bay is one of the beaches on the Pembrokeshire coast that can genuinely be described as a hidden gem. At low tide the beach here consists of a wide stretch of golden sand backed by stunning sandstone…
-
14. Traeth Soden Beach
New Quay, Ceredigion
The remote cove of Traeth Soden is set at the foot of a long wooded valley through which the little Afon Soden river cascades. As this provides the only access from the road to the beach it is generally…
-
15. Traeth Llyfn Beach
Porthgain, Pembrokeshire
Traeth Llyfn is one of the lesser visited beaches on this stretch of the Pembrokeshire coast, which is a shame as it is areal gem. In fact, the chances are you may well get this beautiful stretch of sandy…
-
16. Ceibwr Bay
Cardigan, Pembrokeshire
This remote little beach is mainly pebbles, although there are a few patches of shingly sand to be found. The beach sits at the end of a deep valley with cliffs extending far out along both sides of the…
-
17. Swanlake Bay
Tenby, Pembrokeshire
Swanlake Bay beach is located in South Pembrokeshire and the only way to get here is to walk down the Pembrokeshire National Park Coastal Footpath. The closest car park is in Manorbier, so although it…
-
18. Watwick Beach
Dale, Pembrokeshire
Watwick Bay is a small east-facing beach at the mouth of Milford Haven. It is set on the remote and narrow peninsula leading to St Annes Head. The beach is rather steep and is made up mostly of sand.…
-
19. Nolton Haven Beach
Nolton Haven, Pembrokeshire
Nolton Haven is a secluded sandy beach in the St Brides Bay area. It is set in a narrow inlet which is flanked by cliffs. The beach here is a mix of sand and pebbles but at low tide a narrow strip of…
-
20. Mwnt Beach
Cardigan, Ceredigion
The lovely little beach of Mwnt consists of a rectangle of sand backed by steep cliffs and overlooked by the dome-shaped headland of Foel y Mwnt. Owned by the National Trust, this beach is a little off…
Please note: we would have preferred it if these beaches could have remained secret forever and would like to make it clear that the Beach Guide would never be the first to publish the details of any hidden beach.