Abermawr Bay

The remote, rural beach at Abermawr Bay sits in a cove on the north Pembrokeshire coast and faces north-west. It is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest along with the wider Abermawr area and is part of the pretty Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

The beach itself is set between earthy cliffs and is a mix of sand, below the high tide mark, and a pebble bank which is the result of a storm in 1859. Behind the beach is an area of marshlands and woods. The pebble bank is an essential part of the local ecosystem acting as a dam and preventing the fierce winds here from hammering the inland area of Abermawr.

Many people pass by Abermawr Bay Beach as part of a coastal walk that takes in the towns of Porthgain, Abereiddy, and Abercastle. The beach is also a popular spot in the summer months for those who want to swim or surf, although you should proceed with caution as the currents here are strong and changeable and there is no lifeguard.

One of the signature features on the beach is the unexpected ‘forest’ which is actually a section of ancient tree stumps that are visible at low tide. The stumps would have been part of a forest that became flooded when an ice sheet melted around 8,000 years ago but the stumps remain as the salt from the sea stops them rotting. 

Abermawr Beach is close to neighbouring Aberbach Beach which sits to the north and the two are separated by the Pen Deudraeth or the ‘Head of the Two Beaches’ which is a large rocky promontory. Both Abermawr and Aberbach were supposed to be a part of the South Wales Railway designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel although this was only built as far as Treffgarne until the plan was abandoned as an indirect result of the Irish Potato Famine.

There is only one access point to the beach which is a narrow track and there are only a few spots where you can park along the main road but not designated car park as such.