Whitesands Beach (Porthmawr)

As the name suggest, Whitesands Beach is a long strip of white sand which stretches northwards towards direction of St. David’s Head. It is also sometimes known as Porthmawr which is the Welsh for Big Harbour.

Whitesands Bay is popular for good reason and is regarded as one of the finest beaches in Pembrokeshire. It is also one of the best spots for surfing on the Welsh coast.

Sweeping down from the rambling hills behind the beach are open fields and meadows. The main hill in the area is called Carn Llidi and is one of the best spots to go walking in Pembrokeshire.

The scenery here stunning and there are a wide range of flora and fauna on show. The cliffs that surround the beach are covered in bluebells, sea campion, thrift, and golden gorse and you will find seagulls and gannets that fly over from the colony on Grassholm Island.

As a Blue Flag beach you can expect a good range of facilities at Whitesands beach. Along with a cafe and toilets there are lifeguards on patrol during the summer months.

In terms of activities there is more than just surfing; swimming, canoeing, kayaking and kite surfing are all possible in the waters around Whitesands Beach.

Just off the coast here are a set of craggy islands and reefs known as the Bishops and Clerks. These were once notorious as a spot for shipwrecks claiming many victims over the centuries.

If you explore the northern end of Whitesands you will find the ruins of a chapel for sailors that is dedicated to St. Patrick and dates from the 6th century. Sailors would come here to worship before going to sea and also return and give thanks when they had completed a safe voyage.