With over 50 beaches and 186 miles of coastline, Pembrokeshire is the perfect location for a dog-friendly holiday.
It has it all – circular walking routes, breath-taking scenery and Wales’ oldest coastal rocks. We’re sure that your furry friend will love clambering over the St Davids’ peninsula as much as you do! Come rain or shine, there’s still no better spot for a bracing walk with your canine chum than this idyllic peninsula.
To help you narrow down the many choices for a hike with your hound, we’ve compiled a list of our top 6 fab dog-friendly beaches. Hold on to your leads, grab the ball thrower and pack the towels, your dog-friendly holiday in St Davids is about to get sandy!
Caerfai
Caerfai beach lies about a mile outside St Davids, and is a beautiful all-rounder. It’s a fantastic swim spot, a sheltered sun trap, and is dog friendly all year round. The car park is conveniently located above the beach, and your pooch will start to sniff the sea air as soon as you park up. There are plenty of pebbles for them to scout around and enough sand at low tide for a game of ball. What more could a dog want?
Abermawr
Abermawr is one of north Pembrokeshire’s hidden gems and an absolute must for your dog-friendly holiday. It’s a twenty-minute drive north of St Davids, on the less populated stretch of coastline heading towards Strumble Head lighthouse. It is an untouched area of rare coastal beauty, and a dream destination for your dog.
A vast bluebell-filled wood stretches from the south towards a marshland full of dragonflies and herons. Leading up from this is a steep meadow, sloping down towards a deep pebble beach, flanked by heather-capped cliffs. There’s a circular walk that takes in all elements of this alluring place, with plenty to preoccupy your pooch, too.
Abereiddy
Abereiddy is more than the sum of its parts. It’s not just a beach, it’s a historic landmark and a scenic viewpoint. It’s the best place in Pembrokeshire to capture a sunset and a fascinating stop on your dog-friendly holiday.
A stroll around the cliff overlooking the beach with your furry friend brings you to the ruins of the slate quarry, sitting majestically above the now flooded mine shaft. This remarkable example of West Wales’ vast history is now known as Blue Lagoon. It has been used as the UK venue for the Red Bull Cliff Diving world series. The striking blue-green waters of the Blue Lagoon is a perfect paddling pool for your pooch, and there is plenty of coastal path for them (and you) to enjoy.
If you fancy seeing Abereiddy coast from the water, book a coasteering trip with MUUK Adventures, who operate from the car park!
Traeth Llyfn
One of this coastline’s tastiest treats is a short walk from Abereiddy. Down a steep metal stairway that traverses the shale and sea pink covered cliff is the undisturbed sweep of sand called “The Smooth Beach”. When the more accessible beaches are full, this tranquil spot is the place to have some downtime with your dog. There’s no fear of disturbing anyone here. It’s one of the most accessibly secluded points along this coastline. This means your furry friend can run, swim, and bark to their heart’s content. Make sure you check the tides, as it’s inaccessible at high tide.
If you’re peckish after all that sea air, follow the coastal path north to the tiny port of Porthgain. Here you’ll find one of the peninsula’s most popular maritime pubs, The Sloop Inn. You and your dog can sit on the outdoor patio admiring the view of the much-filmed harbour. You can sample the area’s finest fish, washed down with a local ale as a reward for a refreshing walk on your dog-friendly holiday. Pawfect!
Solva Harbour
This isn’t technically a beach, but leads to one, and is far too beautiful to leave off our list. Solva is just how you’d imagine a Welsh fishing harbour to be. It’s full of ancient limewashed cottages, various sailors’ pubs, and maritime buildings that have now become coffee shops. Lower Solva is the place to be if you’re on a dog-friendly holiday. Park at the car park at the bottom of the hill to access this picture-postcard limestone port.
The boomerang-shaped harbour is drained when the tide is out, leaving plenty of sand for your mutt to meander across. Cross the bridge by the car park and follow the path up the wooded estuary, onto a steep headland called The Gribbin. This is one of the most stunning vantage points on the St Davids peninsula. It allows a view that takes in the whole of St Bride’s Bay on a clear day.
At the bottom of The Gribbin, tucked away on the other side of this sliver of land, is The Gwadn, one of the tiniest and prettiest pebble beaches in Pembrokeshire. It is a peaceful retreat for you to take in the best of the peninsula’s scenery.
Newgale
That first incredible glimpse of the sea as you come over the lip of the hill on the way to St Davids? That’s Newgale. An expanse of golden sand behind a bank of pebbles that succeeds in shutting the world away as soon as your feet hit the beach. A favourite with surfers and walkers, Newgale is perfect for a stroll with your dog. Between May and September dogs are restricted to the far end of the beach, which is gloriously out of the way so you can relax and enjoy time away from the crowds. Heading there in the evening? Take a picnic and watch the sun go down.
So, there you have it – our Top 6 Beaches for your dog-friendly holiday in St Davids. As you can see, in Pembrokeshire, it really is a dog’s life. Not only can you and your furry friend enjoy long walks, sandy feet, and dips in the sea, but we can guarantee that you’ll sleep like logs after all that sea air!
is there any beaches near St Davids where dogs allowed first week in September?
Hi Peter,
Dogs are allowed at Caerfai Beach, just a 5-10 minute walk from St Davids centre. Alternatively, it would be the beaches on the blog apart from Whitesands, Newgale would replace Whitesands as the big beach to walk on in September – about a 15 minute drive from St Davids.
Hope that helps with your holiday plans.
Best wishes
Rachael
[…] activity ideas, such as watching out for Spring wildlife or the best place on the peninsula for an epic dog walk. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page and share holiday ideas with your […]
[…] Your four-legged friend will love exploring the sandier stretches of the St Davids Peninsula as much as you will! A small handful of beaches don’t allow dogs between May and September, but don’t let that put you off. It gives you even more reason to dodge the crowds and find lesser-known spots. Find our favourite dog friendly beaches in Pembrokeshire here. […]
[…] Your four-legged friend will love exploring the sandier stretches of the St Davids Peninsula as much as you will! A small handful of beaches don’t allow dogs between May and September, but don’t let that put you off. It gives you even more reason to dodge the crowds and find lesser-known spots. Find our favourite dog friendly beaches in Pembrokeshire here. […]
Hello
Such a useful blog – thank you. We’re also hoping the dog friendly beaches have reasonably easy access for one of us who has a knee problem. Can you advise?
Best wishes
Wendy