Tenby North and Harbour Beach (Pembrokeshire)

Tenby Castle Beach is within a cove between the Castle and the East Cliff, with the beach being sheltered by the cliffs. This is the smallest of the Tenby beaches and can get crowded. At low tide boat trips run to Caldey Island or if a little more adventurous it is possible to walk out to St. Catherine’s island, but beware the tide can cut you off. Facilities include cafe, toilets, deckchair hire and summer lifeguards, but you then also have access to many cafes, pubs, restaurants and shops in Tenby.

Waterwynch Bay beach is best visited at mid to low tide when it exposes a large beach with a number of sandy bays. You can even walk to Tenby but beware of being cut off by the tide.

The South beach at Tenby is roughly 2km of sand backed by sand dunes, The beach is one long stretch but the northern end is referred to as Castle Beach at St. Catherine’s Island and the southern end is Penally Beach at Giltar Point. The South beach is less commercialised than Tenby’s North beach but still provides an excellent family beach. At low tide you have a massive expanse of beach but even at high tide plenty of beach space exists. Facilities include parking, toilets (disables access), lifeguards in the summer and at the northern end several shops and and hire facilities.

Penally beach is at the far end of Tenby south beach and is less busy than the main Tenby beaches. The beach is a mix of sand and shingle but is protected by sand dunes and Giltar Point headland. Good views across to Caldy Island. You only get parking and for facilities you need to head towards the Tenby end of the beach.

Monkstone beach is on the coastal path between Tenby and Saundersfoot and due to its remote location this is a hidden gem and is rarely ever crowded. The way down to the Monkstone beach is steep with around 150 steps but the sandy beach itself is worth it with beautiful sands and rocks. No facilities and access to the beach is via the coastal path with the closest parking is in Saundersfoot.

Priory beach is a sandy beach that sits in Prioriy Bay on the Caldey island just off the coast from Tenby in Pembrokeshire, South Wales. This is a small island only accessible by a boat trip which makes sure the beach is never too busy. As you arrive at the island, Priory beach is the welcoming sight from the ferry landing point. The beach here is a gentle slope with safe currents that make it a safe swimming beach. The beach is an excellent beach but don’t forget to explore the island.

Caldey Island lies about 3 miles off the south coast of Pembrokeshire facing the town and harbour of Tenby. it is 1½ miles long and less that ¾ mile wide. In 1131 the island was donated to the Benedictine monks from the Abbey of Tiron in France. In 1536 the monks were expelled from the island and it was not until 1906 that an Anglican Benedictine brotherhood bought the island and erected the present monastery. In the early 1920’s it was sold to the Order of the Reformed Cistercians. On the summit of the island, not far from the old Priory, stands the lighthouse which was erected by Trinity House in 1829 at a cost of £3,380 11s 7d. On either side of the tower and connected to it are two dwellings which were occupied by the keepers and their families prior to the conversion of the station to automatic unmanned operation in 1927.

Lydstep beach is also known as Lydstep Haven, a well protected beach due to the horseshoe shape and limestone headlands. The beach is a mix of sand, shingle and rocks. The beach is private to the caravan parks but access is available for a day visitor fee.

Skrinkle Haven beach is really two rocky bays separated by a ridge of limestone, the smaller is also called Church Doors Cove after the high-arched caves resemble church doors. The coves are rocky backed by high steep cliffs with lots of sand at low tide, at high tide the beaches all but disappear. This is a spectacular stretch of natural coastline and a world away from the more urban and busy beaches around Tenby. The beach has a car park and picnic area at the top of the cliffs, although access is now only via the Church Doors beach using some steep steps from the coast path.  At low tide, you can either travel around the seaward side to Skrinkle Haven beach or there is an alternative slippy route through a cave, in both cases, you will need to keep a close watch on the tides. The beaches have no facilities other than the parking, you do have a Youth hostel at Skrinkle Haven and nearby Manorbier also has a small selection of cafes and a pub.