Surfing, Windsurfing and Kite Surfing

Take a good look at a map of Britain and especially Pembrokeshire’s location and you’ll be able to appreciate why the surf here can be so good.

For big waves to develop they need strong winds to drive them and the greater the distance a wave travels across the ocean, the bigger the waves. As the prevailing winds in the UK are from the South West, an unobstructed, South West facing beach will generate the best waves. Many of the West Country beaches, for example, face North West and are obstructed by the Lands End peninsula which limits their best surf to the days when the wind blows directly from the West.

A selection of Pembrokeshire’s surfing beaches:

Freshwater West
A broad, gently shelving sandy beach which faces SW and is well known as the most consistent surfing beach in Wales. Waves here are almost always a couple of feet bigger than other beaches. Its isolated location ensures it doesn’t get too busy but beware of cross currents and soft sand. Not for the inexperienced.

Marloes (National Trust)
A South West facing, broad, sandy beach but with outcrops of rocks all along its length. Limited access (no sand) at very high tides and the car park is a half mile hike away but it’s a spectacular beach that never gets crowded because of its isolated location.

West Dale
South West facing, part rocky, part sandy beach. It’s not very wide and can quickly become crowded. Car parking is in Dale village, leaving a half mile hike to the beach. Best left to more experienced surfers.

Newgale
One of the most accessible beaches in Pembrokeshire with large car parks at three points along its length. It’s a two mile stretch of unobstructed, gently sloping sand, backed by a huge pebble bank. As it is so long, there’s plenty of room for everyone. SW facing but sheltered a little by the Marloes peninsula. Some areas are patrolled by lifeguards in the summer.

Whitesands
A West facing sandy beach, sheltered to a degree by Ramsey Island which limits the surf a bit. This is a busy beach in the height of summer which can lead to conflict with other beach users, although non-swimming zones are in operation when it gets crowded. Parking is adjacent to the beach and lifeguards are on duty in the summer.

Manorbier
The only South West facing beach in the Tenby area. The beach is mostly sandy but rocky on the West side. A good size car park is near to the beach but it is popular with families in summer leading to a crowded surf line.

Milford Haven is one of the biggest natural harbours in Europe, stretching for 13 miles from one end to the other. Its sheltered waters, especially around Dale, are ideal for perfecting windsurfing techniques. Unlike most other harbours, Milford Haven is traffic free and the water is very clean. West Wales Wind, Surf & Sailing are based in Dale and they specialised, originally, in windsurfing but now offer courses on all forms of wind powered watersports including kitesurfing. Other watersports specialists are also based around Milford Haven including The Pembrokeshire Watersports centre, a £3m centre near Pembroke Dock.

Once you’re confident on a board, some more entertaining windsurfing can be found off some of Pembrokeshire’s beaches depending, of course, on the conditions. Try Newgale, Whitesands or Freshwater West, detailed above. All have parking adjacent to the shore, plenty of space and big surf.

Poppit.
Parking is close to the beach although the sands are very flat. When the tide is out, the sea can be some distance from the shore! Be sure to avoid the river currents on the far side. Check out the surf at Poppit, before you head off, on