10 Best Dog Friendly Beaches in Pembrokeshire & West Wales

Go ahead, discover your favourite Pembrokeshire beach. Your dog(s) will thank you for it.

A Pembrokeshire holiday provides everything you could ever want from a pet friendly break, with miles of sandy shores for chasing balls and boundless depths of glistening clear sea for doggy paddles. If you’re searching for the perfect coastal getaway with your canine, this list of dog friendly beaches in Pembrokeshire is a must-read.

With so many fantastic beaches in West Wales, finding the best beaches in Pembrokeshire for dogs may be a daunting task. But don’t worry, we have you covered. We’ve shortlisted our top 10 pet friendly beaches in the area to give you a helping hand and we’ve even highlighted a great dog friendly pub nearby too, in case you and your pup are in need of refreshments after your time at the seaside.

A small selection of Pembrokeshire beaches with dog restrictions in place during the summer months, between 1st May and 30th September, though you’ll find that many of these are partial and shouldn’t put a dampener on your plans. Find out more below.

Newgale Beach

Newgale being one of our top dog friendly beaches in West Wales should come as no surprise to those familiar with the area. This western-facing bay boasts an expansive 2 miles in length providing a vast sandy shoreline for walkies. Backed by a beautiful pebble bank and sheltered from the road, Newgale Beach is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for space to tire out your pooch with plenty of hours to be spent digging holes and doggy paddling in the waves. Encouraging your dogs to head home may take some persuading!

Newgale does impose partial beach restrictions for dogs in the summer, but only between the RNLI flagpoles (it’s conveniently a lifeguard-patrolled bay too). This means that large portions of the beach to the very north and the very south are still perfectly dog friendly, just steer clear of the mid-section here at Newgale.

The Duke of Edinburgh pub is just across the road, though it recently suffered from a fateful fire so is closed for the moment. We recommend popping to The Victoria Inn pub in Roch, just a mile up the road, for hearty meals and local ales brewed on site.

Tenby South Beach

One of the most popular Pembrokeshire dog friendly beaches is easily Tenby South Beach and it’s no wonder given its location. Beautiful soft sand greets you underfoot with a bay that stretches out right the way to Penally Beach, totalling some 2 miles in length. With the other Tenby beaches subject to summer restrictions, this is the go-to for those with pets during the warmer months of the year.

Tenby offers plenty of places to eat, many of which at least have outdoor spaces to eat with your furry friend, but one of our favourites has to be the Seaview Restaurant located on Crackwell Street. It’s one of the few places in the town with sea views and always provides a warm welcome to dogs, who can dine inside alongside you. If you are holidaying in Tenby, you might like to try the Coast Path dog walk from Tenby to Lydstep, you'll be met with beautiful views across the water to Caldey Island.

Newport Sands

Lovely grassy dunes back this broad, sandy beach which is lapped by beautifully clear waves - a hot spot for all beach-enthusiastic doggies. At low tide, it’s even possible to stroll across the beach and wade through the river to Newport Parrog Beach.

After an afternoon of playing fetch on one of the best dog friendly beaches in Pembrokeshire, why not wander up to The Golden Lion pub together? A blazing fire, warm welcome and beautifully cooked meal will await you.

Broadhaven South Beach

Talk about paradise. This beauty spot, located in the village of Bosherston, will leave you both breathless - and that’s nothing to do with the winding steps down from the car park. Let your busy dogs scamper through the dunes and dive into the waves here, whilst you stroll casually along the golden sand, no doubt capturing a holiday snap as you go.

This is one of many dog friendly beaches in Pembrokeshire all year round, meaning you and your pup can enjoy the full stretch of this shoreline at any time of year. We recommend extending your adventure with a dog walk around Bosherston Lily Ponds, which is easily accessible via a clear pathway towards the back of the beach. This level trail follows a circular route with plenty of picnic stops making this location a wonderful day out for all.

If a picnic isn’t on the cards, continue into the village for an afternoon tea at Ye Olde Worlde Café or dine out at St Govan’s Inn. Once you have re-fuelled, stroll along the rural lane out of the village for just over a mile, back to the car park above the beach.

Marloes Sands

Venture to Marloes Sands for a long and golden shoreline that is quite literally, out of a film. Used as a location for Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) starring Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth; this is easily one of the best beaches in Pembrokeshire for dogs, with a circular Coast Path walk nearby that boasts spectacular views out to Skomer Island.

After a game or two of frisbee on the beach, take the level path back to the car making sure to stop into Runwayskiln Cafe on the way for refreshments. This independent coastal eatery is often recommended as one of the top in the county so it’s not to be missed. For pub grub, head into the village of Marloes for a visit to The Lobster Pot.

Freshwater West

Not only is Freshwater West Beach one of the best dog friendly beaches in West Wales, it is one of the best beaches for families, surfers and film-fantics. Yes, this bay is also best-known for its starring role on the silver screen having been used twice for movie shoots; once for Robin Hood (2010) with Russell Crowe and once for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2010).

Freshwater West’s 1km shoreline is remarkably exposed and thus often promises impressive swells perfect for wave enthusiasts to ride on their surfboards. This unsheltered nature also makes it an ideal location for ball games with your furry friend. Enjoy a leisurely dog walk at Freshwater West Beach before a pitstop at The Old Point House in Angle nearby for a spot of fresh seafood and innovative dining.

Broad Haven Beach (North)

Yes, there are confusingly two Broad Haven’s in Pembrokeshire but both are very different. Whilst the Broadhaven South offers a very remote beach setting, Broad Haven (North) provides a setting backed by a bustling village with all the necessary amenities right on hand.

Of Pembrokeshire's dog friendly beaches, this is one which imposes a partial restriction during the summer months so be aware to check the noticeboard at the beach when you arrive. As long as you keep south of the lifeguard patrolled area, you’ll be fine. This works out really well if you’re planning a visit to The Galleon Inn pub overlooking the water where dogs are welcomed downstairs in the bar.

Amroth Beach

Amroth’s half-mile long, flat and beautiful sandy beach is perfect for ball games and doggy paddling. The rock pools to the western side and the groynes along the top of the Blue Flag Awarded beach, provide plenty of exploring opportunities.

If you’re in need of refreshments, head along the beautiful Pembrokeshire Coastal Path for a few miles to enjoy a rest and a gorgeous view at the Wiseman’s Bridge Inn. Amroth does impose restrictions during the summer months, but because of the serenity of this beach in the winter, we couldn't resist including this one in our list of the best dog friendly beaches in Pembrokeshire. 

Pwllgwaelod Beach

Next up in our list of the best beaches in Pembrokeshire for dogs is Pwllgwaelod. Perhaps a surprising entry in our list, this bay is hidden away in the North Pembrokeshire coastline and makes a sometimes welcomed alternative to Newport Sands. Much smaller in size with high cliffs either side, this sand-shingle inlet is buried down a country lane on the edge of Dinas Island.

Dig holes, lap up the waves and chase after balls before heading to The Old Sailors pub for a pint with arguable one of the best pub views in Pembrokeshire - this tavern looks right over the beach. Take the inland flat walkway to reach Cwm Yr Egwlys on the opposite edge of the island or make your way via the Coast Path for a more scenic stroll, these two Dinas Island dog walks are some of our favourites.

Abermawr Beach

Last but not least is Abermawr Beach, one of the lesser-known dog friendly beaches in Pembrokeshire all year round. You’ll find this one near Abercastle, which is also a good choice, but we’ve decided to include Abermawr instead because there’s every chance you might get it all to yourself if you’re visiting in the off-season.

Less accessible than most on the list, with no public amenities and limited parking, but boy does it feel special when you find you’re not sharing it with anyone but your four-legged friend. Chase the wind and skip through the waves before a tummy rub and a picnic, you’ll create memories to treasure here. And when you’ve worked up an appetite, try the cafe at Melin Treqwynt for hearty meals or a cuppa and a slice of homemade cake. Make sure to browse the working mill and visit the shop for a locally made blanket or cushion as a memento.

A Round-Up of our Top 10 Dog Friendly Beaches in West Wales

• Newgale Beach
• Tenby South Beach
• Newport Sands
• Broadhaven South
• Marloes Sands
• Freshwater West
• Broad Haven
• Amroth Beach
• Pwllgwaelod Beach
• Abermawr

With so many pet friendly beaches in Pembrokeshire, we're sure you'll find a favourite during your stay. You might just find more than one!

Dog Restrictions on Pembrokeshire Beaches

As already mentioned, there are a handful of Pembrokeshire beaches with dog restrictions during the summer months but there are only two with complete bans: Whitesands and Tenby North Beach. Those with partial restrictions are as follows: Amroth, Broad Haven (North), Coppet Hall, Dale, Lydstep, Newgale, Poppit Sands, Saundersfoot and Tenby South Beach.

Where to stay in Pembrokeshire with your dog?

Check out our full selection of dog friendly holiday cottages in Pembrokeshire to discover a whole host of pet friendly accommodation suitable for you and your furry pal.