Freshwater West Beach: A Pembrokeshire Dog Walk
Take a stroll to the famous Harry Potter beach in Wales
You and your pup can follow in the footsteps of Hollywood royalty and British film icons with a Pembrokeshire dog walk to the sandy, dune-backed bay of Freshwater West Beach.
Freshwater West Beach is a beautifully exposed beach and is one of Pembrokeshire's most delightful doggie beaches for several reasons. It's landscape is lengthy and sandy with a mass of golden grassy dunes (SSSI) behind, resulting in plenty of space for ball games and running wild.
The beach at Freshwater West is dog friendly all year round so feel free to roam in any direction, the choice is yours!
From either car park, the direction you take is entirely up to you and your dog. Explore the dunes, chase a ball along the long stretch of beach, take a doggie dip in the sea or see how deep a hole your pooch can dig.
At high tide, the beach consists of soft sand with a scattering of pebbles. The blue waters here are immaculate and natural, with an abundance of birdlife, seals and fish to be sighted.
As with all landscapes in Pembrokeshire, please respect Freshwater West beach, take your litter home and clean up after your pooch.
Important MOD Information
Please be aware that Freshwater West Beach lies adjacent to the live Ministry of Defence (MOD) firing range at Castlemartin. The area of the range is marked by red flags. It is important to remember that this no-access area extends into the sea. Please note that this area is dangerous as it contains live material and should not be entered unless under agreement with the MOD.
Other Useful Information
There is exposed barbed wire in the dunes so we recommend keeping your canine on a lead and taking notice of where they are exploring.
You should also be aware that reptiles such as adders, grass snakes, lizards and slowworms may be found, so keep an eye out when frolicking in the grassy areas here.
If you wish to extend your walk from the beach, two routes will lead you to join the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Signposts for the routes are placed behind the dunes.
Harry Potter Film Location
During the filming of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Freshwater West Beach was used as a film location for significant parts of the storyline. The iconic shell house was purposefully built on the dunes here, but unfortunately disassembled once production had ended.
It is also the location where the famous house-elf, Dobby, was buried. Passionate Potterheads (Harry Potter fans) have since travelled from across the globe to create an unofficial grave to the well-loved character with painted pebbles being left atop the dunes overlooking the sea. It is a recommended sight to see during your holiday dog walk here.
Route Distance
This Pembrokeshire dog walk is approximately 0.7 miles long.
Facilities
Facilities are limited at Freshwater West, particularly now that Cafe Mor has moved over to The Old Point House in Angle, which is only a short drive away. Full facilities including shops, pubs, restaurants and even an impressive castle can be found nearby in Pembroke.
How to find it
From Pembroke, turn left onto Bridgend Terrace (Monkton/Hundleton) the B4320, and continue to bear right onto the B4320 towards Angle. Turn left onto the B4319 towards Castlemartin and arrive at Freshwater West.
Parking
Free car parks are located at the north and south ends of the beach.
Toilets
You will find a public toilet block in the south car park along with an emergency telephone to the side of the toilet block).
Start/Finish
This Pembrokeshire dog walk can be circular or an out-and-back style stroll along the beach, whichever you and your furry friend prefer.
Coastal Cottages Dog Friendly Holiday Cottages in Pembrokeshire & West Wales
If you're searching for a dog friendly holiday cottage in Pembrokeshire, then look no further, we've got an amazing selection of self-catering dog-friendly holiday cottages located throughout Pembrokeshire. - Please Note: There is a charge of £15 per dog per week or short break