Caerfai Beach

Just one mile from the historical cathedral city of St Davids, you'll find the sheltered and somewhat isolated bay at Caerfai Beach. Just as St Davids attracts those looking for a quaint holiday destination rather than a hectic city break, Caerfai Beach offers its own pretty seaside charm with a unique colourful landscape.

Often overshadowed by Whitesands Beach as the main beach to visit when staying in St Davids, Caerfai Beach is actually the closest beach to the city and can be found nestled on the southern coast of this peninsula between St Nons and Solva.

An old quarrying region for the famous purple sandstone used in the building of the cathedral, picture a backdrop of pink, purple and green cliffsides against golden sands and glassy green waters at Caerfai Beach. This beach is a favourite amongst small families and those with a passion for wildlife.

In certain tidal instances, you may find exposed old Second World War sea mines that are usually hidden beneath the sand. These mines originally washed ashore here in the 1950s and whilst they were defused, they were left to remain under the sand. Be aware that they may be sharp so be careful when exploring Caerfai.

The brightly coloured rocks at Caerfai at sunset

Activities

Caerfai Beach is sheltered by lofty cliffs on either side creating a wonderfully sheltered inlet. On warm days it becomes a real suntrap, ideal for leisurely afternoons spent sunbathing and catching up on your beach reads. Being a small bay, it is favourited by families with active young children as the little ones can be kept in eyesight all day long. Bathing is an enjoyable pastime in these waters but do beware of strong currents in places.

High tide disguises this beach as nothing more than a shingle bank but if you wait for low tide, you’ll find a long beach of golden sands uncovered, perfect for forming sandcastles and creating sand drawings.

Adrenaline junkies with an affinity for exhilarating watersports such as kitesurfing tend to avoid Caerfai as its petite size and sheltered shoreline are unsuitable and instead many opt for a visit to Whitesands Beach. That being said, not all watersports should be ruled out here. Kayakers and canoeists enjoy a paddle in these waters and there is often a small surf here which may attract surfers and bodyboarders.

The dramatic cliffs along this coastline are a wonderland for coasteering groups and climbers with plenty of rocky outcrops and sea caves to explore. Scramble across the cliffs, leaping into the glistening green waters for a memorable day out.

Sea anglers won’t want to forget their fishing rods when planning a visit to Caerfai Beach, as there is a wealth of fish to be caught at these shores. Expect to find seafood favourites such as mackerel, bass and plaice along with the likes of pollack, wrasse and conger.

The coastline in this region is second to none (we might be biased) so a walk along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path is a must. Start your walk from the beach at Caerfai and walk around the headland to discover St Non’s Chapel, where Non gave birth to Saint David during a fierce storm, or venture south to the stunning harbourside village of Solva. Along your walk, you’ll spy the Penpleidian headland just offshore; a promontory fort with an impressive four banks.

During your visit to Caerfai Beach, and especially if you decide to join the Coast Path, you will be met with a wealth of wildlife in their natural habitats. The hedgerows are filled with gorse, bluebells and wildflowers creating a vivid landscape of technicolour whilst sightings of seabirds are a regular occurrence here. Expect to find fulmar, gulls and ravens plus a selection of birds which also call Ramsey Island home such as chough, peregrine falcons and manx shearwater.

Of course, if you’re planning to stop off for the day at Caerfai Beach, a journey into the centre of St Davids is a must. Tour St Davids Cathedral and pay your respects at Dewi’s shrine before sightseeing the ruins at St Davids Bishop’s Palace behind. Walk the valley, stroll the streets and make sure to pop into one of the country pubs for a bite to eat. You can even hire watersports equipment and book a trip to Ramsey Island in the booking offices found on the high street, although you can also arrange this via our Concierge team. 

Facilities

Facilities at Caerfai Bay are limited, with only a car park located at the beach itself so you will have to travel into the city for a wider range of amenities. Along the drive, you may find a couple of shops and cafes which pop up seasonally at the campsites you pass.

You can, however, pick up the Celtic Coaster shuttle bus at Caerfai. This operates a route around St Davids peninsula only travelling to St Nons, Porthclais, St Justinans, Whitesands and the city centre.

Upon entering the city from Caerfai Bay, you will first reach Oriel Y Parc Visitor Centre. Within this unique building, you’ll find a tourist information centre, a café, gift shop and art gallery. Gather leaflets for local attractions, buy walking maps and enjoy a cup of coffee and a homemade welsh cake before moving on. Over the road is a large Pay and Display car park with a public toilet block.

St Davids has one supermarket, CK’s Supermarket where you can buy daily newspapers, fresh and frozen groceries, fresh bread, local meats and hot food. It is also home to the city’s post office. Well-known retail stores are dotted throughout the streets alongside independent gift stores; pay a visit to St Davids Bookshop near the Cathedral, purchase mementoes from Window on Wales or buy exclusive Pembrokeshire apparel from Fat Face.

Welcoming pubs and top-notch food is something this tiny city does particularly well, so make sure to call into The Bishops on Cross Square or The Farmers Arms down Goat Street. Pick up a pizza at Dusty Knuckle, indulge in homemade gelato at Gianni’s and tuck into delicious Indian cuisine at the pop-up takeaway Pan Aroma. St Davids Food & Wine Store has you covered for local delicacies to snack on through your stay.

Walk down the high street and you’ll find booking offices offering boat trips to Ramsey and Grassholm Islands. You will also stumble across activity centres where you can booking coasteering sessions, hire surf equipment, purchase wetsuits and even sign up for a cycle tour.

Local Top Tips

Bear in mind that there is no toilet block or café here, so you’ll have to go back into town if you need either. Bring plenty of drinks with you to keep hydrated, and snacks if you’re planning to be here longer than a couple of hours. Also make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen (again, plenty!) as the suntrap nature of this beach means you’re likely to suffer from sunburn if you don’t.

The car park is free and is large enough for an estimated 50 cars. If you arrive to find the car park is full, you can always drive back into town and park at Oriel Y Parc, then jump on the Celtic Coaster bus down to Caerfai.

The path from the car park is a short yet steep downhill walk, so be mindful of what you carry down as you will have to carry it back up – and the walk will likely feel steeper on return! The lighter you pack, the less it will hurt walking back to the car.

Access

The road from St Davids to Caerfai is a typical Pembrokeshire country road, meaning that it can be narrow in parts. Follow the road right into the gravel car park overlooking the bay, and you’ll see a path to the beach to your left.

The path from the car park to the beach is indeed steep, it is fairly short but there is certainly a sharp incline to be aware of. With steps also at the beach end of the path, anyone with mobility difficulties may struggle here.

Is Caerfai Bay Dog Friendly?

Yes, Caerfai Beach is dog friendly all year round with no restrictions.

Award-Winning

Caerfai Beach joins a long list of award-winning Pembrokeshire beaches. It is a recipient of both the Seaside Award and the Green Coast Award plus it is on the list of recommended beaches collected by the Marine Conservation Society. 

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