Little Haven Beach

One of the smaller beaches along the western coast of Pembrokeshire, Little Haven Beach is a pretty little cove made up of a mixture of sand and pebble. Upon first glance, this quant shoreline might be mistaken for being a sleepy seaside location during the winter but don’t underrate just how much this village rumbles to life during the summer. Holidaymakers and locals combined create a lively bustle throughout this old fishing village on sunny days.

Nestled between two high cliffsides overlooking St Brides Bay, the beach at Little Haven is a short drive from holiday hotspots Marloes, Dale and Newgale. Just around the corner from Broad Haven and ten minutes or so from Haverfordwest, amenities are nearby too.

For unforgettable sea views, take a short walk up to The Point where you can soak in the sights of this incredibly beautiful coastline.

Activities

Increased tidal protection developed in recent years means that nowadays, high tides now envelope the entire stretch of sand here so make sure to check the tide times before your visit if sand is a must for you. That being said, the sand at Little Haven Beach is not the most suitable for sandcastle building. A permanent stream runs through the sand resulting in rather damp, wet sand here most of the time. Try building a sandcastle in this and you’re likely to struggle with foundations too weak for your fort.

Instead, you could always challenge your pal to see who can dig the deepest hole or try an egg and spoon race but with a bucket of water – first to spill their water loses! When the tide is low, there is plenty of sand for activities like kite flying and beach ball competitions too.

If sandcastle building is your favourite beach pastime though, wait until the tide is halfway out and follow the cliff around to the right where you will discover Settlands Beach – a beautiful sandy beach much more suitable for castle structures. Continue along at low tide to Broad Haven Beach, just be aware that the tide will cut you off from returning to Little Haven at both of these beaches when the tide makes its way back in.

Just around the headland to the left lies another rocky inlet to explore. Known to locals as The Sheep Wash where, as you might have guessed, was a haunt once used to wash sheep, this bay is popular with swimmers and those looking to escape for a peaceful picnic.

Bodyboarders, kayakers and boaters frequent this bay too, but the real attraction here is the caves and the rockpools. With an abundance of water-filled puddles and rocky build-ups, it’s safe to say that Little Haven Beach is a paradise for keen rockpoolers. Discover pretty starfish, weird and wonderful sea anemones, periwinkles and crabs.

This area of the coast is also known for being a good location for fishing, with regular anglers catching mostly mackerel off the shore. You might also spot a diver heading out to see for an underwater adventure in St Brides Bay.

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Recent years have seen the community host a New Year’s Day Swim, raising funds for independent local charities like Belle’s Story and Get The Boys A Lift.

Facilities

Within the village, once inhabited by a community of fishermen, facilities are conveniently located all within a short walk. The village has three great pubs; The Castle Inn is the most prominent set directly behind the beach and is a fantastic dog friendly inn offering quality food. The Swan Inn is positioned on the hillside towards The Point and is recommended for its cosy atmosphere and scrumptious menus. Last but not least is the St Brides Inn on the road towards Talbenny, grab a drink inside if you need to cool off or take a seat in the beer garden to bask in the sun whilst at the pub.

Also in Little Haven is Lobster and Mor, a unique café-come-shop offering quirky crafts and quality meals. Seafood lovers will not be able to walk past this establishment, as you can also purchase lobster and crab straight from their live aquarium or opt for a freshly cooked version. The same family-run team also operate the Sand and Stone Kitchen in Broad Haven.

Aptly named The Cornerhouse Café, this eatery is set on the corner of the path up to The Point and is a delightful café offering breakfast and lunch along with homemade cakes. They’re passionate about reducing plastic waste in our coastal communities so expect to find your takeaway orders in compostable packaging.

Parking is available within the village, a Pay and Display car park is situated near the St Brides Inn but it is relatively small when you consider the crowds which congregate here to visit the beach and the eateries. Through the car park opposite the entrance to the car park, you will find a walkway leading you to public toilets and the community’s RNLI lifeboat station housing the rescue boat for the area.

Local Top Tips

Due to the limited parking in the village, you might want to avoid parking here if you can. If you’re staying anywhere along the coastline between Fishguard, St Davids and Broad Haven, you could get the North Pembrokeshire Fflecsi Bus or choose to park in the larger car parks in Broad Haven, then walk across for your visit to Little Haven.

Access

Access to the village itself is via steep roads from all directions but once you’ve arrived in the valley, everywhere is relatively easy to reach. The road from the car park to the beach is flat, and the path up to the point is smoothly paved making it accessible for those with wheelchairs and prams.

A wide slipway takes you from the road to the beach allowing a simple transition for walkers and boaters.

Is Little Haven Beach dog friendly?

Little Haven beach remains dog friendly all year round so feel free to bring along your pooch for a daily paddle during your visit to Pembrokeshire. You will also find many of the eateries here are accommodating of dogs and their well-behaved owners; The Cornerhouse Café and The Castle Inn have both been known to offer dog friendly ice cream too.

Award-Winning

In previous years, Little Haven Beach has been presented with Seaside Awards and Green Coast Awards. Surfers Against Sewage have awarded a Plastic Free Community status to the collective community at Little Haven and Broad Haven, keep an eye out for plaques and awards in many of the shop and café windows here. This beach has also received a No Smoking Zone status so please refrain from smoking here.

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