Poppit Sands

Poppit Sands is located on the most northerly point of Pembrokeshire, just 2 miles from St Dogmaels which marks the start of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Facing north, you’ll find the sandy bay at Poppit Sands at the mouth of the River Teifi, just across the river from Gwbert and downstream from the historical county town of Ceredigion, Cardigan.

Poppit Sands is roughly half a mile in length with plenty of sands, even at high tide when many of Pembrokeshire’s beaches become completely enveloped in water. A pretty shoreline, this beach is backed by sand dunes and is part of the Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation.

Altogether, this makes it a great choice for beachgoers, wildlife watchers and watersports enthusiasts. It is also a recognised Dark Sky Discovery Site, indicating it is recommended for stargazing.

Activities

Traditional beach activities are great ways to pass the time at Poppit Sands. The soft white sands are perfect for sandcastle building and hole digging; toddlers will have a superb time letting their imagination run wild here. Head towards the western end of the bay, and you’ll discover a world of rock pools brimming with starfish, crabs, shrimp and sea anemones – a wonderful place to introduce the little ones to nature.

Those eager to dive into the saltwater will enjoy bathing here although do make sure only to swim in the safe zone marked out. Being the mouth of the river, the water at Poppit Sands has strong and forceful currents in places so swimming outside of the safe zone is dangerous.

Adrenaline junkies will likely want to take advantage of the conditions here for wilder, more adventurous watersports. It’s a popular location for surfing, with regular good swells and great waves, suitable enough for seasoned surfers as well as beginners. You may also find kayakers or canoeists launching here, off on their travels exploring this northern stretch of the Pembrokeshire coastline.

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Power kiting is a sport which is becoming more and more popular nowadays, and the winds at Poppit Sands often make a top choice for kite flying. Expect to find kiteboarders riding across the sands, kitesurfers navigating the waves and kite buggies driving along the shoreline. If you haven’t quite mastered the art of power kiting, bring along a standard kite and have a go anyway! You’re sure to have hours of fun either way.

On days when the conditions are just right, you can also expect to see a skyline dotted with paragliders. Another exhilarating sport, paragliders are starting to appear on these shores and certainly make a stunning sight to see.

Anglers won’t want to forget their fishing rod when visiting Poppit Sands, as the yield here is not to be grumbled at. Cast off on these peaceful shores and you may catch cod, whiting, flounder or mullet to name a few. Sea trout may also be seen here but you do need to obtain a rod license for fishing trout before you do so.

Set within the Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation, it’s no wonder that the wildlife here is in abundance. Expect to find the waters sprinkled with Atlantic grey seals, porpoise and dolphins – Cardigan Bay is known to be one of the best places in the area for dolphin spotting. The extensive grassy dunes at the rear of Poppit Sands is a designated SSSI Area as it teems with all number of fascinating wildlife species and rare plants, such as the bee orchid.

On odd occasions, you might even find yourself part of an audience watching the lifeboat launch. The local lifeboat station lies just behind the beach and so when a distress call comes in, you might be privy to the launch of the lifeboat, an impressive sight for sure.

Facilities

A large car park can be located just a stone’s throw from the beach at Poppit Sands, suitable for some 100 cars or so. During the winter, it is free of charge but come the summer months, it is chargeable with an attendant taking payments.

Within this car park, you will find a public toilet block and the Poppit Sands Café and Beach Shop. Open weekends during the winter and then daily between April and October, this cafe has everything you could possibly need for a successful day at the beach. Pop in to purchase new buckets and spades before heading onto the sand, or call in halfway through the day when you’ve decided you need crab lines and snorkels to keep the children occupied. You can even hire an adapted beach wheelchair here during the summer season. With maps, books, postcards and more, this shop is definitely worth a browse whilst you’re in the area.

You can also call in here for cold drinks and ice creams if you need cooling off, or hot coffees and teas if you need warming up! Grab a table inside or out for a delicious homemade lunch, or ask for a takeaway you can enjoy looking over the beach.

Between the car park and the beach at Poppit Sands, you will find the Cardigan Bay RNLI Lifeboat Station. Only opened for special visitor days, you cannot call in to admire the lifeboat when it’s not in use but if you’re lucky you might get to see it launch some time.

Travel further inland for more amenities. St Dogmaels is just two miles away and is home to a convenience store, post office, Bowen’s Fish and Chip Shop. You will also find two pubs here, The Ferry Inn and The White Hart, along with St Dogmaels Abbey – a 12th Century ruined abbey which is now home to a museum and visitor centre.

Just a ten-minute drive from Poppit Sands is the town of Cardigan where you will find supermarkets, retail shops, independent pubs, restaurants and cafes. Pay a visit to Cardigan Castle and learn all about its tumultuous history or book a boat trip with A Bay to Remember for a wildlife cruise around the nearby Cardigan Island.

Cardigan is a picturesque town nearby

Access

From the Poppit Sands car park, there is a walkway past the café towards the RNLI Lifeboat Station. Take the level boardwalk to the left of the building and you’ll reach the beach. As the beach is backed by sand dunes, you can expect grassy areas and a slight sandy slope onto the shoreline.

Is Poppit Sands Dog Friendly?

The beach at Poppit Sands puts in place a partial dog ban during the summer months. Between 1st May and 30th September, dogs are forbidden on the western stretch of this beach so you need to head towards the river in the east if you are visiting with your furry best friend.

Award-Winning

Poppit Sands is a recipient of the Blue Flag Award recognising it’s excellent water quality and fantastic facilities. It is also on the list of recommended beaches to visit compiled by the Marine Conservation Society.

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