Saundersfoot Guide

Set on the south Pembrokeshire coastline is the wonderful harbour village of Saundersfoot between the popular seaside town of Tenby and the quiet shoreline village of Amroth. Being a popular holiday destination it has all the ingredients needed for a fun-filled holiday in Wales.

Home to a stunning Blue Flag beach, Saundersfoot has become a popular tourist destination for families making them re-visit year after year. The wide sandy beach makes it an ideal place for sea swimming, canoeing, sailing and fishing making it a top choice during the summer holidays for a seaside retreat.

You might like this: Saundersfoot Holiday Cottages

Read

What is the History of Saundersfoot?

Saundersfoot began life as a few mediaeval cottages in an ancient forest clearing in Coedrath, meaning Wood Hill, which extended over much of the land between Tenby and Amroth. It became a hunting ground for the Norman Earls of Pembroke. Five hundred years later, Saundersfoot Harbour was built to transport coal from mines in the area. The village had grown into a thriving coal port with its abundance of anthracite coal and exported 30,000 tons annually from its harbour. 150 years on, the coal industry vanished and Saundersfoot evolved into the popular seaside resort we know and love today.

If walking the Wales Coast Path, you’ll pass through the only three tunnels on the whole trail which can be found north of the village near Coppet Hall along the coastline to Wisemans Bridge. These short tunnels were excavated for a railway which connected collieries, brickworks and ironworks at Stepaside, Kilgetty and Reynalton to Saundersfoot Harbour.

This railway reached Saundersfoot Harbour via Railway Street, which is now referred to as The Strand. Workers would often stop off at The Old Chemist Inn on Railway Street which was once a pharmacy and pub, in the same room! Now solely a pub, The Chemist is still going today and is very popular with locals.

Situated around half a mile inland from the sea at Saundersfoot, Bonville’s Court was the largest colliery in the Pembrokeshire coalfield. Having closed down in 1930, Bonville’s Court is now a family-run country park where we have six lovely holiday properties that you can book for your Saundersfoot stay. The owners have even converted the old powerhouse, a characterful relic of the coal mining history and the colliery that once operated on the site.

You might like this: Bonville’s Court Country Park in Saundersfoot

Read

What to do in Saundersfoot

There is plenty to do in Saundersfoot; you could spend hours on one of the nearby beaches, enjoy shopping at the range of independent local shops, or explore the surrounding countryside by foot.

Having first been built over 185 years ago, Saundersfoot Harbour has undergone major redevelopment and transformation in recent years with its new heritage centres. This includes the Marine Centre of Excellence which saw a once-disused and derelict building be transformed into a climate-focused centre. This project is still a work in progress but is currently home to the harbour office,  a watersports shop and Mamgu Welshcakes cafe.

There’s also the dramatic transformation of the decking over the old sluice which has been transformed into a National Events Deck. This outdoor space provides a unique event venue where there’s currently a crabbing centre and coastal schooner which houses Teatime, a bubble tea cafe. In the heart of Saundersfoot overlooking the beach and harbour is Ocean Square where there are lots of local independent shops including Ocean Beach Grill, Chock Shop and a Gelato shop just to name a few.

Play in the sand at one of the beaches of Saundersfoot for a fun-filled day out with the family. Through the summer months, bathers take over the shoreline whilst rubber rings and swimmers can be seen bobbing in the water at Saundersfoot Beach. Boasting flat golden sands, Saundersfoot Beach has easy access from the village which is directly behind. This Blue Flag beach has shallow waters meaning it’s ideal for swimming, if you don’t mind the cold water that is! It’s also good for rock pooling, crabbing, body boarding and lots of typical seaside fun. The beach is dog friendly but has restrictions between May 1st and September 30th. In 2024, this beautiful beach was named one of the Best Sustainable Beaches in the world by The Travelers' Choice Awards from Trip Advisor for it's excellent environmental management and clean water quality. 

Of course, a visit to the harbour is also a must. Dogs are welcome in this area but do have to be kept on leads. It’s a great location to wander around and admire the boats, or you can go crabbing off the pontoon.

View from the Coast Path overlooking Glen Beach

For a quieter alternative to the main beach, head to Glen Beach which can be found just south of Saundersfoot Beach on the opposite side of the harbour. The beach is backed by low cliffs and dense woodland where the Coastal Path passes through. This long expanse of sand is dog friendly all year round making it very popular. At very low tide, it’s even possible to walk to Monkstone Beach, one of Pembrokeshire's hidden gems. It’s best to check the tide times though, because Glen Beach gets entirely submerged at high tide.

In the opposite direction of Saundersfoot is Coppet Hall Beach, a small pretty bay with soft sand even at high tide making it ideal for beach games. Either side behind this beach runs the old coal tramway where you can follow through the tunnels to reach Saundersfoot in the west or walk to Wisemans Bridge in the east. There is a beach centre at Coppet Hall where paddleboards and canoes can be hired. You can even take part in a paddleboarding lesson if you’ve never tried it before. The beach is dog friendly but has restrictions on half of the beach during the summer months between May 1st and September 30th.

If you fancy seeing more of Pembrokeshire's stunning coastline then take to the Coastal Path. Enjoy a fantastic coastal 3.5-mile walk from Saundersfoot to the famous seaside town of Tenby. This scenic route takes you along rugged cliff-top paths, open countryside, and woodland trails giving stunning views of our Welsh coastline. Saundersfoot Harbour is the perfect base to explore the waters of the coastline, whether it is sight-seeing or fishing. Boat trips can be booked from the blue and white striped hut on the promenade, overlooking Saundersfoot Beach, and leave from the visitor pontoon in the harbour.

Keen cyclists will enjoy the Dramway Trail, a pleasant cycle route that starts and finishes near the old Ironworks at Stepaside. The relatively flat 4-mile trail follows the line of the disused railway to Saundersfoot Harbour.

Should there be rain during your holiday then painting pottery at Periwinkle Pottery or enjoying the Amusement Arcade are both surefire ways to keep everyone entertained. If either of these fails, then Folly Farm is only a short drive away with its incredible zoo home to over 750 animals and its outdoor and indoor play areas.

Where is the best food and drink in Saundersfoot?

Saundersfoot has a vast selection of places to eat out, ranging from fine dining with stunning coastal views to a seaside favourite of fish and chips on the beach. There are plenty of interesting places to choose from.

For your morning coffee or some breakfast, head to Butternut Pantry in the centre of the village. This cosy cafe has a welcoming interior and offers delicious food and drinks for breakfast and lunch. Just a few doors away you’ll find Periwinkle, a Mediterranean dog-friendly bistro and bar that serves home-baked food for breakfast and lunch as well as evening cocktails. On The Strand, you’ll spot Shoreline Cafe and The Tramway Cafe, both fantastic eateries serving delicious breakfast and lunches. The crepes at The Tramway Cafe are a firm favourite with visitors. For beautiful panoramic sea views from Monkstone Point to Pendine, head to Mamgu Welsh Cakes, a dog-friendly cafe by the harbour. Take your pick from the different flavours of Welsh cakes or take a seat to taste their full Welsh breakfast (it comes with a delicious cheese and leek Welsh cake).

If you fancy a small bite to eat then head to the heart of Saundersfoot Harbour where you’ll be enticed inside to the Pembrokeshire Pasty & Pie Co to try one of their award-winning sausage rolls. If you have more of a sweet tooth, there’s the Chock Shop just a few doors down serving coffee and mouth-watering chocolate brownies. There’s also Sue’s Pantry on The Strand which sells a delightful range of cakes, cupcakes and sandwiches to take away. You won’t be able to help going inside when you see all the treats on display in the window.

For a sit-down evening meal, there are plenty of options to choose from. The Boathouse and The Mulberry both serve dishes that will really get your taste buds going. Reserve a table at The Kookaba to sample authentic Australian cuisine or for fresh seafood dishes, head to The Stone Crab on the harbour. Be sure to book early though as calling on the day is often too late! For a real fine dining treat, there’s Coast restaurant which is just steps away from the sands of Coppet Hall. Picture exceptional sea views of Saundersfoot Bay along with a perfectly presented creative menu of dishes.

You can’t go to the seaside without having the seaside classic that is fish and chips. Luckily Saunderfoot has not one but two fish and chip shops. There’s the Argosy opposite the arcade plus Marina Fish and Chips which is right on the harbour. Enjoy your food sitting on one of the many benches lining the harbour as you look out at the fantastic views out to Amroth. Just be aware of the seagulls!

With full bellies, nothing sounds better than washing your food down with a well-deserved drink.  As mentioned, The Old Chemist Inn can be found on The Strand with its beer garden accessible from Saundersfoot Beach, where you’ll often find live music on summer evenings. Head to the heart of the village where you’ll be greeted by The Hean Castle Inn, Harbwr Bar & Kitchen and the Royal Oak all right next to each other. Perfect for a pub crawl! Finally, there’s The Captains Table by the harbour which is dog-friendly and conveniently sits right next to Marina Fish and Chips.

What's on in Saundersfoot?

Start the new year right with the Saundersfoot New Year’s Day Swim. Every year, crowds donning fancy dress outfits brave the cold waters for an open water swim in aid of charity. You’ll see crowds gather to watch or take part in the swim. The live music and fantastic community atmosphere make a great day out for all the family.

Mid-July sees a 3-day celebration in Saundersfoot, SaunderFest is a relatively new event with a celebration of live music and local food. For more live music from local bands and artists, there’s Music on the Deck which happens every Thursday (weather permitting) from July to Sep, 3-6 pm. This takes place on the decking in Saundersfoot Harbour bringing both holidaymakers and locals together. Tea, coffee, and soft drinks are available in the Saundersfoot Sailing Club on the harbour.

The TenFoot Charity Swim is a fantastic event that happens at the end of August. It’s essentially a 5.5km sea swim from Tenby to Coppet Hall in Saundersfoot, hence the name TenFoot.

Saundersfoot Triathlon 2023

There are some major sporting events that take place every year in Saundersfoot. September sees both the Saundersfoot Triathlon with its calm, safe and spectator-friendly 750m swim, picturesque 20km bike ride and fast and flat 5km run. This amazing event is closely followed by Ironman Wales, one of the most famous endurance events in the country. The whole three-part course has to be completed within 17 hours. The gruelling 112-mile bike course passes directly through Saundersfoot village, making it the perfect spot for spectators to show their support to the athletes as they whizz down Wogan Terrace before trying to tackle the climb up St Brides Hill.

Near the end of October, there’s the Big ‘Double’ Bang Weekend which sees two free fireworks displays, a funfair, live music, food and many more festivities all taking place at Saundersfoot Harbour. The event has a double bang to celebrate both Halloween and Guy Fawkes Night.

Local Top Tips

If visiting the village during the peak weeks of the summer holidays, it may be worth getting there early to avoid the disappointment of not being able to find a parking space. There are two car parks in the village and one at Coppet Hall but these fill up fast, especially if the sun is shining!

If you’re planning on travelling to Saundersfoot via public transport, bear in mind that Saundersfoot Train Station is around a 30-minute walk from the beach and is not located in the centre of the village as you might expect. 

There are regular bus routes from Carmarthen, Haverfordwest and Milford Haven that could be an alternative to getting the train. There’s also the Tenby Coaster, an open-top double-decker bus route which regularly travels between Saundersfoot and Tenby every day over the summer months. You can leave the car behind and hop on board for spectacular views of the wonderful Welsh coast without the worry of having to hunt down a parking space.

What facilities are there in Saundersfoot?

Facilities and amenities are all conveniently positioned within a short walk of the sandy shore. As mentioned, options for where to eat are in abundance in Saundersfoot.

The streets nearby to the main beach are scattered with gift shops, beach shops and food stores. There’s also a small Tesco Extra as well as a local butcher, The Copper Hog, and a Seafood Deli hut offering freshly caught seafood from the harbour.

There are two main car parks within the village. The first is located on the harbour whilst the second is less than a five-minute walk down the high street - both are Pay and Display. The harbourside car park has free public toilets available, and you can even hire an all-terrain beach wheelchair from the Wales International Coastal Centre as well. The car park down the high street is where you’ll find the Saundersfoot Library and Tourist Information Centre alongside the Regency Hall, which often hosts community events. Also in this car park is a public toilet block, charges apply, and just around the corner by the amusement arcade is a nightclub.

You might like this: A Spotlight on Saundersfoot

Read

Is it easy to access Saundersfoot?

Getting to Saundersfoot couldn’t be easier if travelling by car with it only being a 30-minute drive from Carmarthen. It’s one of the first coastal villages on the south Pembrokeshire coast and is only a 10-minute drive away from the bustling seaside resort of Tenby.

There are plenty of bus routes to surrounding towns including Tenby, Haverfordwest, Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven. Travelling by train is slightly more difficult with the Saundersfoot train station being a 30-minute walk from the village with no bus routes connecting from there. It may be easier to travel by train to Tenby and book a taxi or catch one of the regular buses to Saundersfoot.

Within the village itself, there is easy access to Saundersfoot Beach via the main concrete slipway next to the Harbour car park and Glen Beach has a zig-zag ramp at the end of the Harbour right next to the Marine Centre of Excellence. The old railway tunnels are all-level pathways perfect for walking/cycling over to Coppet Hall Beach which has a handy slope leading onto the sand.

Walkers will pass right through the village passing the railway tunnels and onto the cliffs above Glen Beach when journeying along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path which starts in the neighbouring village of Amroth.