Saundersfoot Beach

On the south coast of Pembrokeshire, you will find the wonderful seaside village of Saundersfoot complete with a wide beach of beautiful golden sands. Set on the coastline between the popular beachside resort of Tenby and the popular shoreline village of Amroth, Saundersfoot is a favourite for family holidays, weekend breaks with friends and days spent playing water sports of all kinds.

Looking out over Carmarthen Bay, Saundersfoot Beach lies alongside a harbour full of marine boats but was once used as a launchpad for much larger ships collecting coal from the local collieries to be transported to other parts of the country. Hints to these days gone by can be seen with the formidable stone harbour walls, a somewhat excessive measure considering the smaller seafaring vessels which more here now.

In recent years, plans have been put in place to redevelop the harbour and thus the brand-new Wales International Coastal Centre has been established overlooking the seafront. Various attractions have already opened such as the Crabbing Centre, with further attractions such as the Coal Office Heritage Centre due to open shortly. 

Activities

The list of activities you can take part in at Saundersfoot Beach is endless. Unlike some beaches in Pembrokeshire, Saundersfoot Beach has sand available all day long – the incoming tide does not cut off the sand, allowing you to enjoy sand-based activities for hours on end. Sculpt the golden sands into castles, and palaces or bury your pals under sand mermaids. Set up a make-shift rugby pitch for a game of touch rugby by the shore.

Throughout the school holidays, the shoreline fills up with bathers taking a cooling dip whilst rubber rings and fluorescent-shaped lilos splashing and playing in the water. Sun-worshippers will adore this entire harbourside area, as there are plenty of places to take a seat for a spot of sunbathing. Settle down on a towel on the sand, perch on a bench overlooking the sea or enjoy the green space of the garden behind the bay by The Strand.

Being harbourside, you’ll also see a lot of boating activity take place at Saundersfoot Beach. Expect sailboats and powerboats in the water here, making their way out across the shore to explore Carmarthen Bay and the surrounding south Pembrokeshire coastline.

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Also in the water, you’ll find surfers and kitesurfers when the waves are suitable and the wind is in the right direction. On days when the sea seems almost like a tranquil millpond, you can relax watching kayakers, canoeists and stand-up paddleboarders hypnotically using their oars to steer them through the calm waters.

Enthusiastic anglers can enjoy a spot of fishing from both the harbour and the beach, or you can jump aboard your boat/kayak to take you further offshore. Known fish caught here include flounders, bass and dogfish which are regularly caught across the Pembrokeshire coast, as well as whiting and dabs.

Saundersfoot Beach is also a great starting point for land-based activities like walking, running and cycling. Many choose to follow a course through the Dramway, the old railway tunnels once used to connect the Stepaside Ironworks with Saundersfoot’s coal mines. Follow the sand to the north end of the beach (or walk roadside down The Strand) where you will find the first of three tunnels. Follow these tunnels along the coastline for scenic views and an adventure through Coppet Hall, Wiseman’s Bridge and Stepaside.

Events

Saundersfoot Beach is no stranger to community events either. One of Pembrokeshire’s most famous winter events takes place here annually on the first day of year; the New Years Swim is an open water sea swim welcoming participants to raise money for charity. Later in the year, usually the same weekend as Ironman takes place in Tenby, the Saundersfoot Sprint Triathlon takes place. Beginning with a swim in the water at this beach, athletes then take on a cycle around the local area then a run along the coastline.

This coastal village combines Halloween and Bonfire Night to bring you the Big Bang Weekend, three days of spooky happenings and firework displays over the water whilst early December sees the harbour host a Christmas festival. Although no sea swimming is involved here, there are plenty of festive celebrations to join in with including carol singing and shopping.

Facilities

Saundersfoot Beach lies at the heart of this coastal village so facilities and amenities are all conveniently positioned within a short walk of the sandy shore here. Options for where to eat are in abundance in Saundersfoot; dine at The Boathouse or The Mulberry for scrumptious meals, reserve a table at The Kookaba to sample authentic Australian cuisine or call into Argosy for seaside fish and chips.

Pick up a sarnie from Philly’s Baguette Shop for a fresh beachside picnic, enjoy a Tenby-brewed beer at HARBWR Bar or tuck into pub grab at The Royal Oak, and before you head home, make sure to pop into Sue’s Pantry for a delicious cake to ease those holiday blues. You’ll also find ice cream parlours and an ice cream van here, ideal for when an ice cream is the only option to help you cool down.

The streets nearby to the shore are scattered with gift shops, beach shops and grocery stores. There’s a small Tesco Extra as well as a local butcher Heywoods of Saundersfoot, and a 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 away down the high street - both are Pay and Display. The harbourside car park is manned during the daytime with public toilets available, and you can even hire an all-terrain beach wheelchair from the staff here. The car park down the high street is where you will 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 stands an amusement arcade and nightclub.

Between late June and early September, you will find Saundersfoot Beach is patrolled by RNLI lifeguards ensuring a safe time at the beach for all.

Local Top Tips

If you’re staying in any of the locations situated along the Dramway Trail, you might prefer to leave your car parked up and walk to Saundersfoot Beach to avoid wasting time and money parking in the car parks here.

If you are planning on travelling via public transport to reduce your carbon footprint, bear in mind that Saundersfoot Train Station is around a thirty-minute walk from the beach and is not located within the centre of the village as you might expect.

Access

At both ends of Saundersfoot Beach, there are slipways from the village onto the sand, one at the north end by the start of the Dramway tunnels and another at the south by the harbour. The Dramway path is flat allowing easy access for all including bicycles, prams and wheelchairs to Saundersfoot.

Is Saundersfoot Beach Dog Friendly?

Much of Saundersfoot is placed under a dog ban during the summer months between the 1st of May and the 30th of September. If you are planning a visit to Saundersfoot with your furry best friend, take a walk along the road on The Strand and approach the beach from the northern end opposite the Dramway tunnel, as this end of the beach remains dog friendly all year round.

Award-Winning

Saundersfoot Beach is a regular receiver of the Blue Flag Award, and is also on the list of Marine Conservation Society (MCS) Recommended Beaches. Both awards illustrate an excellent water quality, whilst the Blue Flag Award also indicates that this shoreline is well-kept and clean with great facilities handy.

In early 2024, Saundersfoot Beach was voted the third Best Sustainable Beach in the Trip Advisor Travelers' Choice Awards. Pitted against over 4000 Blue Flag Beaches from across the world, Saundersfoot proved to be high on the list for terrific environmental management, environmental education, water quality and safety. 

Stay in Saundersfoot

To make the most of this incredible beach, and the neighbouring bays of Glen Beach and Coppet Hall Beach; check out our fantastic range of holiday cottages in Saundersfoot. This lively village is guaranteed to provide an ideal base for coastal holidays, no matter what time of year you visit.

Saundersfoot Self-Catering Cottages