The Blue Lagoon in Abereiddi, Pembrokeshire, is the best coastal spot in Wales, according to a travel editor who has visited every year since childhood.
Milo Boyd, Digital Travel Editor and Commercial Content Lead, described the former slate quarry as an exceptional beach, recalling the ritual of jumping from the highest platform into the greeny-blue waters below. He wrote: "Unless you can stomach the indignity of walking past the bigger-boys preparing to launch themselves fearlessly from the makeshift slate diving board, there's no going back in such situations. So I jumped, whistling down before cracking the seawater open with my feet."
A flooded quarry with a turquoise hue
The quarry was active until 1910 and then deliberately flooded, with a channel blasted through the wall to allow seawater to rush in. Leftover copper oxide turned the water a deep turquoise colour, contrasting with the deep blue of the sea beyond. The sheer walls are coupled with a well-formed set of platform steps, creating an unobstructed drop into deep, object-free water, with plenty of viewing platforms for those who prefer to watch the daredevils.
The spot is one of Wales' best for coasteering, with several local companies on hand to provide hard hats and life jackets before helping visitors scramble across the cliffs and rocks. Beyond the lagoon, the area is scattered with slate-mining ruins, quarry buildings on the clifftop, the remains of workmen's cottages, a foreman's house, and a powder store.
Quiet beach and nearby attractions
Many visitors do not make it beyond the lagoon to the beach, which means it is often uncrowded and quiet. It is dog-friendly and holds a Green Coast Award. It is also an excellent picnic spot before heading down the Pembrokeshire Coast Path toward the fishing village of Porthgain, a route named one of The Guardian's Top 10 UK walks for its dramatic clifftop scenery.
Going south from the lagoon takes visitors past Whitesands Bay and St David's Head to St David's, the smallest city in Britain, home to the magnificent cathedral that has stood since the 12th century. While it lacks typical city facilities, the purple sandstone building has made it one of Wales' most iconic religious sites.
Boyd argued that the coastal area is the best in Wales, beating the likes of New Quay, Saundersfoot, and Tenby.
