Watwick Bay, a quiet sandy beach on Pembrokeshire's southwest coast, offers golden sand, clear blue-green water, and a level of privacy hard to find at more famous spots like Saundersfoot or Tenby.
A Hidden Gem on the Coast Path
Even if you think you've seen every part of the Pembrokeshire coast path, there's probably one outstanding beach you might not have discovered yet. Watwick Bay is found on the Dale peninsula at the entrance to the Milford Haven Waterway, about two miles along the coastal path from Dale village.
This quiet, sandy beach has some of the softest and most golden sand in Wales. The clear water looks almost tropical with its vivid blue-green colour. At the eastern end, rock pools and small caves are revealed as the tide recedes, perfect for kids to explore. The beach is dog-friendly year-round.
Wild and Unspoiled
There are no facilities here, including toilets, beach cafes, or lifeguards, so visitors must bring everything they need. It's very much a wild seashore, free from seaside resort tat shops, whirring arcades, and fish and chip shops.
Watwick Bay faces east at the entrance to the Milford Haven Waterway, making it a sunny and sheltered spot in summer. Since it can only be reached by walking the Pembrokeshire Coast Path or by boat, it remains one of the quietest places around. Yachts often anchor just offshore, with owners stopping by to enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
Historic Dale Fort
On the way to the beach, walkers pass Dale Fort, a historic building perched on a cliff overlooking the sea. Once a military installation, it was part of a network of forts built to protect Britain's coast during the 19th century. Built between 1854 and 1857, a battery of six heavy guns once commanded the entrance to the harbour.
Today, the fort welcomes guests as an educational centre and hostel, offering shared dormitories and private rooms with access to the building's facilities and grounds. The fort offers unparalleled views of the sea and the surrounding coastline, and watching the sunrise from this historic vantage point is extraordinary.
Scenic Views and Nearby Attractions
From Watwick Bay, one direction offers distant industrial skyline set against the bright blue and green of the estuary, while the other shows the Angle peninsula reaching toward the open sea. Between these views is Thorne Island's Victorian fortress, another of Palmerston's Follies, which tech entrepreneur Mike Conner has turned into one of Wales' most unique homes.
Visitors should check tide times before going down to the beach, as high tide covers most of the sand. A full walk around St Anne's Head is about six miles, passing Mill Bay, where King Henry VII landed in 1485 before the Battle of Bosworth, and the lighthouse at St Ann's Head. The jagged rocks here are also where the Sea Empress tragically spilt 72,000 tonnes of oil into the sea.
In clear weather, epic views of Skokholm Island and the more northern Skomer can be seen, both full of puffins, gannets, guillemots, and kittiwakes. The walk continues past Frenchman's Bay and Welshman's Bay before heading north to Westdale Bay.
Dale Village and Its Beach
From Westdale Bay, walkers head back to the seaside village of Dale, which is definitely worth a visit. Dale Beach, a pebble and shingle beach, stretches along the sheltered Dale Bay, making it a popular spot for locals and visitors drawn to its calm waters and scenic surroundings. Its microclimate makes it a surprisingly sunny spot in Wales.
Dale Beach is particularly appealing to watersports enthusiasts. The bay's natural protection means the waters remain relatively calm even on breezy days, making it excellent for paddleboarding, sailing, and swimming. The beach has public toilets, including accessible options, a slipway, and a pontoon for launching SUP boards. A well-established watersports centre offers equipment rental and lessons.
For food, the family-run Boathouse cafe, located right on the beach, serves Welsh breakfasts and fresh local crab sandwiches. By night, the traditional and award-winning 300-year-old Griffin Pub is a favourite with locals and visitors. Perched on the seafront, it offers a selection of Welsh ales and a seafood-heavy menu, with much of the seafood locally caught by the Griffin's local fisherman, Mark. The menu includes mackerel, turbot, razor clams, scallops, crab, lobster, and other home-cooked dishes.
