A golden, sun-drenched coastal spot in Pembrokeshire has secured the title of Wales’ finest beach for the year.
Broad Haven South claimed the honour in the Times and Sunday Times’ guide to the nation’s 50 finest coastal stretches, winning praise for its powdery sands, transparent seas and appealing tidal pools.
Broad Haven South comprises an expansive sandy inlet bordered by dune systems that extend from The National Trust’s Bosherston Lakes. The shore offers abundant fine sand when the tide retreats, guaranteeing sufficient area for all visitors.
The Pembrokeshire shore received the Welsh coastal accolade in this year’s iteration of the Times and Sunday Times yearly guide, now in its 18th edition following an extensive assessment covering 4,307 miles over five weeks and examining 607 previously longlisted locations.
Each location underwent personal inspection and evaluation against a 12-point assessment covering tidiness, access, amenities, lifeguard provision, canine accessibility and water standards.
The 2024 edition added ‘community involvement’ as a fresh category, acknowledging how local enthusiasm and participation transform coastal areas into attractive destinations throughout the year.
This year also saw beaches from the Outer Hebrides, Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly featured for the initial time.
Additional Welsh shores highlighted in the ranking include Newborough Beach on Anglesey, Traeth Porthor in Gwynedd, Llangrannog and Mwnt in Ceredigion, alongside Abereiddy and Marloes Sands in Pembrokeshire.
Chris Haslam, chief travel correspondent for The Times and The Sunday Times, described Broad Haven South as an exemplary representation of a Pembrokeshire shore.
He noted that the sand is so fine that stepping off the path results in sinking ankle-deep. He mentioned crystal-clear waters and tidal pools that function as natural warm baths when conditions align, as well as a stream flowing across the distant end, characteristic of the finest shores.
He added that an ice cream vendor typically parks near the cliff top, while those walking the coastal path westward for approximately a mile will encounter the 6th-century St Govan’s Chapel tucked away in a diminutive cove.
Regarding the distinctive dark rock formation dominating the inlet, he explained that walking left until its silhouette resembles a pitched roof and its headwear a church spire reveals why it bears the name Church Rock rather than an alternative designation.
Chris Haslam stated he had recently concluded his 18th yearly circuit of Britain’s and Northern Ireland’s coastlines and expressed that the seaside appeared more picturesque than ever before.
He recounted witnessing the lunar rise above Horgabost on the Hebridean island of Harris, where the wave crests illuminated like neon while the pale sand shimmered.
He described trudging through wildflowers along the Pembrokeshire coastal footpath while seeking inlets that rival Tasmanian scenery, and observing the sunset accompanied by surfers through a saline mist over Widemouth in Cornwall that surpassed anything witnessed in southern California.
He noted that with the third heatwave of what may be remembered as a summer comparable to 1976 approaching, squandering those bright days in airports, at automated border gates and fighting for deck chairs would be unfortunate.
He suggested reserving such activities for the following year and instead placing a beach towel on British shores this summer.