Three 'unspoilt' Pembrokeshire beaches named among the best in the UK
From Durdle Door in Dorset all the way up to St Cyrus in Aberdeenshire the experts at Conde Nast Traveler have come up with a list of the 56 best beaches in the UK, that are must-visit in 2025.
Introducing the list, Conde Nast Traveler said: "The best beaches in the UK may not be recognized as the best beaches in the world, but take some time to explore the coastline on those increasingly common sunny UK days and you might be pleasantly surprised."
From secret coves in Cornwall to sensational stretches of sand in Scotland. https://t.co/NJ8gPyY2WU
— Condé Nast Traveler (@CNTraveler) January 29, 2025
The Welsh beaches among the best in the UK, according to Conde Nast Traveler, are:
Mwnt Beach (Cardigan)
Three Cliffs Bay (Gower Peninsula)
Aberfforest Beach (Newport)
Llanddwyn Beach (Anglesey)
Barafundle Bay (Pembrokeshire)
Rhossili Bay (Gower Peninsula)
Harlech Beach (Harlech)
Penbryn Beach (Ceredigion)
Whitesands Beach (Pembrokeshire)
You can see the full list of the UK best beaches via the Conde Nast Traveler website.
The "completely unspoilt" Aberfforest Beach is a "horseshoe-shaped little bay" located halfway between Dinas Cross and Newport.
This Pembrokeshire beach is fantastic for those who love their wildlife, providing the likely chance of spotting sunbathing seals or a passing pod of dolphins, Conde Nast Traveller explains.
The travel experts continue: "The sand and smooth slate-shingle are met by cool clear still waters and steep cliffs on either side.
"Access is via the footpaths that hug the very edge of the coastline.
"The famous Dinas Island walk, a circular loop which climbs and falls dramatically along the rocky edge with astonishing views, brings you round to the Old Sailors pub on Fishguard Bay for a well-deserved pint of Felinfoel and a doorstep-thick crab sandwich."
Aberfforest Beach was described by Conde Nast Traveler as "completely unspoilt". (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
"The southwest corner of Wales has the most wonderful stretch of coast and sandy beaches," Conde Nast Traveler said.
One of these beaches is the "beautiful" Barafundle Bay.
But like Aberfforest Beach, Barafundle Bay remains relatively quiet even in the height of summer due to the "invigorating" half-hour walk across the clifftops you have to tackle to get there.
Conde Nast Traveler adds: "Out of season you can often have the beach to yourself, save a few surfers who brave the brisk Irish Sea all year round—although in summer the water is a very un-Irish Sea shade of blue, which has drawn comparisons with the Caribbean Sea."
There is a half an hour walk to get to Barafundle Bay. (Image: Getty Images) If you're hoping to enjoy some food/drink while at the Pembrokeshire beach, Conde Nast Traveler recommends taking a picnic as there is nowhere to purchase any once there (and no restrooms either).
Recommending another beach close by, the travel experts said: "The nearby beach of Marloes Sands, where Snow White and the Huntsman was filmed in 2011, is similarly remote, and also highly recommended."
Whitesands Beach is labelled as "one of the most popular surf spots in the country come summer", according to Conde Nast Traveler.
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It adds: "The west-facing Whitesands Beach in Pembrokeshire sees its waters brimming with bodyboarders, canoeists, and surfers at the northern end, all competing for the best waves.
"The south end is quieter, but visitors seeking more solace might prefer to take a 15-minute walk northwest to Porthmelgan, which overlooks Ramsay Island, the home of the UK's largest gray seal population.
"Porthmelgan's waters are more dangerous for swimming in, but the beach serves as respite from the clamor of the crowds at Whitesands."
Whitesands Beach is also less than a 10 minute drive from St Davids, the smallest city in Britain.
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