Pembrokeshire surf forecast

Surfing in Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire's surf beaches sit within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and split into two groups about an hour's drive apart. In the north, Newgale and Whitesands Bay near St Davids face west into St Brides Bay and the open Atlantic. Whitesands is partly in the swell shadow of Ramsey Island, so it is often smaller and friendlier than the more exposed beaches and can be a good place for beginners, though rips need watching. Newgale is a long, open beach that picks up plenty of swell; it is a common place to learn when small, but it can close out in big westerly swells and become a hard paddle.

In the south, Freshwater West faces south-west and is often described as the most reliable surf spot in Wales, picking up Atlantic swell year round and producing fast, hollow waves over shifting banks. Rocks and strong rips make it a beach for intermediate and experienced surfers, and it has hosted Welsh national contests. Manorbier faces south, needs swell to wrap in from the west, and offers a beach break at lower tides and a reef at higher tides, with rips close to the cliffs and in the stream channels.

The practical rule is that the south-facing beaches are the better choice in strong north-westerly winds, while the west-facing beaches pick up more swell. Winter and spring are the most consistent seasons; summer is smaller and better suited to learners. The beaches are spread along narrow coastal roads, so allow time to move between the north and south groups.