5 Best Carmarthenshire Beaches
It’s got the Gower Peninsula on one side and Pembrokeshire on the other, so it should come as no surprise to hear that Carmarthenshire has a very scenic stretch of coastline too. But while its rather more famous neighbours soak up much of the attention, Carmarthenshire still flies a bit under the radar as far as visitors go.
That’s good news for those who do make it to this part of the world, of course – because while Carmarthenshire’s coast has lots of lovely beaches, it generally lacks the crowds that can sometimes be found elsewhere around south and west Wales. To help you find these lesser-known gems we’ve put together this list of Carmarthenshire’s best beaches.
If you’re travelling with dogs, it may be handy to know that they’re welcome on most Carmarthenshire beaches – although some beaches restrict them to a certain part of the beach during high season (usually the start of May through to the end of September). For full details, have a look at Discover Carmarthenshire’s web page listing dog-friendly beaches in the county.
Such a fabulous stretch of coastline surely deserves thorough exploration, and if you’d like to do that Pitchup has lots of excellent places to stay – including dog-friendly, family-friendly and adults-only options for camping and glamping. Check out the full list by clicking the link below.
Explore all Carmarthenshire campsites
Cefn Sidan beach
Proudly boasting the title of the longest beach in Wales, the gorgeous Cefn Sidan beach (pronounced Kev-n Shee-dn) has a spectacular eight miles of soft sand backed by sand dunes and a pine forest.
That means lots and lots of space to play with – for days of picnics and sandcastles, watersports like paddleboarding and bodyboarding, or getting into the sea for swims and paddles. If you’re planning either of the latter it’s worth checking the tide times – low tide is really quite low here, so it can be a long walk out to the shallows if you time it wrong.
It’s quite possible to spend a whole day out on the beach here (toilets, a café and handy car parking are all available), but if you need a bit more variety for a full family day you can just stroll inland to Pembrey Country Park, just behind the beach. Around its 500 acres are walking and bike trails, a mini golf course, an adventure playground, horse riding, toboggans, a dry ski slope, and plenty of places to fuel up with cakes and ice creams.
Pendine Sands
From the longest beach to the fastest – there are a lot of superlatives in Carmarthenshire. At seven miles long, Pendine Sands is only a little shorter than Cefn Sidan, but it has its own claim to fame anyway. The firm, straight sands here make the ideal surface for fast driving – and Pendine Sands has been the venue for all sorts of land speed records, from that set by Malcolm Campbell in 1924 through to Idris Elba’s ‘flying mile’ record in 2015.
You can still drive a car onto some parts of the beach now (not quite at those speeds, of course…), or learn more about the records at the Museum of Land Speed by the beach. There’s also horse riding, kayak and paddleboard hire, a couple of cafés and plenty of space for sandcastle building and kite flying.
Llansteffan beach
A trip to Llansteffan beach is what you make it – it can be either a nice easy day out with the kids, or it can be the base for a good coastal walk. For a family day, simply park up at one of the free beachfront car parks and stroll out onto the beach for some time playing in the sand or poking around in the rock pools. Toilets and an ice cream shop are on hand.
If you fancy a more active time, climb the hill behind the beach to explore the medieval remnants of Llansteffan Castle and then make your way through the surrounding woods to get down to Scott’s Bay for a quieter but equally lovely beach. Both of Llansteffan’s beaches are good for swimming – they’re at the mouth of the river Tywi so they’re more sheltered than those out on Carmarthen Bay.
Burry Port beach
Soft sand, sweeping dunes and a busy little marina… it’s hard to believe that the coast around Burry Port was industrial wasteland until the early part of the 21st century. A huge regeneration project has now created a nature reserve and a lovely sandy beach, with two areas (either side of the lighthouse and harbour) to choose from.
Burry Port is a quiet place rather than a busy resort, and it’s all the better for it if you’re after a low-key family day out. You won’t find amusement arcades and candyfloss stalls here, but there’s a good fish and chip shop and a cafés for cakes and ice cream – and you can pick up a bucket and spade or a football in the shops easily enough too. There are a couple of good-sized car parks by the coast, and Burry Port also has a railway station so it’s a good pick for a day out on public transport.
Marros Sands
If you’re looking for a proper escape from hordes of people, Marros Sands is the place for that – this is another of Carmarthenshire’s great stretches of sandy beach, but as it’s accessed via a steep path and a walk of a mile or so, it’s one for the adventurer rather than a family-friendly day out.
Those that do make it here will be rewarded with some excellent exploring opportunities: there are caves to make your way into, and at low tide the waves reveal the stumps of a petrified forest and the timbers of an old shipwreck. (And that’s not the only reason to come along at low tide – much of the beach is covered in water at high tide…)
For more seaside scenery, set out on the coast path for a walk that takes in Telpyn beach and/or Pendine as well as Marros.
Beyond the beach
For more days out around this area, take a look at our suggestions for things to do in Carmarthenshire, or get your boots on for the best Carmarthenshire walks. There are also lots of great things to do in the nearby Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, including walks, watersports and heritage days out.
For those visiting the area, Pitchup has a great range of places to go camping or glamping in Carmarthenshire, from simple grass pitches to stylish glamping tents. Have a look through the full range to find something that suits you.