Dunes at Whitesands

With such a fab setting in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, it’s likely you’ll be looking for coves and coastal scenery that have a ‘wow’ factor. Handily, there’s no need to look too far. Blue Lagoon (15 minutes’ drive) is a wild swimming destination that has been formed in a former slate quarry: the turquoise water is often the end destination for coasteering activities, but it’s easy to hike there too. As for beaches, up for your consideration are sandy stretches that are only accessible from the the Pembrokeshire Coast Path such as Traeth Llyfn (20 minutes), which has rockpools upon rockpools, and wild-and-rugged Porthmelgan Beach (half an hour’s walk). Elsewhere, Caerfai Beach (10 minutes' drive) is a rocky little place for light paddles and golden-sand Porthmynawyd beach (15 minutes) can be accessed via a valley hike. Newgale beach (20 minutes) is a busier sort of place – and famed for its big surf too – but if you’re looking for other ways to spend time by the sea, Fishguard (25 minutes) has opportunities for crabbing, paddleboarding, kayak tours and hikes to a clifftop fort.