Goodwick Sands

The beach at Goodwick stretches out in a generous arc of sand and shingle, backed by the sort of low cliffs you can actually scramble down without roping yourself in. It's the kind of place locals know well and tourists often miss, distracted by prettier postcards elsewhere in Pembrokeshire. The sand itself is firm and wide at low tide, and the bay curves round protectively from the worst of the Atlantic wind. You'll see why Fishguard - just next door - built itself around this spot.

Walkers get the most from Goodwick Sands. The coastal path threading above the beach delivers proper views without punishing gradients, and the beach itself is good for a couple of hours if you're the type to hunt for shells or let kids loose with a bucket. At low tide you can explore rock pools along the edges. It's not dramatic in the way some Pembrokeshire beaches are - no towering stacks or secret coves - but that's precisely what makes it restful rather than exhausting.

Free to visit, obviously. Park near Fishguard and walk, or use the carpark if one exists locally. Go mid-morning on a weekday to dodge the school runs and dog-walkers. If you're based at Fishguard Holiday Park or Tregroes just down the road, this is a five-minute stroll. It works as a half-day addition to a proper Pembrokeshire coastal tour, not as the main event. Worth doing, but don't rearrange your itinerary for it.