Monkstone Beach

The walk down to Monkstone Beach from Saundersfoot takes about fifteen minutes if you know where you're going - and honestly, it's worth every step. You're descending through proper coastal woodland, the path getting narrower as you approach the shore, until suddenly the beach opens up in front of you. It's a sheltered cove with golden sand, backed by red sandstone cliffs that glow in the afternoon light. The beach itself is fairly compact, which means it never feels rammed even in peak summer.

Families tend to gravitate here because the waters are calm and the sand is soft underfoot. There's rock pooling at low tide if the kids get bored of building castles, and the cliffs provide decent shade when you need a break from the sun. That said, it's not a beach for idle lounging - there's enough to explore that a few hours disappears quickly.

The real bonus is the location between two of Pembrokeshire's best holiday parks. Saltern Holiday Park sits just 1.9 miles away, while Haven Kiln Park is 2.5 miles down the road. Both put you within easy reach of the beach without the faff of driving every time you fancy a dip. Becks Bay Camping, slightly further out at 3.7 miles, is another solid option if you're towing or under canvas.

Go early if you can - the light's better and you'll have the place mostly to yourself before the Saundersfoot day-trippers arrive.