Porthsychan Bay

Getting down to Porthsychan Bay requires a bit of effort - there's no car park, no facilities, just a narrow coastal path that drops steeply to a small shingle beach backed by dramatic cliffs. That's precisely why it's worth the trek. This corner of Pembrokeshire stays quiet even during summer weekends, making it ideal if you're after actual solitude rather than Instagram crowds.

The beach itself is modest in size, maybe 100 metres across at high tide, but the setting is proper atmospheric. Rugged slate and mudstone cliffs tower overhead, and on clear days you can see across to Fishguard Bay. It's a walker's beach rather than a sunbather's one - the shingle is grey and uninviting for lounging, and there's no shelter. But if you've got teenagers or hardy kids who like rock pools and exploring, they'll find enough to keep them occupied for a couple of hours.

The walk down is around 15-20 minutes from the cliff-top path near Haverfordwest's outer reaches. Wear proper shoes - it's muddy after rain and the descent is steep enough to make your knees protest on the way back up. Go at low tide if you want to maximise beach space, though even then it's not generous.

Staying at one of the nearby parks like Tregroes or Fishguard Holiday Park puts you within striking distance. This is genuine Pembrokeshire coast - unglamorous, wind-exposed, and all the better for it. Not for everyone, but exactly right for people after something a bit raw.