Amroth Beach

The beach at Amroth curves gently along the Pembrokeshire coast like a horseshoe, backed by low cliffs and what feels like the real Wales - no theme parks, no postcard clichés, just proper seaside. It's a working beach in the best sense: families digging, dogs running, the occasional surfer if the swell's up. The main draw is geological. Those cliffs contain a visible slice of coal seams, testament to the area's mining past, which makes it oddly compelling if you care about that sort of thing.

Walkers gravitate here because Amroth sits at the start of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path - you can begin the 186-mile trail right here and immediately feel like you've achieved something. The beach itself is manageable for an afternoon, especially if the tide's out and you've got flat sand to cover. There's a car park directly above, which helps. The village of Amroth is basic but functional - chip shop, pub, ice cream - and Narberth, just inland, handles the bigger errands.

White Gate Caravan Park sits barely a mile away, Trees and Little Kings are close too, making Amroth a sensible morning or afternoon stop during a broader Pembrokeshire caravan holiday. It won't occupy you for hours unless you're committed to the Coast Path, but it's worth the stop. The light here catches nicely in late afternoon, and the beach has the kind of honest appeal that makes you think you've stumbled on something real rather than something packaged.