Manorbier Beach

Golden sand stretches for half a mile beneath dramatic limestone cliffs, making this one of Pembrokeshire's most photogenic coastal spots. The beach sits in a sheltered bay just a short walk from Manorbier village, with the imposing medieval castle perched on the clifftop providing a proper fairy-tale backdrop to your sandcastle efforts.

Families absolutely love it here - the sand is proper beach material, not pebbles, and the gentle slope into clear water makes it brilliant for younger children. Rock pools scatter across the eastern end when the tide's out, keeping little ones busy for hours hunting crabs and collecting shells. The western side offers better waves for bodyboarding when conditions are right.

Getting down requires a fairly steep path from the village car park, so factor that in with buggies or heavy beach kit. It's never as crowded as nearby Tenby's beaches, which is half the appeal. The lack of facilities means bringing your own refreshments, but that's a small price for the space and scenery.

From nearby holiday parks like Haven Kiln Park or Cross Park Holiday Village, it's an easy drive that puts you within striking distance of both Tenby's attractions and this quieter coastal gem. Allow a full day if the weather's decent - once you're set up on that sand with the castle looming above, you won't want to leave.