Musselwick Sands

The beach at Musselwick is one of those Pembrokeshire stretches that actually delivers on the promise - golden sand, proper sheltered by rocky outcrops, and far less rammed than some of the better-known spots around here. You get a real sense of discovery when you clamber down the narrow path and suddenly the whole bay opens up. The sand's firm enough for a decent walk, and the rock pools at low tide will keep kids occupied for ages if they're the poking-about type. It's the kind of place where you can genuinely hear yourself think, which in August is worth its weight in gold.

The approach matters - there's no car park right on top of it, which is either a bonus or a pain depending on your knees and how heavy your beach bag is. Haverfordwest is the nearest proper town if you need supplies or a decent coffee afterwards. If you're camping nearby - Point Farm Campsite is barely three miles away, or Beachside Glamping Dale even closer - this becomes a proper local treasure rather than a tick-box visit. Allow a couple of hours to make it worth the walk, longer if the tide's out and you want to explore the rocks. Go early if you're visiting in peak season; even this far down the Pembrokeshire coast gets busier as the day wears on.