Broad Haven North

Large Blue Flag, easy access beach. Seasonal dog restrictions 1 May-30 September. Seasonal Lifeguards.

Broad Haven North is an open, west-facing bay, with a large Blue Flag sandy beach, which is great for swimming, beach games, rockpooling and a range of water sports.

It’s been one of Pembrokeshire’s most popular leisure spots since around 1800, when there were bathing machines on the beach. Coal was extracted from the cliffs to the north.

Today it’s still popular for bathing, and is also used by windsurfers and surfers when conditions are right. The cliffs, formed about 300 million years ago during the Carboniferous period, attract geologists from all over Britain.

Round the headland to the north of the beach are several stacks, including Den’s Door which has two arches through its base. Nearby is a huge whale-like projection known as the Sleek Stone, part of an up-fold in the coal measures. But please check tide times carefully if you go to look at these features, as it’s easy to get stranded.

 

Beach Awards

Blue Flag. Visit the Keep Wales Tidy website for more information on the Wales Coast Awards.

 

 

Facilities

There are toilets including disabled facilities and baby changing facilities in the car park at the southern end of the beach. Toilets in the car park at the northern include disabled facilities but no baby changing facilities. Visit the Pembrokeshire County Council website for toilet opening dates and times.

Telephone, beach/surf hire, cafes, youth hostel, public houses and restaurants are all on the beachfront. B&B’s, camping and caravanning are present in the area.

Please help keep Broad Haven beautiful and use the facilities or take your litter home with you.

 

Dog Friendly?

Seasonal dog restrictions apply to the north of the beach between 1 May-30 September. Go to the Visit Pembrokeshire website to see the latest dog restriction maps. There is a responsibility for dog owners to clean up after their dogs on the whole of this site

 

Easy Access?

Best accessed from the southern end using concrete slipway: 1:12 to 1:7 for 29 metres, steepest at the bottom. Car park opposite, with toilets, shop/post office and telephone nearby. Concrete ramp just to the north of slipway: 1:12 to 1:6 for 19 metres, steepest at the bottom.

Large car park at northern end with toilets, telephone and tarmac path to beachhead. Concrete ramp: 1:12 to 1:9 for 25 metres, then 1:5 for 3 metres, base can be pebbly at times. Esplanade along most of seafront.

 

Getting there

You can get to Broad Haven by bike, with the Celtic Trail passing through the village and right by the beach. Visit the Sustrans website for more information on the Celtic Trail. Visit the Pembrokeshire County Council website for information on the Havens Trail cycle route.

The Puffin Shuttle Coastal Bus stops at Broad Haven. Visit the Pembrokeshire County Council website to see bus timetables.

The beach is part of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail. Visit the Coast Path section of this website to find out more.

By car, you can reach Broad Haven on the B4341 from Haverfordwest, or on the narrow coast road which runs from Little Haven to Newgale. Car parking is split between two car parks (seasonal charges apply).

 

Safety advice

  • There are seasonal Lifeguards at this beach. Please visit the RNLI website for the information on dates.
  • Wherever possible, always swim at a lifeguarded beach.
  • Always read and obey the safety signs, usually found at the entrance to the beach.
  • These will help you avoid potential hazards on the beach and identify the safest areas for swimming.
  • When on a lifeguarded beach, find the red and yellow flags and always swim or bodyboard between them – this area is patrolled by lifeguards.
  • Never swim alone. If you get in trouble, stick your hand in the air and shout for help. If you see someone in difficulty, never attempt a rescue. Tell a lifeguard or, if you can’t see a lifeguard, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

 

Byelaws

  • Pembrokeshire County Council Bathing Water Byelaws apply to the whole area off this beach. These include a speed limit.
  • Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority byelaws apply to the whole of the foreshore on this beach. Visit our byelaws page to find out more.