If your only problem while on holiday in Wales is deciding which beach to visit then life is good and there's only one answer. If you're taking a break in Pembrokeshire get yourself down to the gorgeous Marloes Sands on the southwestern peninsula of the county, a beach that has so much to offer.
For a start, it's pretty remote and you can only access it by foot, so if you're spending the day make sure you've all you need before you head down. Parking is no problem, though, as there's a National Trust car park up top. And its remote nature means that it's quite often one of Pembrokeshire's quieter beaches.
This means you could have a day out unbothered by crowds and, make sure you go there at low tide to make the utmost of beach fun, sea dips and, probably best of all, rockpool exploring. Just to reiterate, please be mindful of the tides when you visit Marloes as the rocky outcrops and impressive geology become awash with waves and make it very tricky getting back to the footpath back up to the car.
Read more: The top-rated beach that's the 'most calming and beautiful place on earth'
Anyway, with the serious stuff out of the way let me tell you why Marloes is just so brilliant. Well a) it's beautiful and has golden sands and crystal clear water - a selling point by anyone's standards to be honest. And b) it's wonderfully impressive cliffs, rock formations that stand proud out of the sand makes you feel like you've landed on a different planet - the more imaginative amongst us will have great fun exploring and storytelling about the millions of years of nature and history held within those rocks, described by one Tripadvisor user - so don't just take my word for it - as 'mystical.' After a visit in spring 2022, they wrote: "It was sunny and sea was deep blue and steam we was raising from the sand making the rock formations mystical."
It might be those other-worldly rocks that attracted Universal Pictures to the area back in 2011 when they filmed Snow White and the Huntsman at Marloes. The film starred Thor actor Chris Hemsworth and Kristen Stewart. The scene filmed at Marloes included a huge, horseback battle. The location was also used in the 1968 film The Lion in Winter, which starred Peter O’Toole, Katharine Hepburn and Anthony Hopkins.
If all that wasn't enough to get you to check out Marloes Sands then maybe the beauty of the area from the top of the coastline might be an extra sweetener, the more energetic of you might take a (long) stroll along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, a loop walk will take you down to Martin's Haven past an iron age fort, the deer park and more, click here to see that route. If you don't want a proper stomp a mooch along the path will give you views over to Skomer Island and the surrounding heathland and sea is full of wildlife like seals, porpoises and sea birds.
The cherry on the cake of a visit to Marloes is the lush cafe, Runwayskiln, a short walk from the car park and purveyors of really good coffee, cake and loads more goodies. The dog-friendly cafe also serves lunch and this season everything is takeaway, including their fresh daily bakes. Try the Algerian cake for something a bit different.
Where to park and how to get there
Follow the B4327 from Haverfordwest, and follow signs for Marloes and Martin's Haven Embarcation. Left in Marloes Village for Marloes Sands; straight through village for Martin's Haven - follow signs
Parking: It's free parking for NT members but non-members will have to pay. Day tickets are valid on that day in all National Trust car parks in Pembrokeshire.
Sat Nav: Marloes Sands and Mere SA62 3BH Martin's Haven SA62 3BJ
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