Dog-friendly beaches in Pembrokeshire: three year-round options and seasonal rules

Barafundle Bay, Broad Haven South and Freshwater West welcome dogs throughout the year. These three Pembrokeshire beaches have different approaches, parking arrangements and nearby facilities, so choosing a beach involves more than finding somewhere without a summer dog ban. This researched guide uses National Trust and national park information checked on 13 September 2026.

Elsewhere in the county, seasonal restrictions run from 1 May through the end of September. Some cover a whole beach and others cover only part of it. Broad Haven South and Broad Haven North are different places with different rules: the South beach welcomes dogs year round, while the North beach appears on the seasonal partial-restriction list.

Barafundle Bay: a half-mile walk from the car park

Barafundle is reached only on foot. The nearest car park is at Stackpole Quay, SA71 5LS, half a mile away, with pay-and-display parking. The nearest toilets and the Boathouse tearoom are also at the quay, so plan supplies and toilet stops before walking to the beach.

The approach matters if anyone in the group has limited mobility. The National Trust describes rough, uneven ground and steep steps, and says the route is unsuitable for wheelchairs, powered mobility vehicles, pushchairs and people unsteady on their feet. Blue Badge parking and adapted toilets at Stackpole Quay do not make the beach route step-free. Barafundle itself is backed by dunes and woods between limestone cliffs.

Broad Haven South: check which approach suits your group

Broad Haven South, SA71 5DR, is a sandy beach backed by dunes, with Church Rock offshore and a stream from the Bosherston lakes. The National Trust manages charged car parks at both Broad Haven South and Bosherston. Both have toilets, including disabled facilities, but no baby-changing facilities are listed.

The direct route down from Broad Haven South car park is steep and unsuitable for wheelchairs. The national park describes an alternative from Bosherston car park along a one-mile boardwalk through the lily ponds. Consult its current access information for your own requirements rather than assuming that this makes the whole beach accessible.

Freshwater West: free parking, with dog restrictions on some paths

At Castlemartin, the nearest postcode for Freshwater West is SA71 5HW. The public National Trust beach car park is free and opens from dawn to dusk. Overnight parking and camping are not permitted. Gupton Farm parking is reserved for campsite and farmhouse guests, so it is not an alternative public beach car park.

There are toilets at the beach car park. The ground is uneven, overflow parking uses gravel and grass, and approaches to the beach include uneven, steep gradients. Dogs are welcome under close control on the beach and bridleways, but not on the permissive paths because of sensitive wildlife. Do not assume that a dog-friendly beach means every neighbouring walk permits dogs too.

Where seasonal dog restrictions apply

The national park lists complete seasonal dog bans at Tenby North and Whitesands near St Davids. Partial restrictions apply at Lydstep, Newgale, Saundersfoot, Tenby Castle and South, Amroth, Poppit Sands, Broad Haven North and Dale. Some entries also cover promenades. For a partially restricted beach, check the mapped boundary through the national park’s dogs-on-beaches page and read the entrance signs. A partial restriction does not mean the entire beach is closed to dogs.

Keep control and check facilities before setting off

The National Trust asks owners to keep dogs in sight and under close control, carry a lead, clean up and avoid disturbing wildlife, farm animals or other visitors. It lists water bowls outside toilet blocks and waste bins across the Stackpole Estate, rather than promising those facilities on every beach. Car parks have limited shade, and the Trust says not to leave pets in cars. Dog access is not an assurance about swimming conditions or lifeguard cover.