Tenby's own four beaches wrap round the headland the old town stands on.
North Beach, with the small Harbour Beach tucked into its corner by the harbour wall, faces east below the walled town, while Castle Beach and South Beach lie on the other side of Castle Hill and run together at low tide. South Beach is the dependable choice for a whole day: it keeps plenty of sand at high water, the sea shelves gently, and in 2026 its RNLI patrols began in early April. Castle Beach can vanish at the top of the tide, so it is one to time for low water, when the sand between Castle Hill and St Catherine's Island is at its most interesting.
Up the coast to the north, Saundersfoot, Coppet Hall and Amroth are broad, flat sands that link up at low tide, and all three had RNLI lifeguards through the 2026 summer holidays. West of Tenby none of the beaches here has RNLI cover: Lydstep Haven is a sand-and-pebble bay reached through a holiday park, Manorbier sits under its castle and draws surfers but has very strong currents, and Freshwater East is a long dune-backed bay near Pembroke.
Nine of these beaches are designated bathing waters; Natural Resources Wales rated seven of them Excellent for 2025 and Tenby North and Amroth Central Good. Summer dog rules run from 1 May to 30 September and differ beach by beach, from a ban across the whole of North Beach and the harbour to a voluntary daytime request at Coppet Hall; Manorbier and Freshwater East are not on the council's restricted list at all.
Lifeguards: the 2026 season. Water: the latest official bathing-water classification. Every fact links to the page it came from, checked 27 October 2026.
Summer dog ban Lifeguards in summer Good water (2025)
The most photographed of Tenby's beaches: an enclosed, east-facing curve of sand under the walled town, with Goskar Rock standing on its own in the middle and the harbour at the western end. The shape keeps it warm when the wind is blowing elsewhere. Dogs are barred from the whole of it in summer.
Surface
sand
Dogs
Banned from the whole beach, the harbour beach included, 1 May–30 September; dogs welcome again from 1 October Source
Lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards daily 10am–6pm in the 2026 season (4 July–6 September) Source
Facilities
Toilets and a café above the beach Source
Access
Concrete ramp to the sand, 1 in 7 to 1 in 6 for 25 metres; a beach wheelchair can be hired Source
Parking
North Beach car park is nearest but fills quickly in summer; after 10am in the school summer holidays go straight to the park and ride Source
Tides
On the biggest low tides you can walk the sand north to Waterwynch, but at high tide the beaches there disappear and walkers can be trapped against unstable cliffs Source
Water quality
Good in 2025, the Natural Resources Wales's classification for Tenby North. Source
Summer dog ban Lifeguards in summer Excellent water (2025)
A small cliff-backed cove below Castle Hill, facing St Catherine's Island, with Dennis' Cafe on the sand and deckchairs and sunbeds for hire. At low tide it runs into South Beach and out towards the island; when the harbour has dried, the Caldey boats leave from here instead.
Surface
sand
Dogs
Banned west of St Catherine's Island 1 May–30 September; a small area at the harbour end, by the lifeboat station, stays open to dogs Source
Lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards daily 10am–6pm in the 2026 season (20 June–6 September) Source
Facilities
Toilets, a café and the museum up on Castle Hill Source
Access
Sloping tarmac path and concrete ramp from the harbour, 1 in 10 to 1 in 18 for 72 metres; a steep flight of steps comes down from The Paragon; beach wheelchair for hire Source
Parking
The multi-storey car park is nearest but fills quickly in summer; after 10am in the school summer holidays use the park and ride Source
Tides
The sand can disappear altogether at high tide Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the Natural Resources Wales's classification for Castle Beach, Tenby. Source
Summer dog ban Lifeguards in summer Excellent water (2025)
Tenby's long beach: a mile and a half of dune-backed sand from the town towards Penally and Giltar Point, with room to spare even at high water and a gently shelving sea. The Tenby end is the family end, and the beach further along suits livelier games. It had the longest RNLI season of any beach in this list in 2026.
Surface
sand
Dogs
Banned at the Tenby end, below the cliffs and north of the lifeguard station, 1 May–30 September; the rest of the beach towards Penally and Giltar Point stays open Source
Lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards 10am–6pm in the 2026 season: weekends and bank holidays 3–6 April and 2–17 May, then daily 23 May–6 September Source
Facilities
Salty's Beach Bar and Restaurant on the sand; Beach Box Cafe and toilets at the beach entrance Source
Access
Wooden walkway of 60 metres, sometimes covered with sand, level at first and then increasingly steep (to about 1 in 5½) Source
Parking
A very small car park beside the beach fills very quickly in summer; a larger privately run car park is off The Esplanade Source
Tides
Sandbanks such as the Whiteback at the south end appear at very low tides, and the incoming tide races round them Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the Natural Resources Wales's classification for Tenby South. Source
Summer dog ban No lifeguards Not a bathing water
A small pocket of sand under the harbour wall, between the walled town and Castle Hill, which the tourist board picks out for very young children. Boat trips and the lifeboat stations are close by, and the roads down to the harbour are closed to traffic during summer days.
Surface
sand
Dogs
Banned across the whole harbour 1 May–30 September Source
Lifeguards
Not an RNLI lifeguarded beach in its own right; the nearest 2026 patrols were on North Beach and Castle Beach Source
Facilities
Seasonal café above the beach; the nearest toilets are at Castle Beach Source
Access
Paved ramp, 1 in 18 to 1 in 12 for 19 metres; limited Blue Badge parking Source
Parking
Do not drive down to the harbour; roads around the old town close during summer days, so use the multi-storey car park Source
Tides
The harbour dries at low tide, when the Caldey boats leave from Castle Beach instead Source
Water quality
Not a designated bathing water, so it is not sampled.
Summer dog ban Lifeguards in summer Excellent water (2025)
The beach in front of Saundersfoot village, with its small harbour at the southern end and shops, cafés and pubs along the front. It is wide and flat at low tide and still roomy at high water, and the tramway tunnel at the north end leads through to Coppet Hall.
Surface
sand
Dogs
Banned on the main beach in front of the village, from the harbour north towards Coppet Hall, 1 May–30 September; the stretch by the tunnel and the beach south of the harbour stay open Source
Lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards daily 10am–6pm in the 2026 season (4 July–6 September) Source
Facilities
Toilets, plus plenty of cafés, pubs and restaurants in the village Source
Access
Concrete slipway at the north end, 36 metres, mostly no steeper than 1 in 12 but with 13 metres at 1 in 6 to 1 in 5; zigzag ramp to Glen Beach at the harbour; beach wheelchair for hire Source
Parking
Large privately run car park by the harbour, and a large National Park car park 200 metres from the beach Source
Tides
The low-tide walk from the harbour beach to Swallowtree can be cut off by the tide Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the Natural Resources Wales's classification for Saundersfoot. Source
Voluntary summer ban Lifeguards in summer Excellent water (2025)
The next bay north of Saundersfoot, linked to it on foot by the old tramway tunnel, with a wide flat stretch for games at low tide and rock pools at the eastern end. There are toilets and outdoor showers, Lan y Mor restaurant sits at the eastern end, and paddleboards and kayaks can be hired.
Surface
sand
Dogs
Voluntary no-dogs request 10am–6pm, 1 May–30 September, on the northern part in front of the Beach Centre; dogs welcome on the rest, towards the Saundersfoot tunnel Source
Lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards daily 10am–6pm in the 2026 season (18 July–6 September) Source
Facilities
Toilets, family changing spaces and outdoor showers Source
Access
Beach wheelchair for hire, booked in advance online Source
Parking
Large privately managed car park, charged in season Source
Tides
Sand stays uncovered even at high tide Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the Natural Resources Wales's classification for Coppet Hall. Source
Summer dog ban Lifeguards in summer Good water (2025)
A flat village beach at the start or finish of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, with groynes along the top, rock pools at the western end and a huge spread of sand at low tide. The village behind the sea wall has a shop, a café and pubs serving food.
Surface
sand and shingle
Dogs
Banned on the central part in front of the village 1 May–30 September; both ends, towards Wiseman's Bridge and towards Pendine, stay open Source
Lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards daily 10am–6pm in the 2026 season (18 July–6 September) Source
Facilities
Toilets, a shop, a café, ice cream and several pubs serving food Source
Access
Concrete ramp by the toilets, 1 in 8 to 1 in 7 for 45 metres, its foot often covered in large pebbles; a slipway at Amroth Castle and a concrete esplanade along the whole front Source
Parking
Car park in the village (signed) and parking along the sea wall Source
Tides
Joins the Saundersfoot and Telpyn beaches at low tide Source
Water quality
Good in 2025, the Natural Resources Wales's classification for Amroth Central. Source
Dogs allowed No lifeguards Excellent water (2025)
A dune-backed bay below Manorbier Castle, with a stream crossing the sand and a reef offshore that makes it popular with surfers. It has no RNLI lifeguards, and the tourist board warns of very strong currents here.
Surface
sand
Dogs
No summer ban: Manorbier is not on the council's list of beaches with 1 May–30 September dog restrictions Source
Lifeguards
Not an RNLI lifeguarded beach Source
Facilities
Toilets, an ice cream van and a telephone; cafés and a pub in the village Source
Access
Level path to a platform and seat at the top of the beach, rough in places, with three short slopes of up to 1 in 10 in the last 40 metres Source
Parking
National Park car park below the castle, charged in season, with toilets Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the Natural Resources Wales's classification for Manorbier. Source
Summer dog ban No lifeguards Excellent water (2025)
A sand-and-pebble bay between wooded cliffs, with a large Haven holiday park behind it and power boats often out on the water. Visitors not staying there walk in through the park, or park at the National Trust car park on Lydstep Head.
Surface
sand and shingle
Dogs
Banned on the northern end, from the slipway northwards, 1 May–30 September; the southern end stays open, with an alternative route for dog walkers along the back of the beach Source
Lifeguards
Not an RNLI lifeguarded beach Source
Access
On foot only, through Lydstep Haven caravan park Source
Parking
National Trust car park on Lydstep Head Source
Tides
Only a small sandy area at the north end is uncovered at low tide Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the Natural Resources Wales's classification for Lydstep. Source
Dogs allowed No lifeguards Excellent water (2025)
A wide bay of sand near Pembroke, backed by dunes, with a stream at its southern end and low cliffs forming small coves at the eastern end. The Burrows nature reserve is close by, and there are no lifeguards.
Surface
sand
Dogs
No summer ban: Freshwater East is not on the council's list of beaches with 1 May–30 September dog restrictions Source
Lifeguards
Not an RNLI lifeguarded beach Source
Facilities
Café or restaurant, a pub and a shop in Freshwater East village behind the beach Source
Access
Crushed stone path from the permit holders' car park, 1 in 12 to 1 in 10 for 8 metres, then a level concrete path onto soft sand; a separate Blue Badge car park; beach wheelchair for hire Source
Parking
Large National Park car park, charged in season, with toilets on the path to the beach Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the Natural Resources Wales's classification for Freshwater East. Source