
Freshwater West: Pembrokeshire beach a surfers' paradise
Freshwater West Beach, located on Wales' exposed west coast, has been a backdrop for several films, including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
In the Harry Potter film, the beach was where Dobby the house elf died and was buried.
There was even a gravestone for the character, which became a pilgrimage site for fans.
The sandy beach, backed by the extensive dune system of Broomhill Burrows, is a surfers' paradise, with the best waves in the county.
A Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority spokesperson said: "Freshwater West is a popular beach throughout the year with surfers, dog walkers, and families.
"The Dobby's grave memorial has been enjoyed by many who have made the pilgrimage to the Pembrokeshire site over the years.
"However, the increasing numbers of visitors has brought a greater pressure on the wider environment and facilities.
"Therefore, we have taken the decision to relocate the memorial to a more sustainable location to ensure it doesn't damage the wider environment and to help keep Freshwater West a special place for people and nature."
The south-westerly facing beach is suitable only for experienced and strong swimming surfers due to the strong rip currents.
The beach also offers activities such as kayaking, canoeing, fishing, kitesurfing, and windsurfing.
The beach is dog-friendly, allowing dogs all year round.
Facilities include toilets and parking, although parking can be limited when the waves are good.
From spring to early autumn, the Café Mor operates out of the southern car park.
Freshwater West Beach is also a place of historical significance, once used by smugglers to stash their loot.
The thatched shack on the foreshore was a rebuilt shelter used for drying a type of seaweed used for making Lavabread, a Welsh specialty.
In 2015, the beach was used as a location for the film "Their Finest," starring Gemma Arterton and Sam Claflin, where it portrayed Dunkirk.
Visitors are advised to check tide times to ensure they have enough beach space and do not get cut off by the incoming tide.
The fragile dunes mean camping and barbecues are not allowed.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Leader Live
20 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Michelin star restaurant in Menai Bridge among the world's best
From Sydney to Marrakesh, London to Paris, and everywhere in between, the experts at La Liste have reviewed thousands of restaurants from around the world based on publications, guidebooks and online reviews. As a result, it has established a list of the world's best restaurants, which includes five in Wales. The restaurants in Wales that have been named among the world's best by La Liste are: You can see the full list of the world's best restaurants on the La Liste website. Address: Trinity House, 1 High St, Menai Bridge, LL59 5EE La Liste score: 83.5 Sosban and the Old Butchers is an "intimate" Michelin star restaurant located in Menai Bridge. From the moment you step into the North Wales restaurant, you get a feeling of exclusivity", according to the Michelin Guide. It explains: "Covered windows add a feeling of exclusivity to this intimate restaurant; once inside, you'll discover an appealingly rustic room with Welsh slate walls, sheepskin-covered chairs and hand-painted animal tiles pointing back to its butcher's shop days. "Stephen Stevens' surprise menu utilises a wealth of North Wales ingredients in dishes that provide bold flavours and original, personal touches, demonstrating an innate understanding of cooking techniques and flavour combinations – the cod with fermented onion fudge is superb." Sosban and the Old Butcher has been described by visitors as the "most unbelievable dining experience." (Image: Tripadvisor) It's not just the experts who love Sosban and the Old Burtchers, but customers as well, with the Menai Bridge-based restaurant boasting a 4.8 (out of 5) rating on Tripadvisor from 373 reviews. RECOMMENDED READING: Three 'unforgettable' seaside pubs in North Wales named among the UK's best North Wales 'best' fish and chip shop named among UK's top takeaways 'Picturesque' North Wales town among UK's best for al fresco dining and pub gardens One guest, talking about their experience on Tripadvisor, said: "Most unbelievable dining experience I've ever had. "Food was amazing! Chef talked us through every dish, explaining where it comes from, how it was cooked, why and how it should be eaten. "Service was laid back and casual, which was an interesting touch from what I had experienced before. "Very unique, a fantastic evening!"


North Wales Chronicle
35 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Michelin star restaurant in Menai Bridge among the world's best
From Sydney to Marrakesh, London to Paris, and everywhere in between, the experts at La Liste have reviewed thousands of restaurants from around the world based on publications, guidebooks and online reviews. As a result, it has established a list of the world's best restaurants, which includes five in Wales. The restaurants in Wales that have been named among the world's best by La Liste are: You can see the full list of the world's best restaurants on the La Liste website. Address: Trinity House, 1 High St, Menai Bridge, LL59 5EE La Liste score: 83.5 Sosban and the Old Butchers is an "intimate" Michelin star restaurant located in Menai Bridge. From the moment you step into the North Wales restaurant, you get a feeling of exclusivity", according to the Michelin Guide. It explains: "Covered windows add a feeling of exclusivity to this intimate restaurant; once inside, you'll discover an appealingly rustic room with Welsh slate walls, sheepskin-covered chairs and hand-painted animal tiles pointing back to its butcher's shop days. "Stephen Stevens' surprise menu utilises a wealth of North Wales ingredients in dishes that provide bold flavours and original, personal touches, demonstrating an innate understanding of cooking techniques and flavour combinations – the cod with fermented onion fudge is superb." Sosban and the Old Butcher has been described by visitors as the "most unbelievable dining experience." (Image: Tripadvisor) It's not just the experts who love Sosban and the Old Burtchers, but customers as well, with the Menai Bridge-based restaurant boasting a 4.8 (out of 5) rating on Tripadvisor from 373 reviews. RECOMMENDED READING: Three 'unforgettable' seaside pubs in North Wales named among the UK's best North Wales 'best' fish and chip shop named among UK's top takeaways 'Picturesque' North Wales town among UK's best for al fresco dining and pub gardens One guest, talking about their experience on Tripadvisor, said: "Most unbelievable dining experience I've ever had. "Food was amazing! Chef talked us through every dish, explaining where it comes from, how it was cooked, why and how it should be eaten. "Service was laid back and casual, which was an interesting touch from what I had experienced before. "Very unique, a fantastic evening!"

South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
Monmouth and Penarth restaurants named among world's best
From Sydney to Marrakesh, London to Paris, and everywhere in between, the experts at La Liste have reviewed thousands of restaurants from around the world based on publications, guidebooks and online reviews. As a result, it has established a list of the world's best restaurants, which includes five in Wales. Welsh restaurants among the world's best The restaurants in Wales that have been named among the world's best by La Liste are: Ynyshir (Powys) Annwn (Narberth) The Whitebrook (Monmouth) Sosban and the old Butchers (Menai Bridge) Home by James Sommerin (Penarth) You can see the full list of the world's best restaurants on the La Liste website. The 2 South Wales restaurants among the best in the world The Whitebrook Address: Whitebrook, Monmouth, NP25 4TX La Liste score: 85 The Whitebrook is a Michelin-star restaurant located just out of Monmouth by the Wales/England border. The award-winning restaurant also holds a Michelin Green Star, 4 AA Rosettes and is "regularly included in the Top 50 list of restaurants in the UK", according to its website. It is described by the Michelin Guide as "the very definition of a destination restaurant". The guide explains: "This place's isolated woodland feel is all part of its inherent charm. "A nature-inspired colour theme and rustic wood flooring suit the location down to a tee. "Ingredients are sourced from Wye Valley and their own kitchen garden, and are used in botanically based dishes with natural flavours." The Whitebrook's signatures include Middle White suckling pig and Hereford raspberries with garden herb sorbet. It also has its own "creative" vegetarian menu. The Whitebrook also comes highly recommended by visitors, boasting a 4.6 (out of 5) rating on Tripadvisor from 562 reviews. One person posted: "Outstanding. Went for the wife's birthday, an excellent food tasting experience. "Every dish carefully crafted with some incredible flavours from some real unique ingredients locally foraged." Home by James Sommerin Address: 1, Royal buildings, Penarth CF64 3EB La Liste score: 80 Home is also a Michelin-star restaurant and one of the best places to eat in the world, according to La Liste. An experience at the Penarth-based restaurant is a "small, intimate affair" that provides "an immersive yet warm and friendly experience". And as the name implies, Home is staffed almost exclusively by family members, with James Sommerin and his daughter Georgia working together in the open kitchen. But the best and most intriguing part about Home is that the interior and menu are both kept secret. SquareMeal explains: "Diners enter by ringing a bell, and the windows are covered by curtains so you can't see inside. "Once you are seated, you will notice an envelope on the table - this contains the 'surprise menu'. RECOMMENDED READING: "It's up to you whether you open it and find out what's to come or wait and let it be a true surprise." The surprise menu changes regularly and is full of "impeccable" dishes that make great use of produce provided by local suppliers, the Michelin Guide adds. "Wales should be as proud of this restaurant as any Josh Adams try," it continues.