大象传媒

Newgale

Newgale beach by Tony Evans.

A long, sandy beach break with steep pebble bank, safe for all levels of surfing.

Nestled inside St Bride's Bay in Pembrokeshire lies the picture postcard beach of Newgale - with it's long sandy bay and pebble banks.

The beach is manned by lifeguards during the school holidays and is pristine with regular blue flag status.

At high tide, as the water pushes up onto the pebble bank, the surf tends to go flat so it's better for surfing either side of high water.

The surfing here is good but not exceptional. The long exposed coastline doesn't lend itself to having nicely groomed sand banks so it can be a bit hit and miss at times.

On stormy days it's not uncommon to have pebbles and sand washed up and over the pebble bank and on to the main road running parallel the beach.

If Whitesands up the coast is too big for surfing, then Newgale is always a safe bet as it tends to be a little tamer during big winter storms.

At low tide there are normally plenty of peaks to be found along this vast expanse of beach, so time your surfs accordingly.

Lines from the top looking down onto Newgale

Image by Tim Plumb

On bigger days with offshore, easterly winds - Newgale gets nice and hollow; serving up decent 'head high' barrels but the rip can be quite strong, pulling you towards the rocky outcrops at the northerly end of the beach.

There are also good sand banks to the south of the bay so take a wander down if it's crowded where you are surfing.

The local surf shop - does a daily surf report and also hires out boards and wetsuits to learners.

There is a handy vantage point to check conditions as you approach Newgale. As you drive down into Newgale, turn left turn at the bottom of the hill before the camp site (if you're driving from Haverfordwest on the A487) and park in the car park.

Nearby, the camp site at the back of the beach providing handy accommodation for families and visiting surfers.

Up in the village you'll find a few little shops, cafes and a pub but that's about it. The coastline is stunning here and you're not too far from which you can visit during the summer.

Article written by Martin Aaron