UK’s best hidden beach is never crowded, even in summer, and can only be reached on foot

This part of Britain is home to some of the country’s most loved and most beautiful beaches.

But tucked between the well known postcard towns of Newport and Fishguard in north Pembrokeshire is a quiet beach that can only be reached on foot and is unlikely to be busy at any time of year, even in the height of summer.

It has even been named the UK’s top hidden beach. The list was created by taking 56 beaches from Condé Nast Traveller’s latest guide to the best UK beaches and counting how many Instagram hashtags each one had.

Photo © Simon Mortimer (cc-by-sa/2.0)

The beach with the fewest mentions had seven times fewer tags than the Scottish beach in second place and 56 times fewer than another Welsh beach that ranked tenth.

According to the list, put together by travel sim company Holafly, the UK’s top hidden beach is Aberfforest, about two miles west of Newport, a village known for its world class pub. If you have never heard of Aberfforest, you are likely not alone.

It does not get the same attention as more famous beaches nearby, such as Barafundle, Whitesands, Marloes or Tenby.

When the tide is high, Aberfforest Beach is mostly shingle, but as the tide drops more sand appears.

The Beach Guide says: “It is protected by headlands to either side making it a good spot for a high tide swim.

To the rear of the beach are gently sloping fields and the wooded valley the River Fforest runs down. It is well worth making the little walk up the river valley which takes you to a small waterfall.”

A local holiday cottage company, Aberfforest Cottages, says that access to the beach is “limited to just a handful of local properties and ramblers on the coastal path which passes through the bay”.

They add: “This means that even in the height of summer, the beach is rarely busy and offers the perfect base for days spent swimming, sailing, kayaking and rock pooling.

Every now and then the bay plays host to inquisitive seals and dolphins which breed locally. Catching sight of these amazing creatures as their heads emerge out of the sea and survey the bay is a fantastic treat.”

But the beach is not the only attraction here. Not far away lies Aberfforest waterfall.

Aberfforest Cottages say the waterfall is “a fabulous place to explore, for adults, children and dogs alike”, adding: “A circular route follows the picturesque track to the beach and back to the cottage through ancient woodlands, taking in the waterfall on the way.”

Remember - LeaveNoTrace!

As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!

Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.

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