Pembrokeshire in April
Mid-April in Pembrokeshire: sunrise around 06:24, sunset around 20:16, giving about 13h 52m of daylight. That is around 2 hours more daylight than mid-March, and it is the evenings that gain most. Because the county sticks so far west into the Atlantic, the sun sets noticeably later here than in London — worth knowing if you are planning an evening on a west-facing beach.
Dogs: the seasonal window is shut. The 1 May – 30 September restrictions do not apply in April, so the 15 beaches that restrict dogs in summer are open to them now. That includes the ones you cannot take a dog to in August — Broad Haven, Caerfai Bay, Coppet Hall, Freshwater East and 11 more. This is the honest reason to come out of season with a dog.
Arguably the best trade-off of the year: long days, thinning crowds compared with summer, and the cliffs at their best. Sea thrift and campion come out along the Coast Path, and the seabird colonies on the islands are in full noise. Half-term aside, this is a much calmer county than it will be in August.
Lifeguards. 8 of the beaches we cover are lifeguarded in season — Broad Haven, Dale Beach, Newgale Sands, Poppit Sands, Saundersfoot Beach, Tenby North Beach and 2 more. Cover is seasonal and the RNLI sets the dates each year; we do not publish those dates because we cannot verify them from a feed, so check the RNLI listing for the beach before relying on it. Everywhere else, you are swimming unpatrolled.
Beaches and dogs in April
The 1 May – 30 September window does not apply in April, so the beaches that restrict dogs in summer are open to them now. Where we have not been able to confirm a beach either way, we say so rather than assuming.
Open all year, whole beach (5)
Restricted 1 May – 30 Sep, open now (10)
- Broad Haven — Main beach restricted 1 May – 30 September; dogs welcome the rest of the year.
- Caerfai Bay — Seasonal restriction applies 1 May – 30 September; check the signs at the top of the steps.
- Coppet Hall — Dogs restricted in season on the bathing beach — the tunnels path itself is dog-friendly.
- Freshwater East — Seasonal restriction applies 1 May – 30 September on the main beach; check local signs.
- Little Haven — Seasonal restriction applies to the beach 1 May – 30 September; check the signs at the slipway.
- Manorbier Bay — Dogs restricted on the main bathing area in season; welcome October–April and on fringes — check signage.
- Saundersfoot Beach — Dogs restricted on the main beach 1 May – 30 September.
- Tenby Castle Beach — Seasonal restriction applies 1 May – 30 September on the main bathing area; check the signs.
- Tenby North Beach — Dogs restricted on the main bathing area in season (May–Sep); harbour end rules differ — check signage.
- Whitesands Bay (Porth Mawr) — Dogs restricted 1 May – 30 September; welcome the rest of the year.
Zoned — one end open, one end not (5)
- Amroth Beach — Western end welcomes dogs all year; eastern bathing section restricted in season.
- Newgale Sands — Central section restricted 1 May – 30 Sep; northern and southern ends welcome dogs all year.
- Newport Sands (Traeth Mawr) — Dogs welcome all year on the main beach; seasonal rules apply near the estuary/Parrog side — check signage.
- Poppit Sands — Zoned: restrictions on the main bathing area in season; estuary end year-round — check signage.
- Tenby South Beach — Northern (town) section restricted in season; southern stretch towards Giltar welcomes dogs all year.
No restriction found, unconfirmed (15)
We cannot tell you either way (10)
Policies are recorded per beach from the managing authority’s own signage and published rules. Grouped this finely because the underlying information genuinely has these states — a beach we have confirmed as restricted and a beach where a restriction merely might apply are different answers, and flattening them into one number would look more authoritative while being less true. If a sign on the day says otherwise, the sign wins.
What’s on in April
Annual fixtures we hold dates or timings for. Always confirm with the organiser before travelling — dates move, and we say when we last checked.
Puffin Season on Skomer
Tens of thousands of puffins breed on Skomer from April to late July, close enough to the path that you have to step around them.
April to late July, best late May to early July · Wildlife & nature
Island Boat Trip Season Opens
Skomer, Ramsey, Caldey and Grassholm all reopen to boats around Easter. Each one is a different trip and they book up differently.
from around Easter, running to late October · Wildlife & nature
Bluebell Season at Colby and Minwear
Two or three weeks in late April and May when the old woodland floors go blue. Colby and Minwear are the reliable ones.
late April into mid-May, two to three weeks · Wildlife & nature
Pembroke Castle Events Season
Living history and re-enactment weekends through the warmer months at the birthplace of Henry VII.
Easter to autumn, with events concentrated in school holidays · Community
Carew Castle and Tidal Mill Season
A ruined castle, the only restored tidal mill in Wales and an 11th-century Celtic cross, all on one short circuit.
Easter to the end of October · Community