Coasteering, kayaking, fossil hunting and wildlife spotting all await on this beautiful stretch of Welsh coastline

By Ali Wood

Published: Tuesday, 13 February 2024 at 15:53 PM


Where is Abereiddy Bay

Abereiddy Bay is located on the Pembrokeshire Coast in West Wales.

Abereiddy Beach

Abereiddy Bay, Pembrokeshire. Credit: Getty

Relax on the pebble and sand, dog-friendly beach, perfect for a leisurely day by the sea.

The Blue Lagoon at Abereiddy

Abereiddy Bay Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon next to Abereiddy Bay. Credit: Getty

Just a short walk to the north of the beach you’ll find the stunning Blue Lagoon. A former slate quarry, it’s a must-see attraction with its deep blue waters surrounded by rugged cliffs.

When slate quarrying ceased in 1901, the sea broke through into the quarry, creating a vivid blue harbour, protected from the strong currents of Abereiddy Bay.

These days the Blue Lagoon is popular for water activities such as kayaking and coasteering.

The National Trust closes the Lagoon from the last Saturday in September to the first Saturday in November to protect breeding seals. This date may be subject to change, check The National Trust for details.

Useful information:

Getting there

The most convenient access to the Blue Lagoon is the Abereiddy Beach car park. However, once you’ve negotiated the narrow roads getting to it, beware that this car park is a rough-and-ready affair, with a loose chipping surace and no space markings. As it quickly fills up in the summer, it’s best to arrive early or late on holidays and weekends to try and secure a space.

Fossil hunting at Abereiddy Beach

Holidaymakers throw them aside to lay down towels, and coasteerers step over them in a hurry to get to the Blue Lagoon. Few know how remarkable these tuning-fork-shaped rocks with comb-like arms are.

So ancient, they predate the dinosaurs; so short-lived, they existed only between 470 and 464 million years ago, and so unique, they occupied an ecological niche of their own, like today’s jellyfish.

Graptolites, tuning-fork fossils, Abereiddy Bay, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Graptolites, also noon as tuning-fork fossils, can be found at Abereiddy Bay, Pembrokeshire ©Alamy

Graptolites – derived from the Greek words ‘writing’ (graptos) and ‘stone’ (lithos) – were planktonic organisms that drifted about the oceans feeding on algae. Some species even evolved into worm-like filter feeders known as pterobranchs that still live on the ocean floor today. Just imagine, these ‘scribbled on’ rocks found at Abereiddy Bay contain the remains of organisms with a half-billion-year-long history.

Coastal walk from Porthgain to Abereiddy Bay

Abereiddy Bay is easily reached from the car park, but a far nicer approach is to walk there along the clifftops from Porthgain. The land is owned by the National Trust and is part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Porthgain is a pretty village with a hook-shaped breakwater chiselled into the cliffs. From the 1850s, slate, brick and then granite were quarried here, and the crushed stone dispensed from huge brick hoppers ready for export by train and ship. The hoppers, and earlier buildings including the limekiln and pilot’s house, still stand today.

From Porthgain harbour, take the coast path south-west, climbing high above formidable rocks. The views are breathtaking. Look out for gannets and choughs; you may even catch a glimpse of a porpoise or a seal out at sea.

Chough on rock
Chough ©

From Abereiddy, you can catch the Strumble Shuttle bus back to Porthgain, or continue inland on a circular walk (signposted) back to where you started. Leave time for refreshments at Porthgain, either in the 18th-century Sloop Inn or The Shed Bistro, which was once the machine shop for the engines that operated the brickworks.

Where to stay near Aberieddy Bay

Looking for more Days Out inspiration in the area?

Our experts have put together guides to the best walks in Pembrokeshire and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. For more information about fossil hunting, check out how to discover treasure in Britain.