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Poppit West Beach

(Poppit Sands)

Pembrokeshire, Wales


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Poppit West Beach, located in Cardigan Bay, is a popular destination for beachgoers and water sports enthusiasts, offering a wide sandy beach, scenic views, and a range of activities.

Poppit Sands West is a large sandy beach situated at the mouth of the Afon Teifi within Cardigan Bay and backed by sand dunes. The river has a number of slipways and harbours, making fishing and sailing popular pursuits in the area.

Located within Cardigan Bay, the beach measures approximately 600 metres in length and faces northwest. The land surrounding the beach is predominantly agricultural, with the town of Cardigan located approximately 3 kilometres southeast of Poppit Sands. The coastal waters and coastal belt form part of the Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation, confirming the high conservation status of the area. The bathing water also lies within Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Poppit Sands West is a popular destination for bathing, with lifeguards on duty from 10am until 6pm every day during the summer months, and a marked out swimming zone. However, it is not advisable to swim outside of this zone, particularly towards the river mouth to the east, as there can be strong currents. Other activities such as watersports, paragliding, and exploring rockpools are also popular here. The beach is backed by an extensive sand dune system offering a haven for wildlife. Visitors may also spot dolphins, porpoises, seals, or even whales while looking out onto the surf.

There is parking for 100 cars adjacent to the beach, which is accessed along a boardwalk. A cafe, a beach shop, and public toilets can be found next to the car park. A pub and a hotel can be found nearby. The beach is also home to a lifeboat station, which is open to visitors on Wednesdays between 6pm and 8pm and Saturdays between 10am and 12pm. The beach marks the northern end of the 186-mile long Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

Bay Sand

Weather and tides for Sunday 20 September

Today
Chance of rain %
Max temperature 16°C
feels like 16°C
Wind 15mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain %
Min temperature 13°C
feels like 13°C
Wind 9mph

The tide at Poppit West Beach is currently rising. High tide will be at approximately 2:00 AM, and the next low tide will be at approximately 8:29 AM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Detailed weather and tides »

Other beaches nearby

Location: Gwbert

Location type: Rural

OS Grid: SN153486

Coordinates: 52°6'19"N 4°41'51"W

Mapcode: GBR CY.9FFT

What 3 Words: starfish.maple.battle

Coordinates and location codes are for an approximate mid-point of the beach, and may not reflect the best access point or the most popular part of the beach.

Country: Wales

Local Authority: Pembrokeshire

Parish: St. Dogmaels

Nearest postcode: SA43 3LR

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

Visitor information for Poppit West Beach, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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216.73.216.40 Sun, 20 Sep 2026 01:16:38 +0100