Freshwater West

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View of beach and sand dunes at Freshwater West

Freshwater West is a 1.12-kilometre (0.70 mi)-long beach near Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire in south-west Wales. It lies along the B4319 road, adjacent to the Army Tank Ranges that use this part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

The beach, which is surrounded by sand dunes, has fine sand and faces due west. Despite its natural beauty, Freshwater West is unsuitable for bathing due to dangerous offshore swells and strong currents. The beach also has areas of unmarked quicksand. Signs warning of the dangers are positioned all along the coast.

Nevertheless, surfers regularly use Freshwater West because of its consistent swell and strong waves.^[1] The Welsh National Surfing Championships have been held here.^[2] Facilities include toilets, a small car park and an emergency telephone at the south end of the beach. At the northwest end of the beach, high on the dunes, is a war memorial.^[3]

Panoramic view of Freshwater West Beach April 2010

[edit] Filming location

In 2009, the beach at Freshwater West was used as location in a new version of Robin Hood starring Russell Crowe and in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Part 2. For the latter a full sized house, Shell Cottage, was erected temporarily in the dunes.

It was also the filming location in series four of The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Harry Potter Set