Caerfai Bay (St Davids)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Shallow, Small waves
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Caerfai Bay is primarily a surfing spot: a beach-break feel inside a narrow cove where the bottom is sandy but surrounded by rocks, boulders, and sea urchins. Hazards are significant—strong and changeable currents are noted, and the unstable cliff setting plus submerged rocks require care. Plan for low to mid tide because the beach is reported to shrink significantly at high tide.
- Low-to-mid tide is consistently preferred.
- East/Northeast winds are favored for offshore/clean conditions.
- Works with West/SouthWest swell wrapping into the bay.
- Good water quality and a small, manageable cove when conditions line up.
- Offshore cleanup with East to Northeast winds.
- Short, punchy rides with hollow potential on suitable days.
- Inconsistent surf—needs the right West/Southwest swell angle to wrap into the cove.
- Strong and changeable currents and a spot that can cut off at high tide.
- Rock-and-urchin hazards around the narrow bay and rocky fringes.
- No lifeguard service.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, NE
- Offshore directions
- E, NE
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Gradient — Gradient winds are typical for this coastal area; spot-level guidance also notes East/Northeast winds as offshore/clean.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Heavy gusts — Wind reliability is low around the cliffs, with turbulence.
- Best Months
- January, February, October, November, December
- Shadow Zones
- Significant wind shadow and turbulence caused by high surrounding cliffs
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Shallow, Small waves
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy bottom with rocky/boulder elements
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Reported as small-to-medium when it works, with sources noting it starts under 1 m and can hold up to 2.5 m+.
- Launch
- Small — Small sandy cove at low tide backed by cliffs with rocky fringes on either side.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Steep steps/paths down to a narrow beach; hazards around access area.
Through the year
Can be busy with tourists in July and August; otherwise generally few surfers.
Late autumn and winter bring frequent Atlantic depressions.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Rarely used for winging due to the narrow bay and cliff-induced turbulence; potentially viable on high-tide swells for expert riders.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Limited due to narrow launch conditions and turbulence.
- Min Depth
- 2 meters
A south-facing beach break inside a rocky cove that needs a substantial West or Southwest swell to wrap in. It works best at low to mid tide but is inconsistent and can close out when conditions exceed the upper swell range.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- W, WSW, SW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low — Best at low tide; low-to-mid is consistently preferred.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Rocky cove provides shelter versus the open coast, but the break remains affected by the surrounding cliffs and tides.
- Wind Effect
- East or Northeast winds provide cleaner offshore conditions; NE offshore ideal is noted.
- Bigger Swell
- Can handle larger swells, but tends to close out when it exceeds about 2.5 meters.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Generally good wave quality when it works; can be average depending on swell angle/wrap.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Spot-level descriptions vary from average/powerful; typically moderate to powerful on the right day.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow — Often described as hollow/punchy; can peel at other times.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Can become hollow at low tide; otherwise tends toward short punchy rides.
- Ride Length
- Short — Typically short rides.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Rides are usually short (reported under 50 m). Some sources also indicate short punchy rides and hollow sections at low tide.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Caerfai Bay (St Davids) in the full forecast view.
Caerfai Bay (St Davids) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 8–33 ktsGusts 50 kts
- Direction
- SW227°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2433 kts
- Windy days
- 7/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.9–4.8 m8s period
- Temperature
- 11–16 °C
Over the next 7 days, Caerfai Bay (St Davids) is forecast for daytime winds of 8–33 kts, peaking around 33 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 50 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.9–4.8 m with a period of about 8s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Rocks
- Sea urchins
- Submerged boulders
- Tidal cut-off at high tide
- Unstable sandstone cliffs with rock-falls
- Strong and changeable currents
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard service
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Spot-level notes say no rescue; regional context indicates RNLI lifeboat presence in St Davids.
- Emergency Info
- Dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard; nearest major hospital noted as Withybush General Hospital in Haverfordwest.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — A small dedicated local crew is noted.
Rules of the spot
Plan around strong and changeable currents and the tide cutting off parts of the cove; do not rely on lifeguards.
- No lifeguard service
- Check tide times to avoid being cut off by the incoming tide.
- Be careful of rocks and sea urchins.
- Respect access paths associated with the cliff-top caravan park and keep noise down early/late.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- St Davids
- Nearest Town
- St Davids
- Parking
- Car access to a cliff-top car park (reported as free with ~50 spaces in one guide; pay-and-display in another).
- Access
- Access is via a narrow country road to a cliff-top car park, followed by a steep descent down steps/paved path to the beach.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English, Welsh
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Direct — A caravan and tent park is located directly above the beach.
- Food & Drink
- Numerous cafes, pubs, and shops in St Davids about a 15-minute walk away.
- Equipment Rental:
- No rentals on the beach; shops are available in St Davids or at Newgale.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Caerfai Bay (St Davids)?
The best overall months at Caerfai Bay (St Davids) are January, February. The best wind months are January, February, October, November, December.
Which wind directions work at Caerfai Bay (St Davids)?
Caerfai Bay (St Davids) works with E, NE winds. Offshore directions are E, NE.
What skill level is Caerfai Bay (St Davids) suitable for?
Caerfai Bay (St Davids) suits these riding levels: Wingfoiling: Expert · Surfing: Beginner to Intermediate.