Monkstone Point
Monkstone Point is a striking headland on the southern coast of Wales, located within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, one of the most celebrated stretches of coastline in the British Isles. Situated between the popular resort towns of Tenby to the south and Saundersfoot to the north, this rocky promontory juts out into Carmarthen Bay and serves as one of the most rewarding viewpoints along this section of the Wales Coast Path. The point marks a natural boundary between two distinct coastal personalities — the broad, sandy sweep of North Beach at Tenby on one side, and the more sheltered, wooded coves and beaches around Saundersfoot on the other. It is considered a place of genuine scenic beauty, accessible to walkers who follow the coast path and rewarding them with panoramic views across the bay toward the Gower Peninsula and, on clear days, as far as Exmoor on the English horizon.
The geology of Monkstone Point speaks to a deep and dramatic history of the Earth itself. The rocks here are principally Carboniferous limestone and old red sandstone, contorted and layered by ancient tectonic forces into bold, angular formations that jut from the cliffs and foreshore. This same limestone geology underpins much of the Pembrokeshire coastline and creates the characteristic character of wave-cut platforms, sea caves, arches, and stacks that make this coast so visually arresting. The area was shaped during the last Ice Age by glacial action, and the cliffs and bays left behind carry that legacy in their form. The name "Monkstone" itself is thought to refer to the medieval monks of Caldey Island, the tidal island visible offshore near Tenby, who owned and farmed much of this coastal land during the medieval period. The monks of Caldey maintained a strong presence on this stretch of coast, and place names throughout the area retain echoes of their tenure.
In terms of physical character, Monkstone Point is rugged, windswept, and exhilarating. The cliffs here drop steeply to the sea, and the headland itself is covered in coastal heath — gorse, heather, and low scrub that in late spring and early summer blazes with yellow and purple colour and fills the air with a faint coconut scent from the flowering gorse. The sound of the place is defined by the sea: waves crash and suck at the base of the cliffs, seabirds call overhead, and on blustery days the wind off Carmarthen Bay is immediate and insistent. At low tide, the rocky platforms below the headland are exposed, revealing pools rich with marine life and the complex geometry of exposed strata. There is a small beach accessible below the point known as Monkstone Beach, which can be reached on foot at low tide, and it has a pleasingly secluded quality compared to the busy sands of Tenby.
The surrounding landscape is among the most appealing in South Wales. The Wales Coast Path runs directly through this area, connecting Saundersfoot — with its pretty harbour, cafes, and beach — to Tenby, one of the most photographed and historically rich towns in Wales, with its medieval town walls, pastel-coloured Georgian townhouses, and the ruins of a Norman castle on its headland. The walk between the two settlements via Monkstone Point takes roughly two hours at a leisurely pace and passes through sections of ancient oak woodland that tumble down to the sea, offering shelter from the wind and a sense of deep, quiet enclosure between the exposed cliff sections. The wider area is part of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, designated in 1952, and the biodiversity along this stretch is exceptional — choughs, peregrine falcons, razorbills, and guillemots can all be spotted with patience and good fortune.
For visitors, Monkstone Point is most easily reached on foot from either Saundersfoot or Tenby, with the coast path being the natural route from both directions. Saundersfoot, approximately two miles to the north, has a car park near the harbour and makes a convenient starting point for a walk south along the coast. Tenby, similarly, offers ample parking and the coast path north from the town's North Beach leads to the point after a pleasant and varied walk. The path can be uneven and involves some ascent and descent, so sensible footwear is advisable. There is no road access directly to the point itself. The best times to visit are late spring through early autumn for the warmest conditions and the most wildlife activity, though the point in winter has a raw, elemental quality that many walkers find deeply appealing. The beach below is tide-dependent, and visitors should check tide tables before attempting to descend to the foreshore.
One of the quieter pleasures of Monkstone Point is the sense that, despite sitting between two popular tourist destinations, it remains genuinely uncrowded for much of the year. The modest physical effort required to reach it by foot acts as a natural filter, ensuring that most people who arrive there have sought it out with some intention. On summer evenings, the light over Carmarthen Bay from this headland is particularly memorable — the sun descends behind the bulk of the Pembrokeshire peninsula to the west, casting long golden light across the water and warming the pale limestone of the cliffs. The waters below are also used by sea kayakers and small boats, and on calm days the clarity of the sea here, coloured a distinctive blue-green over the sandy shallows, can be startlingly Mediterranean in appearance — a recurring and pleasant surprise on the southern Welsh coast.