When you think of Wales, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it Doctor Who? Because for me, it’s Doctor Who. Many of the newer seasons (think Christopher Eccleston, also known as The Ninth Doctor, and beyond) have been filmed almost exclusively in Wales. Little did I know that Wales was also famous for its beaches!
Upon closer consideration, it makes sense. There are 1,680 miles of coastline. There are also numerous stunning beach communities and spots that dot the coastline. Even in the wintertime, these spots were excellent to visit.
Our first stop was Tenby. I mean, look at that coastline. The beach stretches for miles, making it an excellent spot for a walk. It’s also a great spot to bring your dog! Not only was the beach a great spot to bring your dog, but Wales was severely more accommodating of dogs than anywhere I have seen in the States. It was wonderful to take our Labrador retriever hostess, Agnes, along with us on each of our stops.
Even with the clouds and quasi-chilly weather, it was a wonderful place for a stroll.
Turning our focus away from the beach, we went into town. The entire village is dotted with these brightly colored buildings that speak to its vibrancy. Sidenote, how do these cars drive down these tiny roads? Very carefully.
After wandering through the streets and the shops, slightly depressed that there wasn’t an ice cream shop open, we found our way to a pub. Naturally.
My mom has this thing about drinking local beers wherever she goes. I like to do that too, so having a Harbwr Brewery beer in Tenby just made delicious sense. There are numerous shops and restaurants to choose from throughout the town. Being that it was Christmas Eve, I was surprised at how many spots were open. I was also surprised at seeing just how many people were out and about. Everyone was taking advantage of the weather, and it was delightful to be a part of it.
As I mentioned earlier, Wales is frequently used as a filming location for the show Doctor Who. One of its beaches was also used in the filming of the Harry Potter film series. Specifically, it was used for the final scene of The Deathly Hallows: Part One and the beginning of Part Two. The following section contains a massive spoiler; if you haven’t read the books or seen the movies, please continue scrolling until after the photos. ************* Scroll now to avoid it *************
I knew from research that there was a nearby beach that was the home of Dobby’s grave. I’ve got a brother-in-law who hates Dobby because of how much trouble he got Harry in. But enough about him and his myopic thinking. I wanted to see where they filmed the scene. It’s a moving scene because Dobby was one of the first sentient, magical creatures that Harry befriended, and in the end, Dobby sacrificed his own safety and well-being to save Harry and his friends. It’s a real gut punch given everything Harry has already lost up to that point.
First, we made our way to Freshwater West beach. The spot of Dobby’s grave is not too difficult to find. There will, more than likely, be people hovering around the makeshift grave just above the main beach. I was not expecting the site to be as moving as it was. When I walked up, I saw the sheer volume of stones with personal messages written on them for Dobby. This is a character in a book and film series. People from around the world have come here to pay their respects. It’s heartwarming to think about the impact he had on all of these people who left a note or message.
It should be noted that the Welsh government has asked people not to leave socks (it’s a house elf thing) by the grave because they could end up in the ocean, adding pollution to the beach. Leave your socks on your feet or in your drawers.
***** Spoilers Over *****
Our last beach of the day took us to Broad Haven Beach, located near Haverfordwest.
As you can see, it’s a lovely, crescent-shaped bay. The sand was soft. The mist coming off the water created an almost mythical atmosphere, making the space even more enchanting. As we walked the beach, along with Agnes, I couldn’t help but take in the beauty of the area. I live in and was born in California. It’s a place known for its beaches. But the Welsh beaches felt more magical. Maybe I’m seeing these beaches through Red Dragon-colored glasses, but all the spots we visited that day were places I want to return to and visit in the summer. I can’t say that about Santa Monica or Redondo Beach.
John Kidde Writes 