Broad Haven

Broad Haven is a broad, welcoming beach on the shore of St Brides Bay in west Pembrokeshire, and one of the more practical places on this coast to fly. Unlike much of the surrounding cliff coastline, which is National Trust land where launching is banned, the beach here is open and backed by a village with a large seafront car park, so access is easy. At low tide a huge expanse of firm sand opens up, framed by low cliffs and a scatter of sea stacks and rock arches at the southern end that make excellent subjects. Sightlines out across the bay toward Skomer are long and unobstructed. This sits within Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, which asks drone flyers to follow a voluntary code - keep clear of people, wildlife and the cliff-nesting birds. Haverfordwest Aerodrome lies about twelve kilometres north-east, comfortably outside its flight restriction zone. The bay catches Atlantic swell and the wind can be brisk straight off the sea, so pick a settled day and watch for lift near the cliffs. Early morning at low tide gives the biggest beach, the fewest people and clean, side-lit rock features to the south.