A Pembrokeshire beach with a ‘magical’ background has made it onto a list of the world’s top 100 beaches - alongside the likes of Brazil’s Copacabana and Waikiki Beach in Hawaii!
beachatlas.com renowned for its beach guides, has just revealed the ‘Golden Beach Award’ for 2024 and coming in at number 72 is Freshwater West - known for gaining fame from being featured in the film ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’ as the location for Dobby's Shell Cottage.
While the cottage is no longer there, fans can still walk in the footsteps of the film's beloved characters.
The dunes also hosts 'Dobby’s grave’ - a touching tribute created by fans where the cherished house elf's story came to an end.
Marked by pebbles, socks, and a wooden cross, this spot has become a heartfelt memorial for fans to remember one of the franchise's most moving scenes.
Freshwater West also featured extensively in the 2010 film Robin Hood directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, William Hurt, Mark Strong, Mark Addy and Oscar Isaac - which depicted the French invasion of southern England. Over 600 extras and 150 horses were used during filming on the sands.
Whilst filming in the area, it was said that the Aussie actor elected to stay on the beach site rather than book into one of the county’s luxury hotels with fellow cast members.
Typically, the quest for the world's best beaches zeroes in on their visual allure — powdery sands and clear blue waters, but this unique selection goes beyond the conventional, embracing a richer tapestry of what makes a beach remarkable.
Beach Atlas asked selected travel experts and influencers from around the world to cast their votes and curate the list; and the selection is the first ever to expand and encompass diverse criteria such as the value to the local community and cultural significance.
This broader perspective allowed experts to shine a light on those beach gems that typically don't make it onto traditional, unidimensional 'best beach' lists.
Bora Bora took top spot, while Boulders Beach in South Africa came second.