Freshwater West facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Freshwater West |
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 Freshwater West Beach |
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 Freshwater West
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| OS grid reference | SR884997 |
| Principal area | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Postcode district | SA71 |
| Police | Dyfed-Powys |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
Freshwater West, often called Fresh West, is a famous beach in West Wales. You can find it near Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire, right along the B4319 road. This beautiful spot is part of the amazing Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Freshwater West is well-known for its powerful waves and strong currents, making it one of the best places in Wales for surfing.
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Exploring Freshwater West's Geography
Freshwater West beach is almost a mile long. It has large sand dunes and many rock pools. At the southern end, near the car park, there's a rocky area called Little Furznip. On top of its cliff, you can see a special hut used for drying seaweed. Little Furznip separates Freshwater West from Frainslake Bay to the south.
In the past, this beach was a secret spot for smugglers. If you go northwest along the coast, you'll find other interesting places like Gravel Bay and Sheep Island. The cliffs along this coast are mostly made of red sandstone. They are steep and have fallen rocks at the back of the beaches.
Understanding the Beach's Environment
The water at Freshwater West is part of the Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation (SAC). This means it's a very important place for sea life. The beach also belongs to the Angle Peninsula Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Strong ocean currents come from the northwest and southeast. The tide here can change by about 6.5 meters.
Behind the beach, there are huge sand dune areas like Broomhill Burrows. The land around the beach has different types of habitats. These include fens (wetlands), grasslands, and reedbeds. Many animals live here, such as waders (birds that wade in water), chough (a type of crow), and grey seals. Even though it's a beautiful place, swimming is not safe because of the strong waves and currents. Many fossils have been found in this area.
Fun Activities and Landmarks
Freshwater West is a popular spot for both visitors and local people all year round. It's especially busy from March to October. The beach has useful facilities like toilets and car parking. During the summer, you can often find an ice-cream or hot-dog van in the main car park.
There is a military firing range nearby called Castlemartin MOD. Sometimes, during firing practice, you might hear loud noises. Besides the seaweed-drying hut, there's an ancient burial site nearby. It's called the "Devil's Quoit" and dates back to the Iron Age. You can find it in a field next to the main road leading out of Freshwater.
Surfing at Freshwater West
Freshwater West is known as one of the best surfing spots in Wales. This is because it almost always has good waves and strong swells. The beach often hosts big surfing events, like the Welsh National Surfing Championships. Surfers from all over the world come to compete here. Since 2010, there has been a lifeguard station at the beach. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months to help keep everyone safe.
Freshwater West: A Filming Location
Freshwater West has been used as a setting for several famous movies and TV shows.
Movies Filmed at the Beach
- Robin Hood (2010): The beach was a major filming location for the 2010 movie Robin Hood, starring Russell Crowe. The film showed a French invasion of southern England, and over 600 extra actors and 150 horses were used on the beach for these scenes.
- Harry Potter Films: Freshwater West was also used for the last two Harry Potter films, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Part 2. The sad scenes with Dobby the elf were filmed here. A special building called "Shell Cottage" was built at the bottom of the sand dunes for the movie. It was taken down after filming finished.
- Other Productions: The beach was also a filming spot for a season of the BBC show The Sarah Jane Adventures and the movie The Thief of Bagdad.
- Freshwater West, Pembrokeshire
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Shell Cottage - while filming Harry Potter
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Filming Robin Hood
