![PoppitSands](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/PoppitSands.jpg)
Poppit (),
is a small, dispersed settlement which lies on the southern side of the estuary of the
River Teifi
, name_etymology =
, image = File:Llyn Teifi - geograph.org.uk - 41773.jpg
, image_size =
, image_caption = Llyn Teifi, the source of the Teifi
, map =
, map_size =
, map_caption ...
, near
Cardigan, in northern
Pembrokeshire,
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
.
It is primarily known for its popular sandy beach, called Poppit Sands ()
which adjoins St Dogmaels beach at its eastern estuary end. The beach offers views across the estuary and bay towards
Gwbert
Gwbert (), also known as Gwbert-on-Sea, is a cliff-top coastal village in Y Ferwig community, Ceredigion, Wales. It lies at the most southerly coastal point of Ceredigion, on the eastern shore of the Teifi estuary, from where there are views west ...
and
Cardigan Island
Cardigan Island ( cy, Ynys Aberteifi) is an uninhabited island north of Cardigan, Ceredigion, south-west Wales. It reaches a height of a.s.l., and in area.
Lying in the estuary of the River Teifi, it is known for having a small colony of grey ...
, and the nearest village is
St Dogmaels, 1½ miles away.
The beach has
Blue Flag status and lifeboat and lifeguard cover.
Geography
Features
Backed by low dunes, the top of the beach comprises about 80m of dry, very loose sand, making it very popular with families. Lower down it is hard-packed. The beach slopes gently, and therefore the sea is shallow for quite a long way out. Even at high tide there is plenty of soft sand exposed.
On the eastern side of the dunes, erosion has formed sand cliffs over 4 metres (13 feet) high. New dunes are now building up close to the access boardwalk.
When the tide is fully out, the flats at the far south-eastern end (known as ''Cardigan Bar'') extend for nearly a mile and almost reach Gwbert on the other side. However, due to the estuary there are unpredictable currents at this end of the beach.
At the north-western end of the beach there are rock pools which support a myriad of sea-life.
Wildlife and plant life
The dunes at Poppit Sands are important for wildlife, especially unusual plants such as the
bee orchid. National Park staff manage over 20 hectares (50 acres) of dune, marsh and grazing land here, and one of its projects is to turn the
willow
Willows, also called sallows and osiers, from the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 400 speciesMabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book, Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge. of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist so ...
scrub behind the dunes back to a
reed bed.
In the summer months it is often possible to observe
bottlenose dolphins,
porpoises and
Atlantic grey seals in this part of Cardigan Bay. Occasional boat trips around the bay, with wildlife spotting their main aim, leave from Poppit Sands during the summer months.
Fish trap
Archaeologists studying aerial photographs of the coast have discovered a large 'V'-shaped
fish trap
A fish trap is a trap used for fishing. Fish traps include fishing weirs, lobster traps, and some fishing nets such as fyke nets.
Traps are culturally almost universal and seem to have been independently invented many times. There are two ma ...
in the sea off the Poppit coast. Some long, and comprising a wall wide, it now lies totally submerged (under some of water), even at low tide. Estimated to be some 1,000 years old, in those days it would have appeared at low tide, acting as a shallow rock pool, trapping fish behind the walls as the tide flowed out. At that time the sea level was lower and the entrance to the Teifi Estuary was nearer the Poppit side.
Further research into the fish-trap, the rocks of which are now covered in worms, algae and sea anemones, and only protrude by some above the sea-bed, is currently being undertaken by Pembrokeshire College and the Dyfed Archaeological Trust.
Geology
The rocks of the area are mostly
mudstone, deposited in a deep ocean basin some 450 million years ago. Very few fossils are found in the rocks because the sediments were deposited in such deep water. Associated locally with the mudstone are beds of hard
sandstone
Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate grains. Sandstones comprise about 20–25% of all sedimentary rocks.
Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar (both silicates ...
(
turbidites
A turbidite is the geologic deposit of a turbidity current, which is a type of amalgamation of fluidal and sediment gravity flow responsible for distributing vast amounts of clastic sediment into the deep ocean.
Sequencing
Turbidites were ...
); at Poppit Sands these beds are up to a metre or two thick. Deposited as muds and sands on the ocean floor, they were subsequently squeezed and folded by major earth movements, which changed the mudstones into slates. Excellent examples of these folded rocks can be seen at the western end of Poppit Sands.
The last (
Eemian)
interglacial period
An interglacial period (or alternatively interglacial, interglaciation) is a geological interval of warmer global average temperature lasting thousands of years that separates consecutive glacial periods within an ice age. The current Holocene in ...
, which lasted for some 30,000 years, is sometimes termed the "Poppit Interglacial", the name deriving from Poppit Sands. Here there is a perfectly exposed beach, where it rests upon a classic example of a
raised beach
A raised beach, coastal terrace,Pinter, N (2010): 'Coastal Terraces, Sealevel, and Active Tectonics' (educational exercise), from 2/04/2011/ref> or perched coastline is a relatively flat, horizontal or gently inclined surface of marine origin,P ...
platform just above the high-water mark.
Climate
As with the rest of the
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, ...
, Poppit Sands experiences a
maritime climate
An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate, is the humid temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool summers and mild winters ...
with cool summers and mild winters. The nearest official
Met Office weather station
A weather station is a facility, either on land or sea, with instruments and equipment for measuring atmospheric conditions to provide information for weather forecasts and to study the weather and climate. The measurements taken include tempera ...
for which online records are available is at
Aberporth, which is 6.5 miles (10.7 km) ENE of Poppit Sands, and has a similar coastal aspect.
Typically, less than 3 days of the year will reach or above, the warmest of which should rise to - The highest temperature recorded was , during July 2006.
On average 18.3 nights will report air frost and the coldest night of the year should fall to . The lowest recorded temperature was , during January 1963.
Rainfall averages around 870mm a year, with at least 1mm falling on 143.5 days.
A detailed daily weather forecast for the area, including sea temperature, can be found here.
The sands
Activities
![View over Poppit Sands - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/View_over_Poppit_Sands_-_geograph.org.uk_-_890616.jpg)
The area is a gathering spot for
surfers
Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suitable ...
and
boogie-boarders. As such, daily surf reports are issued. The hard sand below the high tide line also attracts power-kiting, land-boarding and buggying.
The beach is dog-friendly. Although some restrictions apply in the summer months, there is nevertheless a large area set aside for dog-walkers. The beach and the estuary flats are popular with dog-walkers all year round.
Fishing
For fishermen the beach offers good catches of
flounder,
cod
Cod is the common name for the demersal fish genus '' Gadus'', belonging to the family Gadidae. Cod is also used as part of the common name for a number of other fish species, and one species that belongs to genus ''Gadus'' is commonly not call ...
and
whiting in winter, and
mullet can be caught near the river mouth.
Salmon
Salmon () is the common name for several commercially important species of euryhaline ray-finned fish from the family Salmonidae, which are native to tributaries of the North Atlantic (genus ''Salmo'') and North Pacific (genus '' Oncorhy ...
and
sea trout run the river from March to October (an Environment Agency rod licence is necessary if trying for sea trout on the incoming tide).
Publicity
Local photographer
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
spent a considerable amount of time between 2007 and 2012 photographing Poppit Sands beach, from above and at dusk. His work won numerous awards, including three
Hasselblad Masters finalist places (in 2008, 2009 and 2010). The work has been exhibited in the UK, Hong Kong, Copenhagen and New York, and has also been published in a book entitled ''Poppit Sands Moonscapes''.
Status
Up until 2012 the beach carried
Blue Flag status, but following a wet year, which resulted in more naturally occurring
bacteria
Bacteria (; singular: bacterium) are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one Cell (biology), biological cell. They constitute a large domain (biology), domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometr ...
present, and a general tightening of criteria, it lost this status in 2013. It regained its Blue Flag status in 2016 and retained it in 2017 and 2018. It is also a
Seaside Award (Resort) winner.
Safety
Lifeguards patrol the beach from late June to early September, from 10.00 - 6.00 each day, and bathing is safe within the patrolled area, marked by flags.
Water users are advised not to swim in the estuary to the south due to fast currents, but rather to stay at the main beach.
There is a Poppit Sands Surf Lifesaving Club. In June 2011 it was announced that the Club had been awarded £35,980 from the
Big Lottery Fund
The National Lottery Community Fund, legally named the Big Lottery Fund, is a non-departmental public body responsible for distributing funds raised by the National Lottery for "good causes". Since 2004 it has awarded over £9 billion to ...
, for use on new equipment and to provide additional opportunities for recruiting new members.
Lifeboat station
![RNLI station at Poppit Sands - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/RNLI_station_at_Poppit_Sands_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1731420.jpg)
The first
RNLI lifeboat station
A rescue lifeboat is a boat rescue craft which is used to attend a vessel in distress, or its survivors, to rescue crew and passengers. It can be hand pulled, sail powered or powered by an engine. Lifeboats may be rigid, inflatable or rigid-inf ...
at Poppit Sands was opened in 1971. The original Cardigan lifeboat station was built in 1849 (on the south side of the River Teifi below Penrhyn Castle)
[- Cardigan station history](_blank)
Retrieved 27 August 2012 after the loss of the crew from the brig ''Agnes Lee''. This station was taken over by the RNLI the following year. In 1876 a replacement boathouse with slipway was built, the remains of which can be seen down the estuary at Black Rocks, but this was abandoned in 1932, leaving the nearest other stations at Fishguard and Aberystwyth. The subsequent popularity of this area, with increased leisure incidents and accidents, led to the decision to construct a station on the present site.
In 1987 a new boathouse, built for the new C class lifeboat, was officially opened. Then in 1998 a new double boathouse was completed for a B class and D class lifeboats, for launching vehicles, and it also provided improved crew facilities. Consequently, the station today houses two inshore lifeboats, which operate from the beach.
The station is open to the public on Wednesdays (18:00-20:00) and Sundays (10:00-12:00), and also houses an RNLI shop, open throughout the year, volunteers permitting.
Facilities and access
Poppit Sands lies at the northern end of the
Pembrokeshire Coast Path
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path ( cy, Llwybr Arfordir Sir Benfro), often called the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, is a designated National Trail in Pembrokeshire, southwest Wales. Established in 1970, it is a long-distance walking route, mostly a ...
, a 186 mile long-distance walk, now part of the
Wales Coast Path
The Wales Coast Path ( cy, Llwybr Arfordir Cymru) is a designated long-distance trail which follows, or runs close to, the coastline of Wales.
Launched in 2012, the footpath is long and was heralded as the first dedicated coast path in the wor ...
. There is a large pay car-park, with adjacent public toilets. Over the winter and spring of 2012/13 the car park was renovated, and now provides marked bays for 100 cars, with an improved bus-turning area.
The cafe and shop, located by the car park, has also been recently refurbished, and additionally sells beach items like beach balls, inflatables, buckets and spades, and a limited range of body boards and wetsuits.
The main beach is accessed from a boardwalk, and is suitable for disabled access.
Poppit Sands gives its name to "The Poppit Rocket", a local bus service which largely follows the coast between
Cardigan and
Fishguard
Fishguard ( cy, Abergwaun, meaning "Mouth of the River Gwaun") is a coastal town in Pembrokeshire, Wales, with a population of 3,419 in 2011; the community of Fishguard and Goodwick had a population of 5,407. Modern Fishguard consists of two p ...
, and which calls at the beach here.
Poppit Sands
Youth Hostel
A hostel is a form of low-cost, short-term shared sociable lodging where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed in a dormitory, with shared use of a lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex and have private or shared ...
, a former inn, is up the lane towards
Cemaes Head, and has views over the estuary and bay.
Camping is no longer available at Poppit Sands. However 500m up from the youth hostel is Alltycoed Campsite
The nearest pub/hotel is the Webley Hotel, located on the road between Poppit Sands car park and the village of St. Dogmaels.
Etymology
Despite the wealth of travel literature and gazetteers which prevailed in the 19th century, and which include information on nearby Cardigan, the growing resort of Gwbert (across the estuary), and the Abbey at St. Dogmaels, they fail to record any beach here, and it seems it did not become known as a resort until later in the 20th century.
The earliest published reference to the name "Poppit" appears to be in ''Archaeologia Cambrensis'' by W. Pickering, 1902, where there is a reference to ''"the main road to Poppit".''
The name "Poppit", however, can be traced back to the 16th century, and is found in documents relating to the
Dissolution of the Monasteries, in particular with regard to lands owned by nearby
St. Dogmael's Abbey.
[''The History of St. Dogmaels Abbey'', Emily M. Pritchard, 1907] A document of 1537 records :
: ''"One close called'' Potpitt ''containing 15 acres adjacent to the seashore - 6s.8d."''
A later Patent Roll of 1544 records :
:''"Charter of John Bradshaw to him and his heirs .... Also all that our close called'' Potpyt ''containing by estimation fifteen acres adjacent to the seashore."''
In ''"The History of St. Dogmaels Abbey"'', by Emily M. Pritchard, 1907, it states :
: ''"Among the particulars for grants, dated March 1537, is the preliminary account of the Manor and property of the Abbey of St. Dogmaels .... . These
bbeydeeds should be specially interesting to the present inhabitants of St Dogmaels, owing to the family names, which are still mostly the same, and also the place names of various portions of land, lately belonging to the Abbey. Among these,'' Potpitt '', now'' Poppitt '', formerly the name for 'Pwll-cam' (the crooked pool)."''
:''"It is between this Manaian Marsh and the sea that this'' Poppit ''lays, mentioned as'' Potpitt ''in one of the Abbey grants ; the sands also on the same side of the river are called the'' Poppit Sands."
Usage on maps
On 19th century maps the north-western headland of ''Trwyn Careg-ddu'' is named, but not until the 1930s did the name "Poppit Sands" first appear on
Ordnance survey
Ordnance Survey (OS) is the national mapping agency for Great Britain. The agency's name indicates its original military purpose (see ordnance and surveying), which was to map Scotland in the wake of the Jacobite rising of 1745. There was a ...
maps. The increase in small properties in the area from the 1970s onwards has led to the designation of "Poppit" as an area and settlement in its own right, although this name is still not in fact used on O.S. maps.
''Cardigan Bar'', exposed at low tide, was marked on maps before any usage of the name "Poppit Sands", and is still used today.
See also
*
Blue Flag Beaches of Wales
Below is a list of Blue Flag beaches and marinas in Wales, sorted by regulatory body. As of September 2022, 53 locations had been designated by the internationally recognised Foundation for Environmental Education based in Copenhagen, Denmark. ...
*
Cemaes Head
References
External links
Poppit Sands - Cardigan Bay Coast Official websitePoppit Sands Cafe & ShopForces of Nature site - Poppit SandsPoppit Sands Daily Surf ReportPoppet Sands Surf Lifesaving ClubYouTube video - Medieval Fish Trap at Poppit SandsBlue Flag criteria - Beacheswww.geograph.co.uk : Photos of Poppit Sands and surrounding areaWebsite of photographer Michael Jackson showing his 'Poppit Sands' project
Gallery
{{coord, 52.107, -4.696, type:landmark_region:GB, display=title
Beaches of Pembrokeshire
Coast of Pembrokeshire