How to Get to “Harry Potter” Beach Without a Car: Dobby’s Grave & Shell Cottage

Just as when I was in Ireland and wanted to get to the Cliffs of Moher without a car to see the Harry Potter cave, I had the same issue when I wanted to see another Harry Potter film location: the beach with Dobby’s grave and Shell Cottage.

Luckily, although not totally easy and requiring some planning, it is possible to get to Dobby’s grave and Shell Cottage film location without a car.

I’ll detail how to do it in this blog post, as well as tips for things to do once you arrive.

Where is Dobby’s grave and Shell Cottage beach?

Dobby’s grave and Shell Cottage, featured in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was filmed at Freshwater West Beach.

If you’re plugging this into Google Maps, be aware that there is a Freshwater East Beach, which is not close by. So don’t end up there by accident if you’re aiming to see the film location of Dobby’s grave and Shell Cottage!

Can you walk to the “Harry Potter” beach where Dobby’s grave and Shell Cottage was filmed?

Well, depends where you’re coming from.

Feeling up for a long walk, I had the lofty goal of taking the bus to Saint Govan’s Chapel and walking along the Wales Coast Path to Freshwater West Beach. It would have taken about three to four hours, or so I had guessed.

DON’T try this if you’re trying to walk to Dobby’s grave. This stretch of the coast has been closed for decades, as it’s used by the military.

What you can do, if you really want a coastal walk, is to get off the bus early at Angle. This tiny seaside town has a beach too on West Angle Bay, but it’s not the Harry Potter beach.

You can get to that beach (Freshwater West) from West Angle Bay by taking a scenic walk along the coast on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

It takes a few hours (about 5 miles from beach to beach), so make sure you’re up for it! Otherwise, just take the bus one stop further to Freshwater West Beach.

Can you take public transportation to see Dobby’s grave and the “Harry Potter” beach?

Yep! It’s luckily possible to visit the “Harry Potter” beach without a car and using just public transportation.

But it’s a bit tricky. Let me break it down for you.

1. You need to get a train to Pembroke.

This may be a long train ride depending on where you’re coming from. If you are coming from farther away, you’ll have to stay in the Pembrokeshire area overnight to catch the bus to Freshwater West (a.k.a. Dobby’s grave beach).

Trying to get to Harry Potter beach from London?

Doable, but you’ll have to spend the night in Pembrokeshire. Don’t let this deter you; it’s a beautiful part of the world and with lots of accommodation options in Pembroke.

It’s around 6 hours by train: London —> Swansea —> Carmarthen —>Pembroke

Trying to get to Harry Potter beach from Cardiff?

It’s about 3 to 4 hours by train: Cardiff —> Carmarthen —> Pembroke

Trying to get to Harry Potter beach from Carmarthen?

It’s 1 hour 14 minutes by train: Carmarthen —> Pembroke

Trying to get to Harry Potter beach from Tenby?

It’s 20 minutes by train: Tenby —> Pembroke

2. From Pembroke, you’ll need to take the 387 bus.

In peak season, this bus runs daily at 8:42 a.m. and 1:02 p.m. from Somerfield bus stop in Pembroke. Depending on how long you’d like to stay at Freshwater West Beach, choose one of these options.

Beyond Dobby’s grave, this beach is very much worth visiting! It is absolutely gorgeous, and the walk from Angle along the coast path is very nice too. So consider going for a whole day.

3. Walk to the west to find Dobby’s grave film location.

The bus will drop you off at the Freshwater Beach car park. There is a delicious food truck here, where I’d recommend getting a drink and local food before heading to the beach. If you’re brave enough (I wasn’t), try the seaweed tea and pretend it’s a gillyweed drink to keep up with the Harry Potter theme of your day at this beach.

Now, head down the stairs and veer to the right of the beach. Walk past the lifeguard hut and soon you’ll find a pile of stones piled up on a sand dune.

This is the film location of Dobby’s grave!

It’s also in these sand dunes where the Shell Cottage set was constructed for the Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows films. But unfortunately, it was a temporary set and the cottage is no longer there.

4. Hang out on Freshwater West Beach.

Beyond Harry Potter ties, this beach is absolutely worth visiting. It’s one of the best places in the UK to go surfing. If that’s not your thing, it’s a really long beach and therefore perfect for a walk, either along the shore or through the sand dunes.

For a longer walk, check out my earlier tips for the cliff walk that goes past this beach (Pembrokeshire Coast Path).

I spent hours wandering the area, and each new bit I explored was more beautiful than the next. So there’s plenty to see in the area even if you arrive to the “Harry Potter” beach without a car, but it can also be a short visit if you don’t have much time and just want to see Dobby’s grave.

5. Take the 387 bus back to Pembroke.

After you’ve had your fill of exploring the “Harry Potter” Freshwater West Beach and reading the stones at Dobby’s grave spot, head back up to the car park where the bus dropped you off. This is where you’ll get on again.

Take the bus at 1:41 p.m. or 4:02 p.m. back to Pembroke.

6. Take a train back to wherever you want to go next.

This may require some planning too to make sure that there’s a train back at the time you arrive back to Pembroke (it’s a bit more than a half hour bus ride).

6. Consider staying overnight somewhere in Pembrokeshire.

You might not be able to catch a train back the day of. For example, going all the way back to London isn’t possible.

Pembroke itself is a nice town, and while you’re there, check out the castle. (It was used to film Me Before You.)

Tenby is a lovely seaside town, and it’s featured in my Writer’s Travel Guide to Wales. A great place to stop for a mini solo writing retreat!

A bit further inland is Narberth, which is a cute little historic town surrounded by the countryside.

And even higher north is Carmarthen, the oldest continuously occupied town in Wales, the supposed birthplace of the famous magician Merlin and the town I’m currently living in.

All of these towns are on the train line going to Pembroke, where you’ll catch the bus to Freshwater West Beach!

More Harry Potter film locations

Interested in visiting more Harry Potter related places? Here’s my huge post of Harry Potter film locations and themed places all around the world! I’m constantly adding more to this list as I actively search for more everywhere I travel.