Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost for you!
Are you a muggle travelling to Wales soon? Perfect because I’m about to tell you everything you need to know about the Harry Potter locations in Wales.
The Harry Potter movies were mainly filmed in England and Scotland.
J.K. Rowling had a strong relationship with Edinburgh and London so it makes sense that these places were chosen as the main Harry Potter filming locations.
However, there is one location in Wales that was used as a Harry Potter filming location: Shell Cottage and the beach where Dobby dies and where his grave is.
🧙Shell Cottage & Dobby’s Grave Location – Quick Info🧙
🎬 Featured in: Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2
🌍 Real-life name: Freshwater West Beach
📍 Location: Pembrokeshire, Wales – Find on Google Maps
🚗 Free carpark with toilets
🏞️ National Trust site
🐶 Dog-friendly
The real life filming location used is Freshwater West Beach and it’s located in South Wales.
In this article, I’ll tell you everything there is to know about so you can visit.
Where to find the Harry Potter filming location in Wales
The beach where Dobby dies, is buried and where Shell Cottage is in Wales is called Freshwater West Beach.
It is located in Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park, near Castlemartin (Google Maps Location).
This wide sandy beach is surrounded by dunes, making it the perfect Harry Potter filming location!
Everything, including Dobby’s grave, was built on-site!
It’s also a great place to go surfing! There are always a lot of amazing waves which is why it’s a popular surfing spot.
You can visit Freshwater West Beach every day of the year but May to September would be the best time.
In which movies can you see Freshwater West Beach, Dobby’s Grave and Shell Cottage in Harry Potter?
Freshwater West Beach was featured in two movies.
The first one is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 in the beach scene during which Dobby dies.
As you probably remember, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Dobby escape the Malfoy manor after a fight with Bellatrix Lestrange. They end up on a beach where Dobby will eventually die and be buried.
Freshwater West Beach is also featured in the opening scene of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 where you can see Harry by Dobby’s grave and overlooking Shell Cottage.
Can you visit Dobby’s grave in real life?
Yes, you can. Dobby’s grave is located behind the dunes on Freshwater West Beach. It’s sheltered from the tides and can be visited at anytime.
Please note that this area is looked after by the National Trust so please be respectful of the environment.
How to get Freshwater West Beach and where to park
The best way to get to the Harry Potter beach in Wales is by car. You will have to take a small and windy road with passing places to get there.
You can park at the public carpark for free.
Can you stay at Freshwater West Beach?
Yes you can stay at Gupton Farm Surf Lodge which is very close to the beach. They have a beautiful cottage that can host up to 10 guests.
If you stay there, you can also park for free and walk from there to the beach.
Is Freshwater West Beach dog friendly?
Yes, it is dog-friendly which means you can go to the Shell Cottage location with your dog.
What is Shell Cottage in Harry Potter?
Shell Cottage is the house of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour. It is also, sadly, the place where Dobby died and is buried.
In the books, Shell Cottage is described as a lonely and beautiful place in Cornwall.
In the movies though, Shell Cottage was filmed in Wales!
Fun facts about Harry Potter and Wales
The connections between Harry Potter and Wales are not always very clear however, J.K. Rowling seems to have included some welsh legends and facts into her books!
As you may know, a lot of things in Harry Potter are based on real things or legends. It was only normal there would be some Welsh connections!
- Helga Hufflepuff was Welsh
- The Knight bus passed through Anglesey during Harry’s first ride on it
- The dragon is Wales official animal, symbol and is present everywhere in Wales (and HP 😉 )
- There are 6 welsh actors in Harry Potter: Steffan Rhodri, Paul Whitehouse, Ryan Nelson, Shefali Chowdhury, Ian Whyte and Rhys Ifans.
You may also be interested in:
- Harry Potter Train in Scotland: Ultimate Guide to Riding the Jacobite Train in Real Life in 2024
- 14 Best Harry Potter Tours in Edinburgh to Book in 2024
- 25 Magical Harry Potter things to do at home (activities for adults & kids!)
- Guide to visiting the Harry Potter Viaduct in Scotland: exactly how to see the Hogwarts Express on the Glenfinnan Viaduct
