Pendine
| Pendine Welsh: Pentywyn | |
| Carmarthenshire | |
|---|---|
| |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SN231085 |
| Location: | 51°44’50"N, 4°33’50"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 346 (2011) |
| Post town: | Carmarthen |
| Postcode: | SA33 |
| Dialling code: | 01267 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Carmarthenshire |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire |
Pendine is a village and parish in Carmarthenshire, lying on Carmarthen Bay. Its name means "end of the dunes".
History
The village consists of two parts: the old hill-top settlement around the parish church, and the small harbour settlement on the shore. The latter developed into a small seaside resort during the 20th century. The English form of the place name originates from the Welsh Pen-din, where pen means "end" and din "fort". With time this has become Pendine. Pendein and Pendyne have also been recorded. The seaside resort is best known for Pendine Sands, where Malcolm Campbell and J. G. Parry-Thomas set the world land speed record five times between 1924 and 1927. Parry-Thomas was killed while making a final record-breaking attempt on Pendine Sands in 1927.
The parish lies a few miles south of the Landsker line, and is predominantly English-speaking.
Places of interest
The village is home to the Pendine Museum of Speed, which for part of the summer has Parry-Thomas's restored car Babs on display.
Other information
On some occasions, part of the beach is used by the QinetiQ for firing practice.
The BBC show Top Gear have twice test driven on the Sands. Cars were banned from the beach between 2005 and 2010 but are now permitted again.
Carmarthenshire Land Sailing Club is allowed to use the beach for wind-traction activities, including land sailing, kite buggying and kite landboarding.