Holiday accommodation in Pembrokeshire: coast, coastal path and nature

Pembrokeshire combines an impressive coastline with the Preseli Hills, rural landscapes and diverse wildlife. At its heart is Pembrokeshire Coast National Park: it is home to the only truly coastal national park in Great Britain and features a wide variety of beaches.

Coast and paths

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail is 186 miles or 299 kilometres long and runs from St Dogmaels to Amroth. The Wales Coast Path and the International Appalachian Trail also follow it through Pembrokeshire. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path opened in 1970 and was the first National Trail in Wales. In addition, the national park has more than 600 miles of public footpaths and bridleways, allowing visitors to discover the landscape, wildlife and history of the Pembrokeshire Coast.

The Access Land in the national park covers around 6,000 hectares, accounts for 10 percent of the national park and is located mainly in North Pembrokeshire, for example in the Preseli Hills. On this Access Land, visitors may walk, run, climb and picnic, take photographs, explore historic remains and observe animals. Camping, fires and leaving waste behind are not permitted there. In Pembrokeshire, a selection of beach mobility aids is available free of charge through local businesses, including wheelchairs specially designed for sandy beaches. The beaches offer opportunities for swimming, watersports, beach games and exploring rock pools.

Nature and sea

The coastal heathland of Pembrokeshire provides a habitat for wheatears, larks and stonechats; grey seals, dolphins and porpoises are found along the coast. A particularly species-rich focal point is Skomer, an internationally important seabird island with almost 350,000 breeding pairs of Manx shearwaters, more than 40,000 puffins, as well as thousands of guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes. Skomer lies less than a mile off the coast of Pembrokeshire and can be visited on a day trip or for an overnight stay.

The Skomer Marine Conservation Zone encompasses species and habitats of national and international importance, including grey seals, red fan corals, sponge communities, seagrass and algal communities. It can be reached by boat or overland via Martins Haven; from there, seasonal scheduled ferries depart for Skomer and Skokholm.

The Stackpole Estate also combines various types of landscape, including sandy beaches, wooded valleys, species-rich lily ponds, walking trails and opportunities for watersports. The estate also has a 4-mile mountain bike trail through woodland, with climbs, jumps, bends and turns. Hundreds of water lilies bloom at Bosherston Lily Ponds in early summer; the lakes and waterside woods provide a habitat for animals all year round.

History and culture

The historical span ranges from the Stone Age to medieval episcopal residences. Pentre Ifan Chambered Tomb is a Neolithic burial monument. Its 16½-foot or 5-metre capstone has rested on three supporting stones for more than 5,000 years. Castell Henllys is the only Iron Age village in Great Britain where the roundhouses have been reconstructed on the sites where they stood 2,000 years ago.

Between 1328 and 1347, Henry de Gower transformed the bishop's residence into a mighty palace. Its great hall was used for legal proceedings, feasts and receiving distinguished pilgrims. Llawhaden Castle is a fortified manor house with military and decorative features that served as the residence of the wealthy bishops of St Davids. Carew Castle is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its bat population and several locally or regionally rare plant species.

At Pembroke Castle, a free guided tour is included in the admission price and takes place daily at selected times throughout the year. St Davids Cathedral stands on the site of a monastery founded by St David in the 6th century and has been a place of pilgrimage and worship for more than 800 years. In St Davids, Oriel y Parc is at once a national park centre, gallery, shopping venue and café. Admission is free; changing exhibitions by Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales and local artists are shown.

Carew Tidal Mill is the only restored tidal mill in Wales and one of only five in the United Kingdom. It features an exhibition, audio commentary and family-friendly interactive displays about the use of water as a sustainable energy source throughout history.

Local insights

The weekly Friday Producers Market at the Queens Hall in Narberth offers produce from Pembrokeshire, cakes, jams, preserves, and handmade arts and crafts.

More local pages: Fishguard, St David's, Tenby, Treffgarne, Saundersfoot, Pembroke Dock, Pembroke, Narberth, Milford Haven, Begelly, Haverfordwest, Mathry, Newport, Nevern, St Florence, Llandissilio, Roch, Newgale.

Goodwick, Pontfaen, Kilgetty, Letterston, Templeton, Manorbier, Castlemartin, Abercych, Whitland, Camrose, Solva, Rosemarket, Porthgain, Crymych, Cilgerran, Stackpole, Ludchurch, Llandeloy.

Llangwm, Clarbeston Road, Angle, Clarbeston, Cosheston, Saint Dogmaels, Penally, Llanfyrnach, Moylegrove, Abercastle, Mynachlog-ddu, Boncath, Treffynnon, Houghton, Clynderwen, Wisemans Bridge, Stepaside, Lydstep.

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