South West Wales Accommodation

Stack Rocks, St Bride's Bay, Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire National Park and Pembrokeshire Coast Path Walking
The wild Pembrokeshire coastline near St Davids on the western edge
Coastal walking doesn't get much more dramatic than this in the UK
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path
Beautiful Pembrokeshire scenery
Green Bridge of Wales

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Coastal Walks Wales

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park consists of 230 square miles is stunning, mostly cliff coastal scenery with heath, beaches and bays and offshore islands, and the Pembrokeshire Coast Path (one of the UK's 18 official National Trials) winds its way around the Pembrokeshire coast for 186 miles. The Pembrokeshire Coastline is renowned for its varied and rich wildlife - birds are in abundance including puffins, Manx shearwaters and guillemots. In the water spot the grey seals, particularly around Skomer and Ramsey Islands (take a boat trip to view them!) . Migrating dolphins and minke whales can also be spotted around the Pembrokeshire coast. The Pembrokeshire Coast path is very well marked, with maps and information leaflets provided for all sections. Most car parks around the coast are free, and for visitors without a car the aptly named Puffin Shuttle bus service will whisk you around the path. (timetable weblink right)

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is a major attraction for walkers, particularly those who favour coastal walking. If you haven't yet discovered Pembrokeshire, what awaits is one of the most beautiful and dramatic coastlines in the UK. It's mostly cliffs dotted with beach bays many of which are top surfing, windsurfing, new coasteering and climbing popular haunts. Look to the Preseli Hills for the highest point at Foel Cwm Cerwyn (536m). There are numerous ancient trails criss crossing these hills taking in prehistoric hill forts and more!

Featured Wales Accommodation

Kinloch Court Tenby Backpackers - Tenby

Backpackers hotel in Tenby with 12 rooms overlooking the golden sands towards Caldey Island. Restaurant, families welcome, great value for money

£20 to £35 Per person B&B (2 sharing)

Pembrokeshire Coastal Walking

To help you plan your Pembrokeshire coastal walking holidays there are several Pembrokeshire National Park Tourist Information centres. (see below for the main tourist info offices). The free Coast to Coast newspaper is obtainable from all these tourist info points, and well worth a browse to see what's on and where around the coast during your Pembrokeshire holiday. Around 15 days is often the time preference given for walking all 186 miles of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, but it's easy to dip into some of the best coastal stretches! (look to the Visit Pembrokeshire weblink right for a breakdown of various coastal stretches and suggested day routes for walking). Particular favourite parts of the coast path for walkers include the Dale to Martin's Haven near Marloes stretch and the Solva to Whitesands Bay stretch taking in St Davids. The Cardigan Bay stretch upto Cemaes Head and Poppit Sands is wild, rugged and also popular.

Hook into guided walks offered by the Pembrokeshire National Park (see weblinks right for details) from April to October. The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path is walkers only, no cycling on this path! Take the Celtic Trail (377 miles) for cycling, a large part of which runs in a circular route round Pembrokeshire, taking in particularly Tenby, Haverfodwest, St David's and Fishguard. Offshore Island guided walks are also available, for example around Skomer. Across the Pembrokeshire National Park and Coast Path there are over 200 circular walks to choose from - take a quick 30 minute stroll or a long 10 mile hike, the choice is yours. There's also a choice of easy access parths (see weblinks right) which have better surfaces more suited to visitors with disabilities or families with young children. You've also a network of bridleways across Pembrokeshire - a reason why horse riding is particularly popular here!

As well as a superb area for walking and birdwatching holidays, the Pembrokeshire National Park offers up a choice of attractions, notably the Castell Henllys Iron Age Fort situated near Newport to the north and medieval Carew Castle and the Tidal Millpond on the edge of the Daugleddau. These are most important centres for wildlife too, including bats, otters and wildflowers.

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, Llanion Park, Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire. Wales, SA72 6DY. Tel: 0845 345 7275

Pembrokeshire National Park Centres & Tourist Information Points

Newport National Park Tourist Information Centre, Bank Cottage, Long Street, Newport, Pembrokeshire. SA42 0TN. Tel: 01239 820912. St Davids National Park Visitor Centre, The Grove, St Davids, Pembrokeshire, SA62 6NW. Tel: 01437 720392.

Newport and St Davids are the main two national park centres, but other tourist information points here below all provide leaflets and details on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path and National Park. Landsker Borderlands Tourism Association, Kilgetty Tourist Information Centre, Kingsmoor Common, Kilgetty. Tel: 01834 814161. Pembrokeshire County Council Saundersfoot Tourist Information Centre (open summer only), The Barbecue, The Harbour, Saundersfoot. Tel: 01834 813672. Ferry Terminal Pembroke Dock (10:30 - 14:30 summer opening only), Pembroke Dock, Tel: 01646 622753.

Tenby Tourist Information Centre, Park Road, Tenby, Tel: 01834 842404. Pembroke Visitor Centre (summer opening only), The Commons Road, Pembroke. Tel: 01646 622388. Haverfordwest Tourist Information Centre, 19 Old Bridge, Haverfordwest. Tel: 01437 763110. Milford Haven Tourist Information Centre (open summer only), 94 Charles Street, Milford Haven, Tel: 01646 690866.

Fishguard Tourist Information Centre, Fishguard Library, High Street, Fishguard, Tel: 01348 873484. Fishguard Harbour Tourist Information Centre, Ocean Lab, Goodwick, Fishguard. Tel: 01348 872037. Ceredigion County Council, Cardigan Tourist Information Centre, Theatre Mwldan, Bath House Road, Cardigan. Tel: 01239 613230.

Pembrokeshire Coast Wildlife & Bird Watching Holidays Pembrokeshire

The Pembrokeshire coast offers an exciting choice of bird watching opportunities, including both resident and migratory birds. Visit in the summer for the bustling breeding season. In winter watch the wildfowl, waders and birds like Savion Greebs, Little Egrets and Great Northern Divers. Lapwings and Golden Plovers are common over the Pembrokeshire landscape. Swallers, Warblers and other migratory seabirds arrive in spring around the Pembrokeshire coast and islands. Pembrokeshire truly is a birding watching holiday hotspot within the UK.

There's a couple of National Nature Reserves here in Pembrokeshire too - Skomer Island (a Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve) and Ramsey Island (an RSPB Nature Reserve). See websites right for RSPB and Wildlife Trust links. Boats run regularly to both islands. To Skomer Island boats run daily from Martins Haven from 1st April to the end of October. For both Skomer and Ramsey Islands check the weblinks right for full details on boat trips and bird watching guided tours, and the spectacular choice of birds you can expect to see through all seasons!

Pembrokeshire Gardens

Begelly Park Gardens and Tea Rooms, Narbeth Road, Begelly, SA48 8DG. Tel: 01834 811320. Website right for details

Colby Woodland Gardens (National Trust) Pembrokeshire, Tel: 01834 811885, See National Trust website right . Bro-Meigan Gardens Boncath, SA37 0JE. Pembrokeshire. Tel: 01239 841232.

Manorowen Walled Gardens Goodwick, Fishguard, SA6 5PU Pembrokeshire. Tel: 01348 872168. Penlan Uchaf Gardens Cwm Gwav, Fishguard, SA65 9UA. Pembrokeshire. Tel: 01348 881388.

Picton Castle and Woodland Gardens Haverfordwest, SA62 4AS Pembrokeshire. Tel: 01437 751326. Upton Castle Gardens Near Pembroke Dock, SA70 8SL. Pembrokeshire. Tel: 01646 651782.