Pembrokeshire

Travel Guide Europe United Kingdom Wales Pembrokeshire

Introduction

Harbour, Lower Solva, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Pembrokeshire is the county at the far southwest of Wales. Most of its long coast line is in The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, which somewhat ironically retained its name during the years from 1974 into the 1990s when Pembrokeshire disappeared from the map and was absorbed for a time into Dyfed. Now Dyfed has past away and Pembrokeshie is back.

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Geography

Much of the southern part of the county is fairly flat and agricultural but the vast majotity of visitors are attracted by the long coast with its fabulous and varied beaches, headlands, islands and coves. There are beaches facing north, south, west and even east! Not far from the north coast are the Preseli Hills, the source of the bluestones at England's Stonehenge! There is also the Gwaun Valley, with an atmosphere of the 18th or 19th century. There are numerous high quality Bronze Age remains.

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Towns and Villages

St Davids coast, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Abereiddi - the nearest village on the north coast to St David's Head. Two things about it sound terrible; neither is. The car park adjacent to the beach does not spoil it and the black sand is not mud - as witnessed by high bouncing balls. There is a fascinating old harbour from the slate works caled the blue lagoon. Great for children.
Abercastle
Angle
Broad Haven - The most resort-like beach in north Pembrokeshire.
Dale
Fishguard - port for the Irish ferry to Rosslare].
Goodwick
Haverfordwest
Little Haven
Manorbier
Marloes
Milford Haven - name for both a river estuary and a town, which is a major oil harbour.
Nevern
Newport
Nolton Haven - les crowded and less developed than Broad or Little Haven- not one of the top beaches for water quality
Pembroke - a fine castle
Porthgain - an old port with many industrial remains from slate mining and a brick factory.
Saundersfoot
Solva - a wooded river estuary quite unlike any other seaside place in the park
St David's
Tenby - a south Pembrokeshire resort opposite to Caldy Island.

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Beaches

Only beaches additional to those in the towns and villages above are listed.

Druidston Haven - Lacking any parking except for a few cars on the road, this fine beach of hard black sand with caves is rarely crowded. Good for swimming but the tide comes in very fast.
Newgale - Large beach on the road from Haverfordwest to St David's.
St Bride's Haven - little sand but great for children to explore rock pools near the pebble beach.
Marloes Beach - This and Musselwick are both fine beaches on opposite sides of the road at Marloes. Stacks and good sand - ideal for very young children to be held in the pools left but the sacks at low tide. (worth the trudge down with a push-cart.)
Musselwick Sands
Trefyn
Whitesands Bay - near Broad Haven - popular for boating.
Newport Sands - north Pembrokeshire - popular for boating, swimming, wind surfing.
Ceibwr Bay - north Pembrokeshire - popular for seal watching. Spectacular rock formations.

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Islands

Caldey
Grassholm - a gannetry
Ramsey
Skokholm - This and Skomer are fine for breeding seabirds.
Skomer - Best accessible island to see Puffins along the west coast of Wales.

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Sights and Activities

Coastal viewpoints

Green Bridge

Pwll Deri
St Anne's Head - small lighthouse.
St David's Head - a good cromlech, Coetan Arthur, at the start of the headland and an iron age fort further along add interest to a lovely headland.
Strumbles Head picturesque lighthouse and a top cance of seeing seals nearby.
Whitesands Bay - terrific seascape.
Wooltack Point - end of dale Peninsula overlooking Skomer.
Parrog, Newport - spectacular sunsets during the summer and winter alike.
Green Bridge - bridge like rock formation in Pembrokeshire National Park

Other

Pentre Ifan - near Newport Pembrokeshire. Neolithic Dolmen.
Careg Sampson
Carreg Coetan Arthur - at Newport Pembrokeshire. Neolithic Dolmen.
Porthgain industrial archaeology.
St David's Cathedral
St David's Bishops Palace
St Non's Chapel

The Coastal Footpath covers the whole stretch of the coast. For other walks in the Park of all standards click here. Traditional Welsh wool features at Solva and Melin Tregwynt mills.

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