Pembrokeshire will provide you with a brilliant family holiday. That’s not just our opinion - that’s according to experts like National Geographic, Lonely Planet and Trip Advisor.
Tenby and Saundersfoot
Britain’s only coastal National Park covers about a third of the county, and its 187-mile seafront manages to be both wildly beautiful and crammed with things to do. Tenby, for instance, a perfect harbour town with medieval castle walls, is an idyllic holiday base. There’s always plenty of space on its big beaches, and if you really want to get away, you can take a mackerel-fishing trip from the harbour, or nip across to meet the monks on Caldey Island.
Nearby Saundersfoot is another delightful family base, with a proper fishing harbour, the best views of which are from the infinity pool of the luxury St Brides Spa Hotel.
Beautiful beaches and lots of activities
Head along the south coast and brilliant beaches come thick and fast. Barafundle regularly wins ‘best beach in Britain’ gongs. Freshwater West is great for surfers and film-makers (it’s where they did those Harry Potter beach scenes, so you can visit the spot where Dobby was buried). Not to be outdone, Marloes Sands co-starred with Kristen Stewart in the epic Snow White and the Huntsman.
Then it’s on to Skomer Island, a bird sanctuary of world importance, where you can take a boat out to picnic among the puffins. Or how about bodyboarding at Newgale or a shockingly fast rib-ride around Ramsey Island? A pilgrimage to the wonderful cathedral at St Davids?
The further north you go in Pembrokeshire, the wilder it gets. Here’s where coasteering was invented, the fabulous sport of clambering, climbing and lobbing yourself into the waters of Blue Lagoon at Abereiddy where, in 2012, the Red Bull Cliff Diving championships were held.
From here, head up past hidden beaches like Abermawr (there's a lovely circular walk exploring the nearby woodland), up through Fishguard to Dinas Head, the highest point on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, which has another fabulous circular walk. From here you can see the pretty village of Newport, Pembrokeshire which is a popular summer holiday destination.
Pembrokeshire's attractions
We’ve talked about the coast so much, we haven’t even mentioned the amazing inland attractions – places like Bluestone, Oakwood, Folly Farm, Heatherton World of Activities, Castell Henllys Iron Age Village and Carew Castle and Tidal Mill.
We haven’t touched on the brilliant restaurants, notably in Newport, St Davids, Solva and Narberth.
