18 Best Things to Do in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Miles of stunning coastal paths, award-winning Blue Flag and Green Coast beaches, and the most unique wildlife, historical castles and towns. Welcome to the Pembrokeshire Coast, the UK’s only coastal national park.

In this blog post you can read about some of the must see places and activities to do within Pembrokeshire. We’ll also share lots of useful information such as how to get there and where to stay depending on your interests. We hope that this post will help you to plan your unforgettable adventure to this jaw-dropping part of Wales.

This is a sponsored blog post in collaboration with Unique hideaways who offer lots of quirky and one-of-a-kind places to stay across England and Wales. As always, all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Introducing Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

The Pembrokeshire Coast is one of the UK’s 15 National Parks and one of only three National Parks in Wales along with Eryri (Snowdonia) and Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons). Covering an area of 615 sq km it is also one of the smallest National Parks in the UK.

Despite being small, Pembrokeshire offers something for everyone. Beach and water lovers will be pleased to hear that it’s actually home to 10 Blue Flag beaches and 7 Green Coast beaches as of 2022. In fact, Wales actually has more Blue Flag beaches per mile than anywhere else in the UK.

If you love walking and hiking, then you’ll have a 1,000km network of public rights of way to explore. You can of course walk along parts of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path which is one of 15 National Trails in England and Wales. The Coast Path opened in 1970 and it was Wales’ first long-distance route. It covers 186 miles (299km) along some of the most scenic coastline in Britain.

Those who love history won’t get bored in Pembrokeshire either as the area has been occupied since prehistoric times. There are plenty of castles, churches and museums where you can dive into the area’s history.

If you’re a wildlife lover, then Pembrokeshire is the place to go. Since a lot of the National Park is unspoiled by modern living and farming, you can spot some incredible native species that have disappeared from other parts of the country.

How to Get to Pembrokeshire

By Plane. If you’re coming from outside the UK then you’ll probably have to fly to the country first. The closest airport to Pembrokeshire is Cardiff Airport which mainly offers flights between other UK cities and a few European ones. Bristol Airport has more direct flights between Europe and other destinations. Lastly, you can always fly to one of London’s airports if you’re coming from further afield. Check this website for direct flights.

By Car. Depending on where you’re coming from and where you’re staying, the typical journey time is about 2 hours from Cardiff, 2.5 hours from Bristol, 4 hours from London and Birmingham and 4.5 hours from Manchester. You can always use Google Maps to plan your route.

If you don’t have your own car but would like to enjoy the freedom of a private vehicle, then you can always hire a car using this company to get around Pembrokeshire.

By Public Transport. You can arrive to Pembrokeshire by train, bus or coach. Transport for Wales provides train services to places such as Cardiff, Swansea, Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock. National Express runs coaches from cities like Cardiff, Bristol, London, Birmingham and Manchester to places such as Tenby.

Where to Stay in Pembrokeshire

If you want to make your visit to the national park even more unique, then we recommend booking a glamping retreat in Pembrokeshire.

Glamping will give you the opportunity to fully disconnect and recharge on your holiday in this stunning part of Wales.

The below accommodations are designed to be quirky and cosy but also comfortable at the same time. They are equipped with everything you’d need and more during your stay including kitchen facilities, bathrooms, and both indoor and outdoor dining areas. If you want to make your stay extra special, then you can also opt for a glamping accommodation with a hot tub.

Most of these places are located around either Little Haven or Fishguard. Both are great areas to be based since they are close to many of the main attractions we’ve included below.

We’ll bet that one of the following cosy hideaways will be the perfect choice for you.

Officers’ Quarters

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind accommodation during your time in Pembrokeshire, then definitely check out the Officers’ Quarters in Little Haven.

This quirky place used to operate as a top-secret Radar Station during WWII. Today it provides up to 4 people with an unforgettable stay on the Welsh coast. Imagine having your morning coffee in one of the hammocks with a book in one hand, then relaxing in the hot tub after your day out.

Making your base in Little Haven means that you’re never too far from a beautiful beach, such as Marloes Sands, or other popular places like Skomer Island.

Officers’ Mess

If you’re only visiting as a couple, then you can consider staying in the Officers’ Mess located just next to the Officers’ Quarters. This is also a converted WWII military building that now has a spacious living and sleeping area and a very cosy outdoor patio with a hot tub.

With plenty of privacy, you can enjoy the long summer evenings soaking in the hot tub after a long day of exploring. There’s also no better way to warm up on colder nights than in an outdoor hot tub under a star-lit sky.

Station A

If you’re visiting the coastal areas of the country for some sea views, then Station A near Fishguard is the perfect place for you. As the name suggests, it has an interesting history. The building used to be a WWII research laboratory station that’s been restored as a comfortable holiday home. It can sleep up to 4 people, so it’s perfect for either couples or families.

Imagine sitting outside during the warmer months, watching the sun set out to sea whilst unwinding with a glass of wine. In the cooler months, you can still admire the views from the sofa with the wood-burner on and some mulled wine for extra cosiness.

If this doesn’t sound like the perfect retreat, then we don’t know what does.

Y Berllan Hideaway

If you’re looking for those ‘cabin in the woods’ vibes, then look no further. Y Berllan Hideaway near Fishguard will give you the best ‘cabin in the woods’ experience whilst exploring Pembrokeshire.

This dog friendly log cabin can accommodate up to 4 people. It has a very spacious interior and a lovely outdoor area with a wooden deck that can be lit up with fairy lights at night. You can all gather around the firepit in the evening or use the wood-burner inside during the colder months. The huge dining room table is also perfect for some evening games.

Are you heading somewhere else in the UK? Then don’t forget to check out other glamping retreats with hot tub options across England and Wales.

18 Best Things to Do in Pembrokeshire

1. Visit Tenby

Tenby is, without a doubt, one of the most visited coastal towns in Pembrokeshire. It became a popular staycation destination during the Georgian and Victorian eras and today it is still one of the most popular seaside holiday destinations in Wales.

There’s plenty to do in Tenby depending on your interests. You can just simply enjoy one of the town’s massive beaches, soak in the views from the remains of Tenby Castle or visit the fort on the small tidal island of St Catherine’s.

If you want to learn a bit more about Tenby then pop into Tenby Museum and Art Gallery or visit the Tudor Merchant’s House. Don’t forget to check out the best preserved medieval city walls in the UK as well.

Tenby is also filled with a variety of independent shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants so there’s no reason not to treat yourself with something delicious.

Click here for 10 things to do in Tenby.

2. Day Trip to Caldey Island

Whilst you’re in Tenby, make sure to take a boat ride to Caldey Island. Located just off the Pembrokeshire Coast, this small island is actually home to 40 permanent residents and about 18 Cistercian monks. It is one of Britain’s holy islands.

Caldey Island is definitely less touristy than other places in Pembrokeshire but just as beautiful. You can go on a short coastal walk and check out some of its best features such as the lighthouse. It’s also a place where you can spot some unique wildlife like red squirrels and black swans.

The boat ride costs £15 per person and it leaves about every 20 minutes from either Tenby Harbour or from Castle Beach.

3. Check Out Saundersfoot

Located just to the north of Tenby is Saundersfoot, a small seaside resort. The village is a great alternative to Tenby and very popular with families.

Saundersfoot’s top attraction is Saundersfoot Beach, which has also received a Blue Flag award. The massive golden beach has shallow water which makes it ideal and safe for swimming and other water activities such as kayaking and canoeing.

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path also runs through it, so you can definitely explore the area on foot too.

Although it’s small, there are still a number of cafes, pubs, shops and restaurants nearby and along the beach front to check out.

4. Visit Pembroke

Pembroke is a town you can’t miss during your visit to Pembrokeshire. Located between Tenby and Milford Haven, you can easily combine a visit here with other places in the area.

Pembroke is tiny, but it has a massive Norman castle, Pembroke Castle, which is where Henry VII was born. You can start exploring Pembroke via the Main Street which is lined with shops, pubs, cafes, two churches and quite a few Tudor and Georgian houses. At the end is where you’ll find Pembroke Castle.

Entry fee to the castle is £9 per person and it’s open between 9:30am and 5:30pm in spring and summer and has slightly different opening times in autumn/winter.

Did you know? Parts of the movie ‘You before Me’, based on Jojo Moyes’ best-selling novel, were filmed in Pembroke along the Main Street.

5. Relax on Broad Haven South Beach and See the Church Rock

If you’re a beach lover then you won’t have trouble finding one in Pembrokeshire. Another stunning beach you can add to your itinerary is Broad Haven South Beach.

This wide sandy beach backed by sand dunes definitely reminded us of Three Cliff Bay in the Gower. During low tide this beach is massive and a great place to relax. Although the currents are much stronger here than at Saundersfoot Beach, so bear that in mind. Luckily, there’s a clear stream coming from the lily ponds that’s perfect for younger children to play in.

The beach’s unique feature has to be the so-called Church Rock sitting in the middle of the bay. It got its name because from a certain angle it looks like a church building.

You can park at Broad Haven Beach South Car Park (postcode: SA71 5DR). It’s a National Trust car park, so if you’re a member you can park there for free. If not, parking is £6 all day. They also have toilet facilities here and a small refreshment van.

6. Walk Around Stackpole Estate and Walled Gardens

If you get a bit bored lying on Broad Haven South Beach, then put on some comfy shoes and go on a stroll around Stackpole Estate and Walled Gardens.

Stackpole is a former country house estate. Today it is considered both as a listed designed landscape and a National Nature Reserve thanks to the rare creatures living in the area. The 6 acre walled garden was created in 1770 to provide vegetables and fruit for Sir John Campbell and his family. In 1987 the garden was leased by the National Trust.

There are many footpaths criss-crossing this area so you go on a shorter or longer walk. There are also many features you can incorporate into your walk such as the Bosherston Lily Ponds that were created 200 years ago. You can grab something from the Walled Garden Café or the tea room at Stackpole Quay.

Plus, if you’re not beached out just yet, you can even walk to Barafundle Bay which is another beautiful beach in Pembrokeshire.

7. Check Out St Govan’s Chapel

There are plenty of stunning features along the coast of Pembrokeshire that you should add to your itinerary. One of them is St Govan’s Chapel located next to St Govan’s Head. The chapel is built into the side of a limestone cliff and parts of it date back to the 6th century. It’s been a Grade I listed building since 1996.

Did you know? – The chapel was featured in the third season of the BBC drama ‘His Dark Materials’.

To reach the chapel, you have to go down over 50 steps. According to legend, the number of steps differs between going down and going back up. Make sure to count your steps both ways and see if there’s a difference.

Note. The chapel is located within the Castlemartin Military Training Area. This means that when they carry out military activities you can’t access the chapel and other popular spots such as the Green Bridge, Elegug Stacks and the Cauldron. You can check out when these activities take place here.

There’s a free car park just above St Govan’s Chapel. It gets full pretty quickly, so you can always just park at Broad Haven Beach South Car Park and walk from there along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

8. Walk Over to Huntsman’s Leap

After you’ve counted your steps to and from St Govan’s Chapel, why not walk a bit further to the west to a cool natural feature called the Huntsman’s Leap. It is one of several natural landmarks along Pembrokeshire’s coast that you don’t want to miss.

It is a deep and narrow chasm which was most likely formed by coastal erosion along a fault line. As you’ve probably guessed, its name comes from local folklore. According to legend, a hunter once accidentally jumped across the gap with his horse. Apparently, after realising just what he did, he died of shock.

Safety Note. Please do not attempt to jump across the gap. Whilst the smallest section is ‘only’ 3 m wide, it’s too great for an average person to jump across safely. Not to mention the fact that you shouldn’t be too close to the edge anyway all the way along the coast as landslides can happen at any time.

Once again, the Huntsman’s Leap is located within the Castlemartin Military Training Area which is inaccessible at certain times.

9. Check Out the Green Bridge of Wales

The list of natural landmarks along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path is endless. The next one on your itinerary should be the well-visited Green Bridge.

Created by thousands of years of erosion, the over 20m tall natural arch towers over the Wash Bay. There have been many fossils found in the area which is one of the reasons why it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Protected Area (SPA), and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

It definitely reminded us of the even more popular Durdle Door along the Jurassic Coast. Unfortunately, the arch is predicted to have a similar fate to the now collapsed ‘Azure Window’ in Malta. But, for now, we can still enjoy one of nature’s best creations.

Once again, you should check Castlemartin Military Training Area’s firing dates, for when the Green Bridge is inaccessible, to avoid disappointment.

Stack Rocks Car Park is the closest one to park at. It’s a free car park and also close to other features such as the Elegug Stacks and the Devil’s Cauldron.

10. Admire the Elegug Stacks

Just a bit further along the coast from the Green Bridge, you’ll find the Elegug Stacks. They are two impressive detached pillars of limestone in the Wash Bay.

If you look closely, you’ll see that the top of the Stacks are packed with seabirds like guillemots, razorbills, fulmar and kittiwake.

Similarly to the Green Bridge, it’s also considered an SSSI, an SPA, and an SAC.

11. Walk Around The Devil’s Cauldron

To the east of Elegug Stacks, between Wash and Flimston Bay’s, is the Devil’s Cauldron. This large, enclosed shaft is quite an interesting geological feature along the Pembrokeshire coast.

The Cauldron is a collapsed cave that was formed by water eroding the caverns in the cliffside upwards, which created blow-holes. Due to continuous erosion the entire structure eventually collapsed and left this formation behind.

You can actually walk almost all the way around it. Just be careful and don’t try to peek too far inside the Cauldron as you can easily lose your balance and fall into it.

12. Check Out the Rock Formations at Marloes Sands Beach

Marloes Sands Beach is one that should be on everyone’s itinerary in Pembrokeshire. You’ll really appreciate the size of this sandy beach during low tide. When the water is low, it also reveals some pretty cool looking rock formations that you should definitely have a closer look at.

Did you know? Apparently, some scenes from ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ were shot here.

Note. During high-tide the beach can pretty much disappear, so make sure to time your visit by checking the tide times.

There’s a National Trust Car Park just a few minutes walk from the beach (postcode: SA62 3BH). If you’re a member, you can park there for free, otherwise you have to pay around £3 for 3 hours of parking. There’s also a café called Runwayskiln next to the car park which also has toilet facilites.

13. See Puffins on Skomer Island

No trip to Pembrokeshire would be complete without taking a boat trip to Skomer Island. It is the largest of the Pembrokeshire islands and offers access to some of the largest seabird colonies in southern Britain.

You can either take a cruise around Skomer or land on it. We highly recommend landing on it, especially if you want to see Puffins up close. In 2023, over 42,000 puffins were counted on the island, which is the highest ever number of Atlantic Puffins recorded on Skomer. If you stay on the island overnight, you can even see over 300,000 pairs of Manx Shearwater, which is the largest colony of this bird in the world.

Read our detailed guide on how to see puffins on Skomer Island.

14. Explore St Davids – The Smallest City in the UK

Being the smallest city in the UK by population, a visit to St Davids is a must when you’re in Pembrokeshire.

The city’s main attraction is the massive 12th century Cathedral which is also the reason why it’s gained city status; a trait it shares with Wells, the smallest city in England. The Cathedral is gorgeous inside and out, so don’t skip going inside.

Right next to the Catherdal is the Bishops Palace which you can also visit for £5 per person. There are plenty of independent shops and galleries to browse through as you walk around the streets. Every Thursday there’s also an Outdoor Market, so make sure to time your visit with that.

There are many places nearby that you can combine a visit to St Davids with. You can enjoy relaxing on Whitesands Beach, only a short drive to the north-west, or visit St Non’s Chapel to the south of the city. If you enjoy walking, you can also complete the popular St Davids Head circular walk.

15. Boat Trip to Ramsey Island

St Davids is also a place where you can easily take a day trip to Ramsey Island from. The island is located just off St David’s peninsula and is an RSPB nature reserve due to the big colony of seabirds nesting on the island.

Just like with Skomer Island, you can either take a boat ride around the island or land on it. You can check out different boat trips by clicking here. If you decide to land on the island, you can complete a 3.5 mi (5.6 km) long trail that takes you through dramatic landscapes and some of the highest cliffs in Wales.

Did you know? In the 1800s brown rats arrived on the island and wiped out its Puffin and Manx Shearwater colonies. Between 1999 and 2000 a rat eradication programme was carried out and the island has been rat-free ever since. Whilst the population of Manx Shearwater has grown since then, puffins have never returned to Ramsey.

16. Visit the Blue Lagoon in Abereiddy

A unique little spot to visit in Pembrokeshire has to be the Blue Lagoon in Abereiddy.

Pembrokeshire’s Blue Lagoon is a 25m deep pool which used to be St Brides Slate Quarry. After the quarry was shut in 1910, fisherman flooded the mine. Since then the fishing industry has also disappeared and it is now a very popular place amongst tourists and adventure seekers. When the sun shines, the lagoon has some beautiful shades of blue and green which come from the minerals in the slate.

Other than just enjoying the views, you can go for a swim or join a group to go coasteering or kayaking. It’s worth noting that the water is very cold and deep, so make sure you’re a strong swimmer, have a swimming buddy and wear a wetsuit. If you’re not into water activities, you can always just walk along parts of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path in the vicinity.

Of course, after visiting the Blue Lagoon in Malta, we don’t think anything else will quite live up to that experience, but it’s still a fantastic spot.

You can park at the National Trust Car Park at Abereiddy Beach (postcode: SA62 6DT). There’s a set fee of £4 no matter how long you’re staying for.

17. Stop by at Melin Tregwynt

If you’re heading further north along the Pembrokeshire Coast then make sure to stop by at Melin Tregwynt. It’s a small woollen mill that’s been in continuous operation since the 17th century.

Melin Tregwynt is famous for its woollen blankets, throws and cushions made with traditional Welsh designs that you can purchase in their store or online. You can also walk through the mill and see how the workers create these beautiful patterns.

They also have a café which makes the mill a lovely stop for some lunch or home made cake and coffee.

18. Strumble Head Lighthouse

Just a bit further north from the woollen mill is Strumble Head Lighthouse. The lighthouse was built by Trinity House in 1908. It is located on St. Michael’s Island which is an islet only separated from the mainland by a narrow gap. The stretch of water between Ireland and Fishguard Harbour is very dangerous, so the lighthouse makes passage much safer for ships.

What makes a trip to this picturesque lighthouse even more worthwhile is the wildlife you can spot in the area. We spent a good amount of time just watching playful seals who kept popping their heads up from the water or just sleeping.

You can park at Strumble Head car park (postcode: SA64 0JL). It is a paid car park, but there was no way of paying at the time of our visit. It is probably more patrolled during the busier summer months.

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire truly amazed us. It’s such a unique and beautiful place that it should be on everyone’s bucket list. After visiting more popular places like Cornwall and Dorset, we can safely say that Pembrokeshire has just as many stunning beaches and picture perfect coastlines. The main difference is that Pembrokeshire felt way less touristy compared to other coastal areas in the south of the UK.

Have you ever been to Pembrokeshire before? If so, how much of the area did you manage to explore? If not, would you add this part of Wales to your bucket list? Let us know in the comments below.

Now, let your adventure begin,

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