The Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs for 299 kilometres (186 miles) from St Dogmaels to Amroth. It opened in 1970 and was the first National Trail in Wales. The Wales Coast Path and the International Appalachian Trail also follow its route through Pembrokeshire. This route therefore connects coastal scenery with a distinctive trail history.
Coastal paths, beaches and open countryside
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park encompasses a striking coastline, the Preseli Hills, rural landscapes and a diverse range of wildlife. Pembrokeshire is home to Britain’s only truly coastal national park and offers a wide variety of beaches. In addition to the Coast Path, the national park has more than 600 miles of public footpaths and bridleways. They offer different ways to explore the landscape, wildlife and history, so the long-distance coastal trail is not the only way to discover the area.
On the national park’s Access Land, you may walk, run, climb and picnic, take photographs, explore historic remains and watch wildlife. Camping, lighting fires and leaving litter are not permitted there. The beaches also offer a range of activities: most have places to swim, and many also offer water sports, beach games and the chance to explore rock pools. A selection of free beach mobility aids is available through local businesses, including wheelchairs specially designed for sandy beaches. Check availability before your trip.
Seabirds and marine life
The coastal heathlands provide habitat for skylarks and wheatears; grey seals, dolphins and harbour porpoises can be found offshore. Skomer’s seabird life is especially impressive: the island is considered internationally important and is home to almost 350,000 breeding pairs of Manx shearwaters and more than 40,000 puffins. There are also thousands of common guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes. Numbers may vary between annual counts.
Skomer lies less than a mile off the Pembrokeshire coast and can be visited on a day trip or for an overnight stay; visits are seasonal and subject to booking. The Skomer Marine Conservation Zone surrounds the island and the Marloes Peninsula. Designated in 2014 as the first Marine Conservation Zone in Wales, it protects important species and habitats, including grey seals, pink sea fans, sponge communities, seagrass and seaweed communities. The zone can be reached by boat or overland via Martins Haven. Seasonal scheduled ferries run from there to Skomer and Skokholm; check the timetable before your visit.
Woodland, lily ponds and trails at Stackpole Estate
At Stackpole Estate, sandy beaches meet wooded valleys and wildlife-rich lily ponds. Walking trails and opportunities for water sports are also part of this landscape. For those interested in cycling, there is a four-mile mountain bike trail through the woods, with climbs, jumps, bends and turns. A wildlife walk along the coast offers the chance to spot seabirds and otters.
Hundreds of water lilies bloom at Bosherston Lily Ponds in early summer. The lakes and their surrounding woodlands are also a habitat for wildlife throughout the year. The mix of water, woodland and open coastal stretches shows just how varied nature experiences can be across Pembrokeshire.
Prehistory and historic places
At Pentre Ifan, you can discover a Neolithic burial monument on a remarkable scale: the 16½-foot (five-metre) capstone has rested on three supporting stones for more than 5,000 years. Castell Henllys offers a different way to explore the past. It is the only Iron Age village in Britain where roundhouses have been reconstructed on the sites where they stood 2,000 years ago. Visitors can explore the houses and meet people through conversations and demonstrations, learning about prehistoric life and living in harmony with the landscape.
Pembroke Castle also tells a story of changing construction techniques. In 1201, the new Earl of Pembroke began transforming the earth-and-timber structure into a strong stone fortress; the Great Keep was built first. In St Davids, the cathedral and its pilgrimage history take centre stage: the cathedral stands on the site of the monastery founded by St David in the 6th century and has been a place of pilgrimage and worship for more than 800 years. A 12th-century papal decree declared that two journeys to St Davids were equivalent to one journey to Rome, making the town a pilgrimage centre of the Western world.
Local produce and markets
In Narberth, the weekly Friday Producers Market at the Queens Hall offers Pembrokeshire produce, cakes, jams, preserves, and handmade arts and crafts. Pembrokeshire Farmers’ Markets are held weekly in Haverfordwest and Fishguard and offer local meat, vegetables and cheese, among other products. As market days may change, it is a good idea to check before your trip.
Discover more destinations: 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.
For the main travel overview: Wales.
