The best things to see and do in Pembrokeshire
With 186 miles of breath-taking coastline and more blue flag beaches than any other county, Pembrokeshire is a national park like no other.
This beautiful stretch of rugged coastline is the only UK national park to be situated completely on the coast and has a diverse landscape that houses world-renowned beaches, an abundance of coastal wildlife, and plethora of picturesque seaside villages.
If you are looking for a coastal escape within the confines of the UK then Pembrokeshire should be top of your list.
To help you decide where to go and what to do I have compiled a list my favourite destinations to visit.
This list is no means gospel, each location however is unique and will hopefully leave as much of a lasting impression on you as they have done on me.
Blue Lagoon
Unfortunately this is not the Blue Lagoon of Iceland, however in my opinion it is far more beautiful.
Pembrokeshire's Blue lagoon is abandoned slate quarry, filled with turquoise water on the north coast of the coastal path. Shut down in 1910, the seaward wall of the quarry was blasted open by fisherman in order to flood the mine and provide refuge for their boats.
With the fishing industry all but disappeared, Blue Lagoon is now an oasis for swimming, coasteering and even cliff diving. Despite the name, the water within the quarry has a beautiful greenish hue due to its high mineral content.
The spectacular nature and location of Blue lagoon has resulted in it being chosen as a stop on the Red Bull cliff diving series in 2012, 2013 & 2016. The events saw the world's best divers leap from a man-made platform, suspended 27 metres above the quarry.
The diving board has since been taken down, however if you are feeling brave enough you can leap from several platforms, ranging from 2 to 10m, on the far side of the quarry. Don’t worry about hitting the bottom, the water is over 25m deep.
If you aren’t in a rush the best way to see Blue Lagoon is to walk from Porthgain Harbour. The beautiful 6km out and back walk skirts around some of best sections of north Pembrokeshire’s dramatic and rugged coastline. The cliffs towers over one-hundred feet above the beautiful turquoise clear waters. You can then have fish and chips from The Shed in Porthgain as a reward.
For a full guide to Blue lagoon, including where to park and how to get there, check out my detailed guide below.
TenbY
No visit to West Wales wouldn’t be complete without stopping at the quintessential seaside town of Tenby.
Situated on the south coast of Pembrokeshire, Dinbych-y-Pysgod (which translates to "little town of fishes”) is a small harbour town and seaside resort.
Surrounded by a 13th century medieval stone wall, It’s cobbled streets are lined with charm and are perfect for roaming around with an ice cream in hand.
Those in search of spending time by the beach are spoilt for choice, It has not one but three different beaches. There is also the beautiful Tenby harbour which is backed by a rainbow of picture postcard high rise Victorian buildings.
After walking the towns intricate high walled streets, take the time to stroll up onto Castle Hill which overlook the Harbour to get a birds eye view of St Catherines Island and the two lifeboat stations.
There are number of places to park amongst Tenby’s narrow bustling streets, however the cheapest place to park is in the multi-storey car park beneath Sainsburys, its 50p per hour for a maximum of two hours.
A word of warning, Tenby can get extremely busy during the summer months and school holidays. This can make parking a nightmare and the experience of visiting a little overwhelming. For that reason I would aim to visit here in the week or go early in the morning or around sunset.
Broadhaven South, & Bosherton Lily Ponds
The Stackpole estate is one of my favourite Section of the Pembrokeshire Coastline .
It is home to magical Bosherston Lily ponds, alongside the beautiful Broadhaven South, a golden sand beach nestled in front of sand dunes. The bay is instantly recognisable by church rock, A large limestone rock which which sits out in the middle of the bay.
Parking can be found in the National Trust car park in Bosherston, where there are also toilets, a country pub, and a small café.
The beach is best reached by taking an easy one-mile walk through the lovely Bosherston Lily ponds. The man-made lakes are famous for their spectacular display of waterlilies and their resident otters and make for an extremely pleasant way to access the beach. Alternatively you can park in the car park directly behind the beach.
If you are visiting here I would recommend completing the 10km walk which also visits the beautiful BArafundle
You can either start this walk from Stackpole Quay or Bosherston , where there is a National Trust car park at both locations. My choice would be to start at Stackpole Quay and complete it anti-clockwise, so you can get the uninspiring section out of the way first and finish up at Barafundle bay.
Check out my detailed hike guide, which includes a vlog of the walk in my separate blog post below
Bosherston Lily Ponds, Broadhaven South, & Barafundle Bay Hike Guide
Green Bridge of Wales & Elgug Stacks
The Green Bridge of Wales is a 24 m high natural limestone arch located southern coastline of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
It’s a spectacular coastal feature, which in my opinion, not only rivals but betters Durdle door. This partly due the beauty and scale of the coastal feature but also because there will probably be hardly any people there when you visit it.
Situated 500m down the coastline are Stack Rocks, two limestone stacks which rise steeply from the sea.
These impressive coastal features were once part of the Pembrokeshire coastline but have been eroded away. They now serve as an important nesting location for many species of seabirds found on the Pembrokeshire Coast.
Whats also great about both of these locations is that they are less than 400m from the car park and could be reached by wheelchair. Unfortunately that car park is located within a military firing range and can often be closed.
For all the information about the Green Bridge of Wales and how to reach it, check out my detailed guide below.
St Govans Chapel
St Govans Chapel is tiny stone building carved into the limestone cliffs of the Pembrokeshire Coast.
Dating back to 13th Century the chapel was built to honour the hermit St Govan who lived here alone here during the 6th century.
The history of St Govan is shrouded in mystery. Govan was believed to be an Irish Abbott who was en-route to Wales when he was attacked by some pesky Irish pirates off the coast. Forced to flee into the cliffside, the rocks allegedly morphed into a secret cave for him to hide in. After successfully evading his captors Govan chose to set up a monastic hermitage in the cove, living off the surrounding land, and remained there for the rest of his life.
I prefer to believe that he was forced to self isolate here after the 6th century Welsh Coronavirus outbreak started.
The chapel is reached by descending 52 stone steps, polished smooth by the feet of generations of visitors. After passing through the wonderfully atmospheric chapel you are able to head down and marvel at the structure from the rocks below.
The chapel steps are located a short 100m from the car park in Bosherston. Once again this location is located within the a MOD military firing range so you will need to check if the road is open to the public before visiting by calling either the Pembroke Visitor Centre (+44 01437 776499) or Castlemartin Range (+44 01646 662367).
For a full guide to St Govans Chapel, check out my blog post below.
Freshwater West
Freshwater West is a wide, sandy and backed by an extensive system of dunes situated on Pembrokeshire exposed west coast
It's south westerly facing direction makes it the most consistent surf spot in Wales resulting it playing host to the Welsh Surfing Championships every year.
If the beach seems familiar that because it has featured in several Hollywood movies.
Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood was filmed here alongside Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, where the beach was used as the back drop for Dobby’s Shell Cottage.
The cottage has since been taken down after filming however there are two piles of stones which serves as Dobbys Grave. Here youll find hhundreds of Ppainted stones alongside the odd sock.
There are two small free car parks situated behind the dunes however these tend to fill up fast if there’s a decent bit of surf. If these become full then some parking is available along the very narrow road which leads down to the beach
Barafundle Bay
Golden sands and crystal clear waters backed by sand dunes dunes and pine trees, Barafundle is nothing short of spectacular.
It has constantly been voted as one of the best beaches not only in Britain but also the world, and If the sun is out you might mistake this beach for being located on a Caribbean island.
Barafundle’s isolated location means that there are no facilities nor lifeguards at the beach. There is a cafe and toilets located half a mile away at the national trust car park in Stackpole quay where car parking is £5 per day or £2 after 2pm.
Another way to reach Barafundle, and my recommendation is to walk here from Bosherton lilly ponds via the equally as beautiful Broadhaven South beach.
The short two kilometre coastal walk will take you across some of the finest parts of the Pembrokeshire coastal path and allow you to take in two of Pembrokeshire’s finest beaches.
St Davids Peninsula
Named after the patron saint of Wales, St Davids is Britain's smallest city. Home to just over 2,000 people it owes its city status to the magnificent Cathedral built in the 12th Century.
However there is far more to this stretch of headland than the Cathedral. To the south of Whitesands is the weathered Treginnis Peninsula, home to the oldest rocks in Pembrokeshire. Here you can walk the coast path from quaint and beautiful Porthclais Harbour around to the RNLI's St Justinian lifeboat station. If you do visit Porthclais harbour make sure to grab a coffee from the little kiosk there.
From St Justinian lifeboat station you can catch a boat tour over to Ramsey Island. Sat 1km off the coastline, Ramsey is the fourth largest of all Welsh islands and is an RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) reserve.
The island has spectacular coastal scenery with dramatic western cliffs rising 120m from the ocean. The island is also a breeding site for grey seals, with over 400 seal pups being born here each autumn. There are several boat trips which run each day, details of which can be found here.
Carn Llidi and Whitesands Beach
Northwest of the city of St Davids lies the headland peak of Carn Llidi.
The 181m hill is rich in history with two burial chambers located on the southwest slopes alongside an old WWII radar station on its summit. From the summit you will be rewarded with panoramic views westwards towards Ramsey Island and northwards towards Strumble Head; on clear evenings you can also get a glimpse of the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland.
The route to the summit isn’t difficult and is well signposted. From Whitesands Bay car park head back up the road and bear left, following the path which rises gently through Porthmawr Farm and up to the small summit.
Once you’ve completed the hike, reward yourself with a refreshing dip in the ocean on the beautiful Whitesands bay. If you’re looking for a quieter location then the sheltered Porthmelgan Beach located directly below Carn Llidi is a perfect little cove to escape the crowds.
Parking is available in Whitesands Car park, for £5 a day. There is only space for 60 vehicles which tends to fill up quickly in the busy summer months. If no spaces are available you can catch the Celtic Coaster shuttle bus from the Oriel Y Parc in St Davids during the summer.
Visit Skomer Island
A must-visit for any nature or wildlife enthusiasts. Skomer Island is located less than a mile from the Pembrokeshire coast and is home to the largest puffin colony in southern Britain.
However there is so much more to the bird paradise than just puffins. The island is surrounded by some of the richest waters for wildlife off the British Isles and sightings of dolphins, porpoises and grey seals are extremely common.
Skomer island is only accessible by boat, but for conservation purposes, the total number of people who are allowed onto the island is capped at 250 people per day. All boats depart from Martins Haven beach, a delightful little cove situated on the north coast of the peninsula, Tuesday to Sunday at 10 am, 11 am and 12 noon.
Tickets can only be purchased online and sell out months in advance, so pre-book early to avoid disappointment.
Photo by Terry Montague on Unsplash
Marloes Sands
If you are lucky enough to get a golden ticket to Skomer Island, whilst you are in the are I would highly recommend visiting the breathtakingly beautiful Marloes Sands.
This is a hidden gem of a beach backed by steep rugged coastal cliffs nestled on the very western edge of Pembrokeshire.
Scenes from the Hollywood film Snow White and the Huntsman were shot here back in 2011. At high tide, the beach can disappear altogether, but at low tide, there’s a large expanse of sand offering plenty of room.
If you’re planning to visit, check out the tide times to make sure you’ve plenty of beach to play on and that you don’t get cut off by the incoming tide. There is a National Trust car park located next to the café Runawaysklin (a fantastic little café which you should definitely stop by) which costs £5 a day. From here it’s a half a mile walk to the beach.
I also would recommend Wooltack point, which is on the tip of the peninsula and looks over to Skomer, as a place to watch the sunset.
Church Door Cove & Skrinkle Haven
Church door cove is one of Pembrokeshire many geological wonders scattered across it’s rugged coastline.
The cove is amphitheatre-shaped bowl with a magnificent door shaped arch, which has been cut into the towering cliffs by the forces of the ocean. At mid to high tide the beach becomes cut off and consists of mainly large boulders, but as the tide drops away a beautiful, sheltered stretch of golden sand is revealed.
Next door to church door cove are the golden sands of Skrinkle Haven beach. Unfortunately the steps leading down to the beach have been fenced off.
The bay is now only accessible at low tide from Church door cove by either walking around the thin limestone headland or scrambling through a narrow and slippery cave. Be extremely careful if undertaking this trip as this beach will quickly get cut off by the tide, and you’ll either have to swim back around or wait for the tide to retreat.
For a detailed guide to Church Door cove and Skrinkle Haven, including where to park and how to reach it, check out my guide below.
Strumble Head - Garn Fawr and Strumble lighthouse
Garn Fawr is an old Iron age Hill fort on the north coast of Pembrokeshire. The Summit offers spectacular 360 panoramic views across the northern coastline and back south over the Preseli hills.
Free parking is available to the east of the Garn Fawr Hill fort in a small car park (nearest postcode is SA64 0JJ). From here you can reach the summit via a short 300m moderate incline which isn’t at all challenging.
From here you can continue to drive for a further 10 minutes down towards Strumble lighthouse.
Situated is on the North West tip of Pembrokeshire, The lighthouse stands on Ynys Meicel, also known as Strumble Head, a tiny rocky island that can only be reached by a small suspension bridge.
The Lighthouse is automated now so there isn’t any access onto the island. Although the lighthouse isnt that impressive, its proximity to Garn fawr make it worth visiting. It is also a great spot to watch the sunset.
If you fancy a walk, you can hike 11k around Strumble head and visits both Garn Fawr and the lighthouse. Check out my blog below for more information.
Final Thoughts
So there we have it, my guide to my favourite Locations in Pembrokeshire. The good news is that many of these locations are grouped quite close together making it easy to visit several of the best spots in a day.
I was going to pick my favourite three locations it would be Blue Lagoon, which I’d combine with a walk to Porthgain. This is an absolutely stunning section of coastline which you can spend a couple of hours or easily an entire day at. If you are doing both, make sure to park at Porthgain so you can grab a well earned pint and bite to eat afterwards.
Secondly it would be Broadhaven South & Bosherton Lilley Ponds with an extension to visit the beautiful Barafundle bay. This walk would take in two of the best beaches in Pembrokeshire whilst also providing an opportunity to stretch your legs on some magnificent sections of the Pembrokeshire coastal path. again you could spend a few hours doing this walk or take the whole day to soak it all in.
From Bosherton you can also make a quick pitstop at St Govans Chapel, and providing the road is open the Green Bridge of Wales. Both are two of the most impressive features in Pembrokeshire are very close to Bosherton and can be visited in under an hour.
Finally I’d choose St Davids Peninsula as there’s a whole host of things to see and do there. Whitesands and Carn Llidi would be the priority but you can also take the time to explore the city of St Davids, Porthclais harbour, St Justinian’s Lifeboat station.
Like I mentioned previously, this list isn’t exclusive and there’s plenty of other magical spots out there waiting to be visited.
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For more travel, & photography inspiration around Wales check out my in-depth guides to each of my favourite regions below.