The Pembrokeshire coast, at the south-western tip of Wales, is one of the most beautiful coastlines in Europe: colourful cliffs, rock arches, golden sandy bays, islands teeming with puffins and seals, fishing towns with painted houses. It is protected by the only national park in the United Kingdom devoted almost entirely to the coast, and followed by one of the most spectacular coastal paths in the world.
History
The Pembrokeshire coast tells hundreds of millions of years of geological history: volcanic rocks, red sandstones and limestones folded by earth movements form cliffs of different colours. People have lived here for thousands of years, as shown by the dolmens and the Iron Age forts on the headlands. Irish saints and Vikings landed here, the latter giving their names to islands such as Skomer and Ramsey. In 1457 Henry Tudor, the future Henry VII and founder of the Tudor dynasty, was born in Pembroke Castle.
In 1952 the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park was created, and in 1970 the Pembrokeshire Coast Path opened, a coastal path of about 300 kilometres between Amroth and St Dogmaels. Those who walk it all climb and descend a total height comparable to that of Everest. In the 1980s coasteering, exploring the rocky shore by climbing, swimming and jumping, was born on this very coast.
- 1457Henry Tudor is born in Pembroke Castle
- 1952The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is created
- 1970The Pembrokeshire Coast Path opens
- c. 1980Coasteering is born on this coast
What to see
Skomer and the islands
Skomer island is a nature reserve famous for its thousands of puffins, which nest a few metres from the paths from April to July, and for one of the world's largest colonies of Manx shearwaters. Boats leave from Martin's Haven. Further north, Ramsey Island, near St Davids, is home to a large grey seal colony.
The south coast
The south has some of the finest bays in Wales: Barafundle Bay, reachable only on foot, and Broad Haven South, near the Bosherston lily ponds. The limestone cliffs form the Stack Rocks, rock pillars full of seabirds, and the Green Bridge of Wales, a natural arch over the sea. Wedged into the cliff, tiny 13th-century St Govan's Chapel is reached by a stone stairway.
Tenby and Pembroke
Tenby is a seaside town with pastel-coloured houses, a harbour, two great beaches and medieval walls. At Pembroke the castle, one of the most imposing in Wales, can be explored right up to the top of the great round keep.
The north
On the north coast are the Blue Lagoon at Abereiddy, an old slate quarry flooded by the sea, Strumble Head lighthouse and the town of Fishguard.
Getting there
- By train: to Tenby, Pembroke, Haverfordwest or Fishguard, on lines from Swansea and Cardiff.
- By car: via the M4 and the A40 or A477, about two hours from Cardiff.
- By air: Cardiff Airport is about two hours away.
Nearby
Tips
- How long: at least three days, two weeks to walk the whole path.
- When to go: May to July for the puffins, September for the warmest sea and fewer people.
- A tip: walk from Stackpole Quay to Barafundle Bay and on to Broad Haven South: in an hour and a half you will see three of the most beautiful landscapes in Wales.