Family Holidays: Pembrokeshire family holidays and breaks

Take the Family holiday rating 4 stars out of 5

Today

13°C
57°F

Timezone	GMT
Local Currency	British Pound

By Deborah Stone

Why

Because the beaches here are the best in Wales – sandy, safe and relatively uncrowded, ranging from traditional seaside resorts to hidden coves well off the beaten track. But that's not all – the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park protects this spectacular south-west Wales coastline, providing many areas of outstanding beauty inland.

This is a place where the whole family can enjoy all sorts of watersports, from sailing, surfing and windsurfing to kayaking and coasteering, and there are also boat-trips to islands where you might see puffins in summer or migrating seabirds in spring and autumn. You’ll probably see dolphins, seals and even whales, too.

History has left its mark in the form of majestic castles, quirky museums and some of the best Neolithic monuments in Britain. And this is heaven for walkers, with the long-distance Pembrokeshire Coastal Path as well as public footpaths criss-crossing the countryside. Bike-riding families can choose from several off-road routes, or more experienced cyclists can try the Celtic Cycle Trail that starts at Fishguard and crosses the county on its way to Swansea.

After all that fresh air, you’ll be glad to know that Wales has been a leading force in the move towards locally produced food, which you'll find in the many lovely old pubs and increasing numbers of good restaurants.

Top left: Cycling in the woods
Top right: Marloes Sands

Bottom left: View of Saundersfoot
Bottom right: Coasteering

When

Summer is best for Pembrokeshire’s beaches and watersports, but if you like walking or just exploring the countryside, spring and early autumn are equally delightful.

How

Your own wheels are best for exploring Pembrokeshire, since there's little or no public transport in the more rural areas. It's about a 4hr drive from London to Pembrokeshire (mainly along the M4), or 5hrs from Leeds.

Stay

You’ll find all kinds of great family holiday accommodation in Pembrokeshire, from boutique hotels to cosy country cottages, great-value campsites and some of the best youth hostels in Britain.

For TakeTheFamily suggestions, including our favourite Bluestone family holiday village with its timber lodges, see the right-hand column of this page.

Do

Head for the beach, whether a traditional seaside resort such as Tenby or nearby Saundersfoot, family beaches with interesting villages, like Manorbier and St David’s, or the countless sandy beaches left just as nature intended, without an ice-cream kiosk in sight (the best are Barafundle Bay and Marloes Sands).

Sign up for courses in sailing, surfing, windsurfing and sea-kayaking at several coastal centres, or horseriding and walking inland. Like the rest of Wales, Pembrokeshire is one big outdoor adventure playground. Newgale beach has a couple of surf schools, or there are others at Freshwater West and Whitesands Bay, with windsurfing at Dale.

Go walking in the tranquil woods of the Gwaun Valley, near Fishguard, and the mysterious Preseli Hills, where you’ll find the exposed Neolithic burial mound of Pentre Ifan and the 13 standing stones known as Beddarthur or 'Arthur’s Grave'.

Follow the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path from Amroth, just east of Saundersfoot, round to St Dogmaels, near Poppit Sands, or see the coast by boat.

Take a trip from Martin’s Haven to Skomer Island National Nature Reserve or leave from St Justinians, near St David’s, for RSPB Cymru’s Island Nature Reserve at Ramsey Island.

Noodle along the family cycle trail at Llys Y Fran Country Park and Reservoir, 17km north of Haverfordwest, where you can also hire bicycles. Or cycle down the old railway line from the Heritage Centre at Stepaside through a wooded valley to Saundersfoot.

Keep a list of wet-weather standbys. Attractions with indoor options include Oakwood Theme Park, near Narberth, Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo, near Kilgetty, Tenby Museum and Art Gallery, Pembroke Castle, Carew Castle and Tidal Mill, and St David’s Cathedral.

Eat

There are increasing numbers of good restaurants in several Pembrokeshire towns and coastal villages, including Solva, St David's and Newport, or try the Druidstone Hotel near Broad Haven or St Brides in Saundersfoot.

South-west Wales has a long growing season thanks to a micro-climate created by the warm Gulf Stream current, so Pembrokeshire is one of the first places in Britain to harvest new potatoes – the ideal partner for spring lamb from the Preseli Hills, or salt-marsh lamb from the Daugleddau Estuary.

Then there's Solva crab, or sea-bass and lobster from other fishing spots such as Abereiddy, Stackpole, Porthclais and Porthgain, where you’ll find anything from monkfish to mackerel in the catch of the day. There are salmon and brown trout in the rivers, Welsh Black cattle in the fields and hand-made cheese from farms such as Llangloffan Farmhouse Cheese Centre.

Food festivals include The Really Wild Food and Countryside Festival in St David’s, in August, and the Narberth Food Festival in September.

Cost

In the era of the strong Euro and the 'staycation', Pembrokeshire is a great bet for a low-cost family holiday in the UK, especially if you choose a self-catering accommodation option.