Pembrokeshire Coast Path is a 5 minute walk from our B & B and runs for 186 miles between Amroth in the south and St. Dogmaels in the north. The path twists and turns it’s way along some of the most breathtaking coastal scenery in Britain. You will encounter rugged cliff tops, sheltered coves, wide open beaches and winding river estuaries. Britain’s only coastal national park, the trail displays an array of coastal flowers, bird life and sea mammals such as seals, dolphins and porpoises. If you stray a short distance from the path in places, you will also find old historical burial sites and standing stones dating back to Neolithic times.
www.visitpembrokeshire.com/explore-pembrokeshire/coast-path/
Coastal buses link Fishguard with the route north towards Cardigan (Poppit Rocket) and the route south towards St Davids (Strumble Shuttle). They will drop you off at convenient points along the path to help you return to Fern Villa or continue your journey onwards. We are keen walkers ourselves and are happy to give advice and lend you books and maps.
We are also able to transfer your luggage on to your next accommodation. Please ask for costs.
Dinas Head which can be seen from Fern Villa is only 4 miles away and a 10 minute drive by car. You can enjoy a delightful walk around the headland which has dramatic and far reaching views. There are pretty bays at the beginning and end of the walk, namely Pwllgwaelod and Cwm-Yr-Eglwys where the old remains of a church can be seen . If you need refreshments after your walk, there is a great little pub called the Old Sailors next to where you start your walk.
Lower Fishguard Harbour and the Gwaun Valley.
The pretty harbour at Lower Fishguard is well worth visiting. If you take a walk along the picturesque Marine Walk, you will discover lovely views overlooking Lower Fishguard and at the end of the walk will reach the harbour area. You can also branch off into Fishguard if you want to browse around the town. If you prefer, Lower Fishguard can be easily be reached by car. The Gwaun Valley is renowned for its largely undiscovered beauty, and the river Gwaun flows through the valley from the Preseli hills until it reaches the estuary at Lower Fishguard Harbour. For those of you feeling adventurous, take a drive through the beautiful Gwaun Valley which offers views of stunning countryside. It is one of the lesser known areas of Pembrokeshire and provides an enchanting drive towards the towards the Preseli Hills.
Gwaun Valley Brewery. If you are taking a drive through the Gwaun Valley, you may well wish to visit the local brewery. The Gwaun Valley Brewery is a family run business which was established in 2009. It is open 7 days a week between 10.00 am and 6.00 pm. You can try a free taster and afterwards, you can purchase pints or half pints to drink in the brewery, or 500ml bottles to take home. There are also presentation packs which make ideal gifts.
Strumble Head is a spectacular headland covered in wild flowers with a lighthouse at the end of the peninsula. It is delightful to visit whatever the weather. The sunsets are particularly breathtaking. There is a sheltered bird observatory on top of the cliff which is ideal for birdwatching and spotting dolphins and occasionally whales. Seals are regular visitors to Strumble Head and their pups are reared on the nearby beaches.
If you haven’t got time to walk a stretch of the coast path, why not take your car and drive the short distance to Strumble Head. It’s only 10 minutes away. From here you can explore some of the wonderful coast path in either direction. Alternatively you can take the Strumble Shuttle bus to Strumble Head and walk back to Fern Villa.
St David’s Cathedral and Bishop’s Palace / Whitesands Bay
St Davids Cathedral is a magnificent piece of architecture and a great place to visit. It is steeped in history and situated next to the remains of the The Bishops Palace. St David, the Patron Saint of Wales founded a monastery on the site in the 6th century , with the present cathedral being started in the 11th century. Construction has taken many centuries with many setbacks resulting in restoration work being required and many alterations necessary. A visit to St Davids provides a wonderful day out. if you are lucky you might be able to enjoy some of the concerts held at the cathedral as there is a programme of concerts running throughout the summer.
If you are intending to visit St Davids, then you should also try to make time to pop down to Whitesands Bay, home to one of Pembrokeshire’s finest beaches. There are fantastic views of the coastline and you can take a walk along part of the coastpath from here. There is a circular walk around around St Davids Head which is highly recommended. The beach is a popular attraction for surfers, or you can just relax and enjoy a stroll along the beach.
Tregwynt Woollen Mill. A 15 minute drive away. This original 17th century woollen mill uses both traditional and modern techniques. You can enter the workshop and watch the production of the fantastic produce that is made here. The shop has a superb range of items for sale.
www.melintregwynt.co.uk
Pembrokeshire’s Blue Flag beaches.
Pembrokeshire has some of the best beaches in the UK, and no other county in Britain has more Blue Flag beaches or seaside awards than Pembrokeshire. There are over 50 beaches to choose from and each one has something different to offer. The selection of beaches will provide plenty of opportunities for watersports such as surfing, kite surfing and kayaking. In fact West Wales is known as one of Britains top surfing areas. There are fantastic surfing locations at Whitesands Bay, Newgale, or slightly further afield at Marloes and Freshwater West. Alternatively you can just relax on the beach, sunbath or go for a paddle in the sea whilst enjoying the beautiful surroundings. For more information on watersports visit our Local Activities page.
Pembrokeshires Pretty Harbours: Lower Fishguard, Porthgain, Solva, Tenby and Saundersfoot.
There are numerous pretty little harbours along Pembrokeshires coastline that are well worth a visit. Lower Fishguard is a short 5 minute drive away, and Porthgain is only 15 minutes away and offers some some fantastic art galleries exhibiting the work of some very talented local artists, such as John Knapp Fisher, Graham Brace and Alun Davies to name but a few. Slightly further afield there are the harbour towns of Solva, Tenby and Saundersfoot where you will find a selection of gift and craft shops, art galleries and seafood restaurants. From Tenby you can take a boat ride to the beautiful island of Caldey where the Cistercian monks continue a tradition which began there in Celtic times.
Pembrokeshire’s Islands: There are several offshore islands which can be visited, the most popular of which is Skomer Island which is famous for it’s Puffins. People flock here from all over the country to see these amazing creatures, and from the viewing area at The Wick you can get up close and personal with puffins as they land only a few feet away and hurry into their burrows. Skomer Island has an adundance of bird life and as well as the puffins (6000 pairs) and Guillemots (10,000 pairs) around half the world’s population of Manx shearwaters nest on the island. You will also find Razor bills, Choughs, Short eared owls as well as grey seals.
Other islands to visit include Ramsey which has an adundance of seals, and Skokholm and Grassholm which have a lot of bird life.
These Islands have International importance for their sea bird and seal populations.
From Tenby you can take a boat ride to the beautiful island of Caldey, famous for it’s Cisterian Monks, or alternatively try your hand at sea fishing.
The Preseli Mountains are one of the lesser known attractions of Pembrokeshire and provide superb terrain for walking and horse riding or touring by car. As you pass through the Preseli Hills, you will encounter land upon which sheep roam freely, along with wild ponies. At their highest point on a clear day you may see the Snowdonia Mountain Range in North Wales and the Wicklow Mountain Range in Ireland. The region of the Preseli Mountains provides historical evidence of ancient times. There are relics of Neolithic burial chambers, Bronze age Cairns, Stone circles, standing stones, and Iron Age Forts. The ‘bluestones’ at Stonehenge are believed to have come from here. One of the most magnificent and ancient burial chambers is Pentre Ifan which is located just outside of Newport and is easily accessible by car.
Pembrokeshire County Show: If you are visiting Pembrokeshire in August, then the Pembrokeshire County Show is a must. The show is the largest 3-day agricultural county show in Wales and has something for everyone. We are located about 14 miles from the showground, but only 20 minutes away by car.
Castles and Forts: There are numerous historical places of interest with 51 castles and forts in Pembrokeshire.
Castell Henllys is a reconstructed Iron Age Hill Fort. A visit to Castell Henllys will provide a taste of prehistoric Pembrokeshire. The rugged landscape, where Castell Henllys is situated is known in Welsh as Gwlad Hud a Lledrith, which means Land of Magic and Enchantment. Castell Henllys is the only Iron Age village in Britain reconstructed on the exact site where our Celtic ancestors lived 2,000 years ago. Here you can walk in the footsteps of the Demetae tribe, train as a warrior, watch a woodsman at work, huddle around a roundhouse fire to hear tales from a bygone age and learn lessons from the past that can help us to conserve the landscape we live in today. The hill fort sits on an inland outcrop with stunning views of the surrounding countryside which today forms the heart of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. For those interested in history, this will be worth visiting. www.castellhenllys.com
Pembroke Castle: Birthplace of Henry Tudor, father of King Henry VIII and grandfather of Elizabeth I. This impressive castle stands on the banks of the river overlooking the town of Pembroke. On your visit you can explore the labyrinth of passageways and towers, take in the views from the 75ft high Great Keep, descend into Wogan Cavern and enjoy a wonderful picnic or lunch in the stylish café. www.pembroke-castle.co.uk
Carew Castle and Tidal Mill: The magnificent Carew Castle has a history spanning 2,000 years. Set in a stunning location, overlooking a 23-acre millpond, the castle displays the development from a Norman fortification to an Elizabethan country house. There’s plenty to see and do with an exciting summer-long activity programme. www.castlewales.com/carew.html
Haverfordwest is a place with historical roots. It grew up under the shadow of a Flemish Castle to become Pembrokeshire’s administrative centre, encompassing a thriving market town with interesting shops run by local retailers and a pleasant converted quay. Haverfordwest was once a thriving port at the end of the river estuary. There is an award winning weekly farmers market, a wide range of restaurants and cafes, supermarkets, public houses and a retail park with Marks & Spencer, Boots, Next, Laura Ashley and Debenhams. As well as the Medieval Castle and museum, the ruins of an Augustinian Priory sit alongside the river and there are several walks such as the Frolic Walk and the Withybush Woods walk which has been specially developed for the disabled.
