Pembrokeshire Coast Path

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is a National Trail in Pembrokeshire in southwest Wales.

Running largely along the coast, it is part of the larger Wales Coast Path that stretches an impressive 1400 kilometres (870 miles) right around Wales.

Established in 1970, it was the first National Trail in the country and has soared in popularity in the last twenty years thanks to its accessibility and stunning views.

The trail is almost completely contained by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Britain’s only coastal National Park.

Steep limestone cliffs and volcanic headlands to sheltered red sandstone coves, passing 58 beaches, 14 harbours and various flooded glacial valleys.

Undulating up and down over the Welsh countryside for 270 kilometres (168 miles) with maritime views, creating this coastal path took almost 17 years, with over 100 footbridges, 479 stiles, and thousands of steps to aid the climbing of steep and slippery sections.

• Voted the second-best coastal destination in the world by National Geographic.
• Passes every one of Pembrokeshire’s award-winning beaches as well as volcanic headlands and estuaries.
• Offers trekkers an array of coastal flowers and bird life.

As with any walk in the UK, summer is typically the best time to go due to the higher likelihood of sun, no rain and longer days.

The main season on the Coast Path runs from April to October. Spring is one of the most popular times, as you dodge the crowds but also get to enjoy the blooming wild flowers, migratory seabirds, and even a chance encounter with basking sharks.

If you can face a slightly busier path, the summer months (June-August) provide more opportunities on the beaches, including water sports and offshore island trips.

Early Autumn is also a good time to avoid crowds and you’ll also catch butterfly season and may have the chance to watch seals with their pups beached up at the foot of the cliffs.

A standard 14-day route would look like the below:

Day 1:
Amroth to Manorbier – 15 miles

Day 2:
Manorbier to Bosherston Village – 10 miles

Day 3:
Bosherston to West Angle – 15 miles

Day 4:
West Angle to Pembroke – 14.5 miles

Day 5:
Pembroke to Milford Haven – 12.5 miles

Day 6:
Milford Haven to Dale – between 10 and 16 miles

Day 7:
Dale to Marloes – 13 miles

Day 8:
Marloes to Broad Haven – 9.5 miles

Day 9:
Broad Haven to Solva – 11 miles

Day 10:
Solva to St Justinians (St Davids) – 13 miles

Day 11:
St Justinians to Trefin – 13.5 miles

Day 12:
Trefin to Goodwick – 19 miles

Day 13:
Goodwick to Newport – 14 miles

Day 14:
Newport to St Dogmaels – 15.5 miles

If you’re not in a hurry, building in a couple of rest days is worthwhile so that you can visit offshore islands or have some down time relaxing in a beachside town.

If you don’t want to do the full route, the path can be split into three sections: South, West and North.

All offer great views and varied gradients so you can pick the best section for you.

Most people choose to walk from south to north as starting in the Tenby area allows walkers to build up physically from the easier sections and saves the tough and dramatic highlights from St David’s into Cardigan.

Additionally, on the most exposed parts of the path, the prevailing winds and wet weather will be on your back and not your face.

Where you choose to stay and what level of comfort you’re looking for will dictate how much you’ll need to budget for accommodation along the Coastal path.

There are plenty of small hotels and guest houses en route and cottages or Airbnbs for hire.

Scattered along the route are coastal villages, such as Tenby, Solva, Newport and the popular St. Davids.  If walking in summer it is advisable to book accommodation well in advance of setting off.

In remote locations there may be only a single lodge or B&B with no other choices nearby.

The more built up areas such as Tenby offer more options and luxury choices if required.   For those walking the whole path, there are plenty of shops and campsites along the way, but food and water may need to be carried on some sections where distances between seaside towns increases.

Attractions along the route include Carew Castle and Tidal Mill, Oriel y Parc Gallery and Visitor Centre, and Castell Henllys Iron Age Fort – where kids can re-enact battles or just learn about local history.

Depending on what time of year you choose to visit, there are walking festivals, fundraising challenges, family events, museum exhibitions and farmers markets.

Throughout spring and early summer, trekking the path offers opportunities to see an array of wild coastal flowers and a wealth of bird life.

For keen bird-watchers it is worth bringing a pair of binoculars to get a close up of the colonies of seabirds that nest along the cliffs or taking a boat ride around uninhabited offshore islands that act as bird sanctuaries, such as Skomer, Skokholm and Ramsey Island.

If you’re lucky, you can also spot seals, porpoises and dolphins swimming offshore.

If you’re more of a history buff, there are plenty of historic sites that you will pass by with evidence of human activity from Neolithic times to the present.

Remnants of Neolithic cromlechs and hut circles can be seen on and from the path, dating back to the Bronze Age settlements, and remains of coastal promontory fortifications linger from Iron Age settlers that came over from France.