Newgale Beach
Newgale beach is a 5 minute drive from the cottages The beach is enormous; it’s almost 2 miles of sand backed by a huge pebble bank formed after a big storm in 1859. Kitesurfing and surfing are popular on this beach and tuition is available. Walk right down to the southern end to find a walk-through cave and numerous sheltered bays. Cross the river, at the back of the pebble bank opposite the cafe at the north end, to gain access to several low tide bays.
At very low tide it’s possible to walk round to Cwm Mawr beach but keep an eye on the tide. Dog restrictions apply to the middle third of the beach between the 1st May and 30th September. There are three car parks along the length of the beach. Two are pay & display. Lifeguards are on duty between the beginning of June to the end of September. There is a surf shop, café and pub at the northern end of the beach. Surfing and kitesurfing tuition and board hire is available at both ends of the beach.
Whitesands Bay
Whitesands Bay is overlooked by the imposing craggy hill of Carn Llidi, this wide expanse of fine white sand curves north towards the remote rocky headland of St Davids Head. This is one of the best surfing beaches in the country and therefore very popular. The surf ‘break’ is at the northern end and on busy days there are canoeists, surfers and body boarders competing for the best waves. At this end, there’s a rocky promontory to climb on. At the quieter south end, there are some nicely sheltered bays.
Dog restrictions apply to the entire length of the beach between 1st May and 30thSeptember. 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! Parking for 60 cars above the beach. Parking can be a problem during the height of summer, but the Celtic Coaster shuttle bus (summer only) from The Oriel y Parc car park on the edge of St Davids can take you to Whitesands. There are toilets and a cafe. Lifeguards patrol between end of May and the beginning of September. There is also a slipway down to the beach from the car park.
Pembrokeshire Coast Path
The coastal path is also nearby offering miles of stunning coastline walks.
Opened in 1970, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path was the first National Trail in Wales and is one of 15 National Trails in Britain. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail hugs the coastline for 186 miles or 299km of some of the most breathtaking coastal scenery in Britain. From St Dogmaels in the north to Amroth in the south, the trail covers almost every kind of maritime landscape from steep limestone cliffs, undulating red sandstone bays, volcanic headlands, beaches, estuaries and flooded glacial valleys. Lying almost entirely within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the trail displays an array of coastal flowers and bird life, as well as evidence of human activity from Neolithic times to the present. Completing the Coast Path in one go, taking on average between 10 to 15 days, is quite an undertaking. The ascents and descent are said to be the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest; 35,000 feet! Most visitors walk a short section at a time, adding a piece to the jigsaw each time they visit and make good use of the Coastal Bus Service, which serves the rural communities and coast path walkers.
The stretches nearest the cottages are:
Martins Haven to Nolton Haven (14 miles) – This is Haven heaven, stringing together 6 bays with a ‘Haven’ name: Martin’s Haven, St Bride’s Haven, Little Haven, Broad Haven, Druidston Haven and Nolton Haven. It’s a relatively easy walk to start with, as there’s very little change in elevation until you pass Little Haven. It gets a bit more strenuous after.
Nolton Haven to Caerfai (12 miles) – This is one of the most popular sections of The Coast Path, with good reason. It’s a real rollercoaster ride, though, with many steep descents and ascents.
Caerfai to Whitesands (9.5 miles) – This is one section of The Coast Path that is best done as a circular walk as the return leg takes you into St Davids by way of a delightful back lane. It’s relatively level all the way round.
Solva Harbour
The ever popular seaside village of Solva is 3 miles away Solva boasts a bustling quay with plenty to do and a charming High Street with cafes, craft shops and galleries.
It’s a great place for a wander with many art galleries and curiosity shops not to mentions the pubs, coastal path and tidal harbour.
When the tide is out you can walk to the end of the inlet where there is a shallow bay which is great for paddling. Well worth a visit.
St Davids Cathedral
While St Davids (Britain’s smallest city) is around 6 miles from the cottages.
St Davids is named after the patron saint of Wales, Saint David. St Davids is the smallest city in Britain with a population of just over 1,600. City status was awarded in 1995 although the roots of St Davids go back to the 4th century when St David himself lived here. St Davids was designated as a conservation area by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in 1972. St Davids Cathedral is built from a local stone with a beautiful pink and grey colouring and occupies the valley floor below the village.
Preseli mountains
Other places nearby to visit include the Preseli Mountains, or Preseli Hills, whichever you prefer, rise out of the landscape to 536m in the northern half of Pembrokeshire and are in complete contrast to the relative lowlands of the south. The landscape is wild moorland, heath and grassland and is home to a wide range of plants and invertebrates some of them quite rare.
The hills are the ideal location for some great walking away from the coastline. For the best views in Pembrokeshire, pull on your sturdy shoes and take the short walk to Foel Eryr where the 360 degree panorama leads the eye across the sea to Ireland and Snowdonia, if it’s a clear day.
Scolton Manor
There are also a couple of country estates nearby which are worth visiting.
The Scolton Manor estate comprises a Victorian manor house, museum and award winning visitor centre set in 60 acres of country park and woodland.
Period rooms, railway displays, farming exhibition, costume, stable/rural crafts, art exhibitions, World War II homefront exhibition.
There are a number of picnic and play areas, a shop and tearoom with a number of homemade cakes to choose from.
Special events throughout the season, guided tours available. A great day out for all the family – whatever the weather.
Llys-y-fran resevoir
Llys Y Fran Country Park surrounds a water reservoir and the impressive dam that holds it back.
There is an excellent 7 mile track that circumnavigates the reservoir. You can either walk it or ride round on a mountain bike. Bikes are available to hire at the visitor centre.
Llys Y Fran is a popular angling centre. You can either fish from a mark on the shore or hire a boat. There are special boats available for wheelchair users too. There is a cafe at the reservoir visitor centre and a play area for kids.
Oakwood Theme Park
Pembrokeshire is also blessed with some great theme parks and attractions.
Oakwood Theme Park has over 30 rides and attractions there’s something for everyone.
Thrill seekers can brave Speed, a white knuckle ride and the UK’s first rollercoaster with a beyond vertical drop or try Megafobia, the award winning wooden coaster with character, you’ll get off laughing and be desperate for more.
For those who prefer a slightly slower pace the theme park has fantastic family rides for everyone to enjoy. You can whiz around the slides of Snake River Falls, pilot your own plane on Plane Crazy or take a relaxing paddle around the Boating Lake on one of the pedaloes.
Folly Farm
For smaller kids there’s plenty of fun to be had in KidzWorld – a special world created just for children.
Folly Farm is a fantastic place to visit with kids. Initially a farm attraction the park is now also home to an indoor vintage funfair, a zoo with Lions, Giraffes, Humboldt penguins and over 200 different species of animal plus indoor and outdoor adventure play areas.
Set in the Pembrokeshire countryside near Narberth, Folly Farm is made up of four areas which appeal to families of all ages, a farmyard, a zoo, Europe’s largest undercover vintage funfair (including a Wurlitzer organ) and several indoor and outdoor ‘adventure play’ areas.
Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm
Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm is a 100 acre working farm, research centre and visitor attraction all about invertebrates (‘bugs’) and sustainable agriculture based just one mile from St Davids in the heart of the spectacular Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and was recently featured in a BBC documentary.
The visitor attraction includes a Tropical Bug Zoo, Bug Museum, Rustic Indoor Play Barn and the Grub Kitchen Café, hailed as the UK’s first edible insect restaurant.
Coasteering
Pembrokeshire is also a world renowned area for watersports. For surfing, kite surfing, sea kayaking etc. head for Newgale or Whitesands. Both have schools and equipment for fire. Broad Haven is also a good place for sea kayaking.
Coasteering is also becoming very popular. Think climbing, scrambling, cliff jumping, swimming and whole load of adrenalin. That’s coasteering. The awe inspiring coastline of Pembrokeshire provides the ideal venue for this exhilarating adventure event where you’ll find yourself swimming into sea caves, climbing up through natural rock arches, and flinging yourself from towering vertical rock faces. Coasteering in Pembrokeshire is open to everyone over the age of eight, be they swimmers or non swimmers and to all ability levels. The qualified coasteering guides will tailor your coasteer session to suit you, your family, or your group. Kitted out in a toasty warm wetsuit, helmet and buoyancy aid, you’ll be ready to take on ‘The Toilet’ and ‘The Washing Machine’. If it’s a winter coasteer, often gloves, a hood and socks are provided so there’s no excuse! Pembrokeshire’s coasteering guides are all highly qualified and have an intimate knowledge of our coastline. Coasteering is a dangerous activity so the best way to stay safe is to make sure you book with one of our listed coasteering providers. Just bring along your inner dare-devil and have the time of your life.
Fishing
We’re also lucky enough to have some of the best fishing in Wales, be it sea fishing, game fishing or coarse and stillwater fishing – you’ll find it in Pembrokeshire. Pembrokeshire is rightly famous for its bass fishing, and has a wealth of readily accessible surf beaches, some of which are many miles long, providing great fishing. Others nestle in sheltered coves that provide a refuge for fish and fishers in stormy weather. The rugged shoreline of Pembrokeshire also offers outstanding opportunities for sea anglers. Bream, Bass, Mullet, Wrasse, Conger, Rockling, Pollack, Mackerel, sharks and rays are some of the more popular angling quarries. Taking a fishing trip from St Davids is a great way to catch something scrumptious for the barbecue; mackerel usually. It’s also a great way to see the Pembrokeshire coast and its marine wildlife. Trips are perfect for families. Stillwater and coarse fisheries are available across the county providing pegs for all abilities. Carp Bream and Tench are usually the catch of the day with the odd Pike thrown in. If you forget your tackle, don’t worry you can usually hire a rod and get bait. Game fishing is mostly found on the Teifi, Eastern and Western Cleddau rivers. The rights to fishing are either held by the landowner or one of the fishing clubs dotted along their banks. Most clubs have day permits available; perfect for visitors. Tuition is available whether you’re taking up the sport for the first time or wishing to improve your skills.
Boat trip to Ramsey Island
Many of our guests also take the Boat trip to Ramsey Island. A Royal Society for the Protection of Birds or RSPB reserve, Ramsey is just off the end of the St Davids peninsula. There’s a 3½ mile trail round the island, which can be rugged in places but it’s the best way to see the island. At nearly 120m (400 ft) in places, the western cliffs on the island are among the highest in Wales. They are home to ravens, peregrines and buzzards. In spring, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, kittiwakes and shags come to nest too. Choughs also breed on these cliffs, seeking out deep fissures and caves in which to build their nests. From mid-July, however, the cliffs empty as the auk chicks head out to the open sea. Several hundred seal pups are born each autumn on Ramsey’s beaches and in the caves. The island is awash with colour from May to September, with bluebells, then pink thrift and purple heather. The southern heathlands are a special combination of heather, gorse and coastal plants. This habitat is the haunt of stonechats, meadow pipits, linnets and skylarks. The summits of Carn Ysgubor and Carn Llundain give splendid views east to the mainland, south to Skomer Island and on the clearest of days, west to Ireland. There is a small shop on the island and refreshments are available. Boats leave from St Justinians for the short crossing to Ramsey at 10 am and 12 pm, returning at 4 pm (between 1st April or Easter, whichever is earlier, to 31st October). Alternatively, numerous boat trips will take you around the island to see the wildlife at sea level.
Golf Courses
For a small county, Pembrokeshire manages to pack in 8 golf courses; links and parkland. Pembrokeshire has an outstanding coastline making the links courses even more memorable with breath-taking panoramic views; perfect to distract you if your round’s not going so well. If you’re looking for a links course Tenby is a championship venue and the oldest affiliated club in Wales, St Davids City Golf Club, located just outside the UK’s smallest city overlooks Whitesands beach and Newport Links, recently extended to 18 holes overlooking the stunning Newport Bay. Pembrokeshire’s parkland courses aren’t to be out done in the location stakes, with stunning views to the Preseli Hills and across the Milford Haven estuary Priskilly Forest, Trefloyne Manor (just outside Tenby), Haverfordwest, Milford Haven and South Pembrokeshire (near Pembroke) provide golfers with great choice. The courses nearest the cottages are Newport Links Golf Club & Resort, St Davids City Golf Club and Haverfordwest Golf Club.
Get in touch
Contact our friendly team if you have any questions about our holiday cottages.