Review of Pembrokeshire’s Pwll Deri YHA
We recently had our first foray over to Pembrokeshire for a fine weekend’s walking, staying in the Pwll Deri YHA. It might feel a bit of trek to reach this remote part of the Welsh coastline but as soon as you arrive all thoughts of the time it’s taken are instantly forgotten.
What a spectacular cliff top setting!
Admittedly we did go right past the entrance and met one of the local farmers who was happy enough to put us right. However when we came to the gravel track to the left of the sign, we soon discovered the hostel’s large car park.
When you first pull up outside you think it’s a small cosy farm cottage but as soon as you walk in, it feels light years away from the low ceilings and darker interiors normally associated with older buildings.
With floor-to-ceiling windows along the entire length of the hostel, the living area is filled with light and is a perfect place to sit and drink in the stunning landscape.
Kitchen:
Pwll Deri enjoys some great communal space. There’s a well-kitted out open plan kitchen that is perfect for socializing. True, a few larger pans would have been good as we were catering for 22 guests but in real Large Outdoors style, we managed.
Top Tip: Self cater don’t aim to eat out.
On the Sunday evening we decided to eat out in Fishguard but this wasn’t as easy as we thought. Therefore we’d suggest self catering throughout the stay. There’s a small Tesco Express in Fishguard or a host of large supermarkets in Haverford West which is about 30 minutes drive.
Dining area:
The sweeping coastline views from the dining area were a big draw for me and while the cloud prevented any spectacular sunsets, it was nonetheless an ideal place to eat.
From the dining room you head into the lounge, offering a great selection of sofas and comfy chairs. While the hostel was certainly warm enough without lighting the fire, we did do so in the evening as it all added to the lovely relaxing atmosphere.
A real-plus, particularly if it had rained, was the well-equipped drying room with tumble dryer and washing machine to the side of the lounge. As with all our trips (ok, we’re stretching a bit here!) where rain doesn’t feature, we didn’t have to use the room this time.
Bedrooms:
Pwll Deri offers a great selection of rooms, from twins up to 8-bedded rooms, so there is the option to have a bit more privacy at night if you prefer.
The rooms are en-suite and have new beds, and with the exception of room 1, all enjoy great coastal views.
Walks from the hostel
Despite being a mountain leader with legendary navigation skills (!!) I didn’t really need to deploy the compass or map when we set out for our walks.
From the front door of the hostel, whether you turn right or left, you are suddenly on the Pembroke and Wales National Coastal path.
On Saturday we turned right, past Strumble Head Lighthouse and along the coast for about six miles.
We then cut back across the headland making it an easy10-mile circuit. There was a fine mix of coastal scenery, complete with plenty of sightings of seal pups along the way, together with woodlands and open fields on the return leg.
On Sunday, we turned left and enjoyed a ‘there-and-back’ route which offered a totally different perspective of the coastline on our return to the hostel.
Summing up:
This was our first stay at Pwll Deri and it’s already been tagged as one of our favourites.
The place is clean and well-maintained and quite honestly, what’s not to love with the stunning views on offer.
We’ve already booked the spot for next year and can see that it will become a regular venue for us in our weekend walking schedule.
Join Large Outdoors for a walking weekend based at Pwll Deri here…
You can also enjoy New Year’s Eve in Pwll Deri with our New Year’s Eve - Pembrokeshire…