Scenic Walking Holiday - Exploring Pembrokeshire

You’re welcome to arrive at our cottage from 5pm where you’ll be welcomed by your Large Outdoors host for the weekend.

Your mission tonight is to get settled and meet your fellow adventurers for the weekend. Find your sleeping quarters, grab a cuppa, and take in the simply stunning surrounding ocean views. Your host will have a delicious meal on the go in the kitchen, leaving you with nothing to do but relax and have a laugh in great company.

We’ll enjoy dinner at the accommodation together at around 8pm, when your host will brief the group on the adventures ahead.

Today, we visit the charming coastal town of Tenby, known for its colourful houses, medieval town walls, and stunning beaches. From Tenby, we’ll take a boat over to Caldey Island, one of Britain’s Holy Islands, inhabited since Celtic times. Caldey is home to a Cistercian monastery, where monks have lived for centuries, dedicating their lives to prayer, work, and the production of goods such as perfumes and chocolates, which are available to buy on the island.

Once on the island, we will explore its beautiful coastal paths and learn about the rich history of the abbey.

Please note that this trip is weather and season-dependent, as we rely on a boat crossing to reach the island. The cost of the ferry and island entry is not included in the price of the holiday.

Today is a full day of walking as we explore the Stackpole Estate, a beautiful area managed by the National Trust. This stunning landscape features woodlands, lily ponds, and dramatic coastline. Our walk will take us to Barafundle Bay, often described as one of the most beautiful beaches in the UK, with its golden sands and crystal-clear waters.

Once a private beach owned by the Cawdor family of Stackpole Court, it’s now open to the public and can only be reached by foot, adding to its untouched feel. If time permits, we’ll finish with tea and cake at a local café before heading back to the cottage for a relaxed evening.

Today, we visit St David’s, officially the UK’s smallest city, known for its historic cathedral and picturesque setting on the Pembrokeshire coast. St David’s is named after the patron saint of Wales, and the city has been a place of pilgrimage since the Middle Ages. Our day will include a scenic coastal walk starting and finishing in St David’s, offering wonderful sea views and the chance to spot local wildlife, including seals and seabirds.

After the walk, you’ll have time to explore the city, including the impressive St David’s Cathedral and the medieval Bishop’s Palace. We’ll likely dine out tonight at a local pub, soaking in the friendly atmosphere of this unique city.

Today, we head out to explore the dramatic coastline around Marloes Sands, a stunning beach known for its rugged cliffs, golden sands, and fascinating geology.

Marloes Sands is part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and is renowned for its rock formations, including the striking red sandstone and ancient fossils that can be spotted along the shore. Our walk will take us along the cliff-top paths, offering fantastic views over the bay and opportunities to spot wildlife, including seals basking on the rocks below and a variety of seabirds. The route includes sections of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, providing panoramic views of Skokholm and Skomer Islands in the distance. This walk perfectly showcases the raw beauty of the Pembrokeshire coastline.

After a day of coastal exploration, we return to the cottage for a relaxed evening around the log burner, the perfect chance to unwind and reflect on the day's adventures.

Today, we explore Strumble Head, one of the most stunning and wild stretches of the Pembrokeshire coastline. Strumble Head is renowned for its dramatic cliffs, historic lighthouse, and excellent opportunities for wildlife spotting. The Strumble Head Lighthouse, built in 1908, sits on a small island just off the coast and is a key feature of this rugged landscape. Our walk will take us along the coastal path, offering breathtaking views and a chance to see marine wildlife such as porpoises, seals, and a variety of seabirds, including choughs and gannets.

After exploring Strumble Head, we’ll make our way to the charming harbour town of Fishguard. Known for its rich history, Fishguard was the site of the last invasion of Britain in 1797. You’ll have time to explore the town, visit the famous Last Invasion Tapestry, which tells the story of the failed French invasion, and wander around the picturesque quayside.

We’ll then return to the cottage for a relaxed evening, reminiscing about the day’s coastal discoveries.

Today, we step straight out of the cottage and begin our walk exploring the beautiful surroundings of Freshwater Bay. Located right on our doorstep, this area is known for its wide sandy beach, dramatic cliffs, and fantastic walking routes. Freshwater Bay is part of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, offering a variety of walking options directly from the door, with paths that wind along the clifftops, providing stunning sea views and a sense of tranquillity.

Our walk will take us along the coastline, with opportunities to explore the rocky outcrops, spot seabirds nesting on the cliffs, and perhaps even catch sight of dolphins or seals in the bay. We’ll enjoy the fresh sea air and the sound of the waves as we follow the paths through this picturesque area. There’s no need to travel far today—everything is right here, making it the perfect chance to fully immerse ourselves in the local landscape.

After a day of easy access exploration, we’ll return to the cottage to relax and enjoy a cosy evening.

On our last day, we return to Tenby for a short but scenic walk along the northern coastline. Heading out of Tenby, we’ll follow the coastal path towards Waterwynch Bay, a secluded beach surrounded by lush green cliffs and woodlands. This stretch of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path offers wonderful views over Carmarthen Bay, with plenty of opportunities to spot coastal wildlife and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. It’s a gentle and rewarding walk, perfect for our final day, with stunning cliff-top vistas and a chance to soak up the last of the sea air.

We’ll then make our way back to Tenby for the early afternoon, where there will be time to enjoy a final meal together in one of the town’s cosy cafés or indulge in a traditional fish and chips by the sea. For those travelling by train, we can arrange to drop you back at Tenby station to ensure a smooth journey home.

This marks the end of our walking holiday, filled with great walks, stunning coastal scenery, and plenty of good company. Safe travels, and we hope to see you again on another adventure with Large Outdoors!