Where To Go In Pembrokeshire
PEMBROKESHIRE’S character reveals itself town by town, cove by cove, from the cathedral quiet of St Davids to the harbour chatter of Tenby.
Britain’s smallest city, St Davids (Tyddewi) sits on the rugged tip of the peninsula, where the honey-coloured cathedral shelters in a valley and artists chase Atlantic light in galleries and studios.
Inland, the county town of Haverfordwest (Hwlffordd) straddles the Western Cleddau, a market hub whose castle keep watches over streets lined with independent shops and cafés.
To the east, Narberth punches far above its size with foodie delis, design boutiques and a lively arts scene, making it a favourite weekend base for exploring the Preseli foothills.
South Pembrokeshire unfurls in a sweep of pastel harbours and medieval walls. Tenby dazzles with candy-coloured Georgian terraces, sandy North and South Beaches, and boat trips to monastic Caldey Island.
Just along the coast, Saundersfoot pairs family-friendly sands with a revived harbour and seafood spots championing local catch. The medieval town of Pembroke is dominated by its mighty castle – birthplace of Henry VII – while across the water Pembroke Dock reflects the area’s naval heritage in grid-straight streets and handsome Victorian brickwork.
Nearby villages add historic depth: Manorbier with its storybook castle above a surfing beach; Carew, home to a tidal mill and cross; and Lamphey, cradling the romantic ruins of a bishop’s palace.
Turn west into Milford Haven Waterway and industry shares the skyline with wildlife. Milford Haven itself is a deep-water port reshaped by a vibrant marina lined with restaurants and galleries, a launchpad for wildlife cruises into the Haven’s secret creeks.
North of St Brides Bay, twin communities Fishguard and Goodwick look across to Ireland, the latter hosting the ferry while the former keeps a bohemian spirit alive in cafés, folk music and a famous tapestry commemorating the last invasion of Britain.
Between them and the city, the inlet village of Solva winds up a narrow, fjord-like harbour where low tide reveals lime kilns and children chase gobies in sun-warmed pools.
The north coast is wilder still. Newport (Trefdraeth) balances an elegant main street, fine dining and a welcoming high street with the bracing sands of Parrog, from which walkers join the coastal path or head inland towards the Preseli Hills.
Close by, characterful villages anchor memorable day trips: Nevern, with its ‘bleeding yew’ and intricately carved cross; Cilgerran, staring down at the Teifi Gorge from its cliff-top castle; and Crymych, gateway to bluestone country and the ridge-top views that tie sea to sky.
On St Brides Bay’s western arc, beach villages string like pearls. Broad Haven and Little Haven share a sweep of safe sands and evening sunsets; windsurfers and kayakers favour Dale, whose sheltered waters feel tailor-made for learners.
South again, Marloes opens onto a dramatic headland of red and black sandstone, the jumping-off point for puffin-rich Skomer boat trips from Martin’s Haven.
For a flavour of Pembrokeshire’s industrial past reinvented as coastal charm, Porthgain mixes cliff-top art with lobster pots beneath rust-red quarry ruins, while Angle guards the Haven’s mouth and the surf thunders at Freshwater West, a pilgrimage beach for seasoned wave-chasers.
Thread these places together and you get the real Pembrokeshire: a county where castles meet surf, fishing harbours meet galleries, and every bend in the road seems to end in sea, stone, or a warm welcome.
