Pembrokeshire Coast Path

Suitable for regular hikers who are comfortable on hills, though some long-distance hiking experience is recommended if you’re tackling the full trail.

The trail follows a mix of clifftop trails, beaches and woodland, with plenty of ups and downs along the way. Some sections are rocky and steep, and you’ll often climb steps as you head in and out of the coves. After heavy rain, the coastal trails can get slippery and progress may be slower. Before your trip, we recommend getting out regularly on hilly hikes, and checking the daily distances and elevation gain in your itinerary.

This route ranges from easy-to-moderate to moderate-to-challenging, depending on which itinerary you choose. Daily difficulty can vary within each tour, so some days may feel a little easier or tougher than the overall rating suggests.

Choosing the right itinerary for you

There are two ways to hike the Pembrokeshire Coast Path with us. Take on the full trail, or choose our Best of Pembrokeshire tour to focus on the highlights.

Hike the full trail

For the purists, there’s nothing quite like hiking every step from Amroth to St Dogmaels.

• Pembrokeshire Coast Path Complete (16 days): Moderate-to-challenging. All 185 miles of the trail, best suited to fit hikers with some long-distance experience.

Hike the best bits

• The Best of Pembrokeshire: Easy-to-moderate. Averaging around 10 miles a day, it picks out the highlights of the coast, from Tenby’s pastel harbor to the tiny city of St Davids.

You’ll stay in a mix of handpicked hotels, country inns, B&Bs and guesthouses along the coast, usually with private bathrooms. Not every property sits right on the trail, so some days you may hike a little farther than the daily distances suggest. We’ll always try to book the places listed in your itinerary. If we need to arrange an alternative, it will be of the same standard or better, and if it’s off the route or hard to reach by public transportation, we’ll often include a transfer at no extra cost.

A few spots along the trail have very limited accommodations. In these cases, we may book you into a nearby town, with a short transfer or bus ride to and from the trail.

Want to stay longer?

Many hikers add extra nights along the way. St Davids, Pembroke and Tenby are all great choices for a rest day or some sightseeing. From St Davids, you can also take a boat trip around Ramsey Island to spot seals and seabirds.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement.

Please note it's not generally possible to secure more than three single rooms in one party.

A hearty breakfast is included each morning, with most hotels and B&Bs offering a continental and cooked option. Lunch and dinner aren't included, which leaves you free to choose your own options. Most accommodations are happy to provide a packed lunch on request, and your Tour Info includes details of local shops and lunch stops along the way. Dinner is available at your accommodation or at nearby pubs and restaurants.

You can hike the Pembrokeshire Coast Path from March through early October, depending on your itinerary. Spring is usually the driest time of year, with bluebells and wildflowers carpeting the woodland sections. Summer is a little warmer but busier, while fall brings quieter trails and is a lovely time to hike the coast.

The weather on the Pembrokeshire coast can change quickly, so rain gear is essential whenever you travel. Wind and rain can roll in fast off the Atlantic, and storms are more likely in March and October. On exposed clifftops, strong winds can make hiking tricky, so take extra care and check the forecast each morning. In summer, pack sunscreen, as many clifftop trails have little shade.

A few things are also worth knowing when you plan your trip:

• Military firing ranges: The UK Ministry of Defence carries out exercises on part of the Castlemartin ranges over the summer, which can close a short coastal section on the Complete itinerary. When this happens, you’ll follow a signed inland detour instead. Dates are only confirmed two to three weeks ahead, so we limit start days on this itinerary to reduce the chance of a clash. The Best of Pembrokeshire isn’t affected.
• Busy months: April, May, July and August are especially popular, so we recommend booking well ahead if you’re traveling at these times.

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 18kg/40lbs per person.

It's vital that you adhere to these limits. Heavier bags, or additional items might not be transferred, and you may be charged locally. Airlines may have different allowances, but our luggage handlers do not have the same capacity or equipment, and their health and safety is our priority.

If you're traveling from farther afield and have more than one bag, we can arrange to store the extra luggage while you're on tour (a small charge may apply). These additional bags are picked up at your accommodation at the start and dropped off at the finish, depending on your chosen itinerary. Just let us know if you're interested in this option.

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is well waymarked and easy to follow, with the National Trail acorn symbol guiding you along the way.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Recommended Reading
Although not essential, if you'd like more information on the route, we recommend:

• Map: Harvey Pembrokeshire Coast Path Map 1:40,000
• Guidebook: Pembrokeshire Coast Path Trailblazer

Getting to the start

The easiest way to reach the Pembrokeshire Coast Path is by train. Wherever you’re starting, most trips follow two simple steps.

Step 1: Get to Swansea or Cardiff

Swansea and Cardiff are the main rail hubs for South Wales, with direct trains from London Paddington. From London, Cardiff is around 2 hours by train and Swansea around 3 hours.

Step 2: Connect to your starting point

From Swansea or Cardiff, catch a connecting train to the start of your itinerary:

• Complete (starting in Saundersfoot): Take the train from Swansea (around 1 hour 30 minutes) or Cardiff (around 3 hours).
• The Best of Pembrokeshire (starting in Tenby): Take the train from Swansea or Cardiff, sometimes changing at Carmarthen.

Arriving by plane?

Most travelers from North America fly into London. From the airport, head to Swansea or Cardiff, then follow step 2 above.

• London airports: Make your way to London Paddington station, then take the train to Cardiff or Swansea.
• Cardiff Airport (CWL): Take the bus or train into Cardiff city center.

Getting home from the end

Getting home follows the same two steps in reverse: first get back to Swansea or Cardiff, then connect to your onward journey.

Step 1: Get back to Swansea or Cardiff

• Complete (finishing in St Dogmaels or Cardigan): Take the bus to Fishguard or Carmarthen, then the train to Swansea or Cardiff. There’s no Sunday bus service from St Dogmaels or Cardigan, so it’s best to avoid finishing on a Sunday.
• The Best of Pembrokeshire (finishing in St Davids): Take the T11 bus to Haverfordwest (around 50 minutes, Monday to Saturday only) or a taxi. From Haverfordwest, trains run to Swansea and Cardiff, with some services continuing to London.

Step 2: Connect to your onward journey

From Swansea or Cardiff, direct trains run to London Paddington, Bristol and beyond.

Flying home?

• London airports: Take the train to London Paddington, then connect to your departure airport.
• Cardiff Airport (CWL): Take the bus or train from Cardiff city center.

You'll need good hiking shoes or boots, comfortable hiking clothes, waterproofs, a daypack, and we recommend hiking poles. A portable charger for your cell phone is essential. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

On certain days you can shorten the route or skip it entirely by using a taxi or public transport.

A local tourist bus also runs along parts of the Pembrokeshire coast, which can be a handy option for skipping a stretch or having a non-walking day.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many small B&Bs and guesthouses along the Pembrokeshire coast have closed or changed hands. In some spots, there’s now very little accommodation available at all, and even fewer places that meet our standards. Rather than settle for less, we use short taxi transfers to take you somewhere comfortable nearby, then back to the trail the next morning.

Prefer fewer transfers? Our Best of Pembrokeshire itinerary is a great choice. It focuses on the highlights of the coast and is designed to keep transfers to a minimum, so you can spend more time on the trail.

The UK Ministry of Defence carries out training exercises on part of the Pembrokeshire coast throughout the summer. On days when the Castlemartin range is active, the coastal stretch between the Green Bridge of Wales and St Govan’s Chapel is closed. This affects the Bosherston to Angle hike on the Complete itinerary. If the range is active, you’ll follow a shorter inland detour instead.

Firing dates are published on the UK government website, usually only two to three weeks in advance. This means we can’t guarantee this section will be open during your trip. To give you the best chance, we limit start dates on this itinerary, so the affected hike usually falls on a weekend, when the range is less likely to be active. Happy to take the inland detour if needed? Just let us know, and we can open up more start dates for you.

Hiking The Best of Pembrokeshire?

Good news - the firing ranges won’t affect your trip. While St Govan’s Chapel, the Green Bridge of Wales and Freshwater West are real highlights of the coast, they sit within the ranges, so we’ve left them out of this itinerary. Instead, we’ve focused on sections that stay open all year, so your hike runs smoothly. If you’d love to see these spots, our Complete itinerary is a great choice.

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path follows the clifftops for much of the way, and in places the trail runs close to the edge, with steep drops to the sea below. Most sections are wide and well maintained, but if you have a strong fear of heights or severe vertigo, some stretches may feel uncomfortable. The Best of Pembrokeshire is generally gentler, so it may suit you better.

Yes, there are a few places on the Complete itinerary where the trail crosses beaches or estuaries that flood at high tide. Don’t worry, each one has an alternative route, though it may add a little distance to your day. The Best of Pembrokeshire has no tidal sections at all.

You’ll find the tidal sections here:

• Between the Iron Bridge in Newport and Newport Sands.
• West of Monkton, near Pembroke, plus Bullwell Bay at Popton and Point Lane, both near Angle.

To make the most of your day, check the tide times before you set off. The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park website has full details on each crossing.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation

Explore St Davids

St Davids may be Britain’s smallest city, but it’s packed with history. Visit the cathedral, tucked into a hollow so it couldn’t be seen from the sea, and explore the ruins of the Bishop’s Palace next door.

Feast on seafood in Porthgain

This tiny harbor village was once a busy industrial port, but today it’s a favorite with hikers. Stop for fresh crab and lobster at The Shed, or a pint at The Sloop Inn.

Try a little Welsh

You’ll see signs in both Welsh and English along the way. Locals always appreciate a friendly “diolch” (thank you) or “bore da” (good morning).