The Best of Pembrokeshire Self Guided Walking Holiday

The Best of Pembrokeshire

8 Days & 7 Nights 4.8 Read 21 reviews

Striding out along the empty clifftops high above the crashing Atlantic
The prolific bird and wildlife of Skomer and Ramsey Islands
Exploring St David’s Cathedral and city.
Relaxing over a beer in the pretty fishing villages of Little Haven and Solva
Enjoying the beauty and emptiness of this special corner of Wales

Walk the best of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in a week. Hidden away in the far southwest corner of Wales, Pembrokeshire has rugged beauty, secluded coves, long sandy beaches, prolific birdlife and a rich history. During a week of first-class walking you will wander through flower-filled fields, enjoy warm hospitality in quaint fishing villages, stride out along high Atlantic cliffs and visit historic St David’s Cathedral. Bird watchers and nature lovers will be thrilled by Skomer Island, the largest colony of seabirds in southern Britain is home to puffins, kittiwakes, fulmars and 100,000 pairs of shearwaters.

What To Expect

This trip is perfect for you if you want to discover the best walking in Wales, quaint fishing villages, prolific wildlife and buckets of history in a fabulous week.

Tour Style:

Self Guided | Go at your own pace on an independent active trip.

Activity:

Multi Center Walking | You will spend multiple nights in one or more of the locations on this walking tour

Inspiration:

Activity Level & Terrain

The walk is on well-maintained footpaths, clifftops, beaches and woodland trails. It does involve some steep ascent and descent especially in the northern sections of the path.

Navigation

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is well waymarked with wooden posts and acorn symbols. We provide you with detailed turn-by-turn route notes and maps and you will also have access to the Macs Adventure Smartphone App enabling you to follow the route using your phone's GPS so you will have no problems finding the way.

Accommodations

We take great pride in carefully selecting the accommodations we use on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path to ensure you enjoy every minute of your stay. We work with B&B’s, Guest Houses, country hotels and charming inns which are normally of 3 or 4 star standard with en-suite bathrooms.

Solo Walkers & Single Rooms

This holiday is available to solo walkers, although a solo supplement is payable.

If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate your request, although it is not generally possible to secure more than three single rooms in a party. A single supplement is payable.

Meals

A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Most hotels and B&Bs offer a continental and full cooked breakfast, which should keep you going for hours.

Lunch and dinner are not included so you are free to choose from the available options. Most of your accommodations will be more than happy to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked on arrival. Alternatively, your info pack includes details of local shops and convenient lunch stops on the way. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or nearby pubs and restaurants and your info pack will, of course, have details.

Additional Nights and Extensions

Many of our clients choose to add extra nights along the walk to sample more of the wonderful walking and attractions available on the Coast Path. St Davids, Pembroke and Tenby are great choices for extra days. Solva is a magical village tucked into the hillside and there are plenty of circular walks over the cliffs that can demand an extra day.

Included

Overnights in B&B's, small hotels, guest houses and country inns
Daily breakfasts
Luggage transfers
A detailed info pack, guide book and map
Access to the Macs Adventure Smartphone App
Emergency telephone support from our office in the event of a problem

Excluded

Ferry to Skomer
Travel to the start or from the finish of the walk.
Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks.
Travel Insurance.
Personal Equipment.

Extras

Additional nights

When To Go

The Best of Pembrokeshire is available to start on any date during the season. Select your preferred start date on the calendar to book your trip.

Please note however that the boats to Skomer Island do not operate on Mondays. Therefore if wish to visit Skomer Island you should not start your trip on a Saturday.

Please also be aware that the landing on Skomer Island excursion is becoming extremely popular - especially during the peak season of June & July. Tickets can only be purchased at the ferry operator's ticket office (2 miles from Marloes) in person, on the day of travel and they operate on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure you get a ticket, it may require an extremely early start to queue for tickets.

Time of Year

This walking holiday is best enjoyed between April and October. Springtime weather can be changeable but usually is the driest time of year.

Getting to the Start

By Train - Regular trains run to Milford Haven from London (5h00), Cardiff (2h50), Bristol (3h50) and other UK destinations (www.nationalrail.co.uk) for timetables and tickets. You can then take a bus (40 minutes/3 per day) or taxi (20 minutes/approx £20) to Dale.

By Car - You can leave your car in Dale and return at the end of your trip by bus (1h35).

By Air - Cardiff is the closest airport, Bristol is also an option as are the London airports. Getting from St David’s By Bus/Train - Catch the hourly bus to Haverfordwest (50 minutes) and train from Haverfordwest. Alternatively, you can catch the bus to Fishguard and onward train.

Getting from the End

By Bus - St Davids doesn't have a train station but you can travel by bus to your onward destination. To Swansea, it takes approx 3 hrs.

A good source of reference for travel details is the travel line website: http://traveline.info/

Luggage Transfer

Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 18kg per person. Please ensure that you do not bring more than one bag of 18kg, as if this occurs, the luggage transfer company will ask you to pay an additional fee (approx. £8.00 per day, per bag). This additional payment, should it be necessary, needs to be made locally to the driver and in cash. All luggage needs to labelled as if they are not labelled we cannot guarantee that they will reach you at the next accommodation.

If you are travelling from far afield and do have more than one bag it is possible to arrange for the extra luggage to be stored whilst you are on the tour. (There may be a small charge for this). These additional bags would be picked up at your accommodation at the start point and dropped off wherever you finish depending on the itinerary you choose to do. Please contact us if you are interested in this option.

General Information

The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.

Useful Websites

There is a great wealth of information on the National Trail Website and this also has up to date diversions so it is worth a look before you set off on your walk.

Another good website is the Visit Pembrokeshire Website which has detailed information and may help with deciding on which part of the trail you are looking to walk.

Read travel blogger Heather's experience of walking the Best of Pembrokeshire, including tips for where to go for lunch!

Equipment

Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

How fit do I need to be?

How far in advance do I need to book?

What personal equipment do I need?

When is the best time of year?

Am I able to take my dog?

What happens if I can’t walk a stage?

How do the baggage transfers work?

What’s the largest group size that can walk on this route?

Why do our group have to lodge in separate accommodations?

Is the Pembrokeshire Coast Path suitable for those with vertigo?

Is there alternative walking further away from the cliff edge?

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Dale and Overnight Day 2: Walk to Marloes 12 miles / 20.3 km Day 3: Walk on Skomer Island

Covid19 Update for 2020 Season: Please be aware that due to Covid19 the landing on Skomer Island excursion is currently not running for the foreseeable future - for more information please visit https://www.pembrokeshire-islands.co.uk/boat-trips/land-on-skomer/. The boat cruises around the island are still running in 2020 and we recommend this as an alternative for now.

The largest of the Pembrokeshire Islands is home to the largest colony of seabirds in southern Britain. At its best in spring and early summer thousands of puffins, Manx shearwaters, razorbills and kittiwakes breed on the island. Look out for seals and dolphins on the short boat trip to the island where you can enjoy an excellent 4-mile walk which explores the best of the fauna, flora and history of Skomer.

The landing on Skomer Island excursion is becoming extremely popular - especially during the peak season of June & July. Tickets can only be purchased at the ferry operator's ticket office (2 miles from Marloes) in person, on the day of travel and they operate on a first come, first served basis. To ensure you get a ticket, it may require an extremely early start to queue for tickets

Overnight Marloes

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

The Clock House

The Clock House provides a great welcoming service. You’ll be given your own front door key and you can come and go as you please.

They offer a traditional full cooked breakfast, or you can choose from scrambled egg with smoked salmon or a continental option. They have a spacious and comfy separate resident’s lounge, as well as a friendly Café/Bar offering real coffee, teas, home-made cakes, snacks & lunches during the day, they are fully licensed and use locally sourced ingredients in their menus wherever possible. The Café/Bar is open until 5pm every day except Monday. (Open Bank Holidays Mondays).

Foxdale Guest House

Foxdale Guest House is a large, detached guest house fringing Marloes village. It offers warm and comfortable accommodation and has been graded 4 stars by The Welsh tourist board. The bedrooms are either en-suite or with private facilities and all have hospitality trays and colour televisions. You can choose your own breakfast daily from their very extensive menu which caters for all tastes and appetites.

Monk Haven Manor

A warm welcome awaits you at Monk Haven Bed & Breakfast, a very special tranquil place to stay within Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park. Nestled 1 mile from the village of St. Ishmaels in a beautiful secluded 16 acre garden and woodland valley leading to Monk Haven beach.

Day 4: Walk to Little Haven 12 miles / 19 km

This stretch of the walk continues along the dramatic cliffside. You may find the continuous ascents and decents challenging but as you reach Ticklas Point views of St Brides Bay and Ramsey Island will be worth the effort.

Little Haven is a delightful little row of cottages tucked into the head of a sandy beach with several welcoming pubs. Just another 30 minutes takes you over the hill to the slightly larger town of Broad Haven.

Overnight Little Haven

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Pendyffryn Manor Guest House and B&B

We are a renovated Victorian home overlooking the picturesque village of Little Haven, and St Bride’s Bay and situated right on the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, a hundred paces to the sheltered beach - perfect for an active or relaxing holiday by the sea.

Pendyffryn Manor is ideally suited for family and small group bookings with b&b accommodation for around twelve people.

Pendyffryn Manor is comfy and welcoming, the quiet and relaxing rooms are large and bright with sea and village views.
Our charming en-suite rooms have great showers, quality beds and linen.

The Crest

The Crest stands in a superb clifftop location overlooking the picturesque village and cove of Little Haven. From the house and garden there are wonderful panoramic views across St. Bride’s Bay from Borough Head to Ramsey Island. Breakfast is served in the conservatory, a feature of which is the magnificence of the views out to sea. A choice of full Welsh breakfast or a substantial Continental breakfast is offered and is served between 8.30 and 9.30am. Rosie makes a point of utilising fresh local produce wherever possible.

Anchor Guest House

Anchor Guest House is on the sea front and faces westwards onto the beautiful safe and sandy beach at Broad Haven. The rooms all feature flat-screen colour televisions with a built-in DVD player, a clock radio incorporating a CD player as well as tea and coffee making facilities.

Day 5: Walk to Solva 12.5 miles / 19.5 km Day 6: Walk to St David's 10 miles / 16 km Day 7: Walk to Whitesands Bay 13.5 miles / 22 km Day 8: Onward Travel from St David's

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