ATTRACTIONS
Places and Activities
Heatherton Leisure Park is an amazing day out for all the family. Located near Tenby, Pembrokeshire it features many activities, attractions and Sports. www.heatherton.co.uk
Manor House Wild Animal Park is situated by the unique and beautiful coastal resort town of Tenby in the county of Pembrokeshire. The park is set in landscaped wooded grounds and floral gardens which surround the 18th century Manor House. The Park houses a collection of mammals, birds and reptiles throughout the 35 acre park. You can see Zebras, Camels, Bison, Antelope, Reindeer, Tapir and Llamas wander in large enclosures with Wallabies, Mara, Muntjac Deer, Ostrich, Emus and Rhea all too eager to greet any visitors walking around the paths. A tractor & trailer ride is available to take you around the large animal exhibits together with an educational commentary about the animals.
Colby Woodland Gardens is set in a hidden valley and is a charming garden with stunning displays of daffodils and bluebells in spring and one of the best collections of rhododendrons and azaleas in Wales, including magnificent summer hydrangeas. Gentle strolls and extensive walks lead through the estate, with plenty of seats en route for the less energetic. There is much of interest for gardeners and wildlife enthusiasts alike, as well as a special quiz for children.
The Dinosaur Park near Tenby allows the intrepid explorer to walk the dinosaur trail as it winds it way through a mile of woodland, over boardwalks by swamps, where they will discover over 20 life size dinosaurs in a natural setting. However beware, some of the dinosaurs are not what they seem! A great day out with plenty to do for all the family.
Oakwood Leisure Park is one of the UK's top ten theme parks and one of Wales' largest tourist attractions with over 400,000 visitors each year. Boasting over 40 rides and attractions, there's something for everyone, which includes the world-class white knuckle ride, Hydro, Europe's fastest and wettest water coaste;, Megafobia, the acclaimed wooden rollercoaster; Vertigo, a 50m sky coaster and The Bounce, the UK's only shot and drop tower coaster. With rides for all the family you can be sure of a great day out - whatever the weather. www.oakwood-leisure.co.uk/
Folly Farm - Situated in the heart of Pembrokeshire, Folly Farm is one of the largest family attractions in Pembrokeshire and offers a host of fun activities from hundreds of friendly animals, an amazing vintage funfair, exotic children's zoo, shows, entertainment, refreshments and more. www.folly-farm.co.uk
Caldey Island lies cradled in the magnificent South Pembrokeshire coastline on the western fringes of Wales. It is one of Britain's Holy islands. The Cistercian monks of Caldey continue a tradition which began there in Celtic times - www.caldey-island.co.uk.
Skomer Island lies just to the South-West of the Marloes Peninsula of Pembrokeshire. Cut off from the rest of Pembrokeshire by Jack Sound, a narrow stretch of water, renowned for its strong tidal currents, the island's isolation has meant that predators such as rats, cats, dogs and foxes are absent. This is one of the major reasons for the island's importance as a breeding ground for burrow nesting seabirds. Man is only present in the form of daytime visitors (with only a small number allowed to stay the night in self-catering accommodation run by the Wildlife Trust West Wales), and the warden and students of Skomer's unique wildlife. All combined Skomer truly is a jewel in Pembrokeshire's crown, a paradise for birds and other wildlife and bird-and-wildlife-loving man alike.
The Dunes Riding Centre - Enjoy accompanied riding on woodland paths and quiet lanes. Rides to suit beginners and experienced riders. Gentle, well mannered, willing horses and ponies to suit all abilities.
www.dunes-riding.co.uk
St Davids - Great Britain's smallest city located in the far west of Wales. Steeped in history, the city is a vibrant centre of activity located in the heart of the beautiful Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park
St Davids Cathedral - Situated below the tiny city of St Davids this cathedral is worth a visit to view both its beauty and historical past. Purported to be one of the most ancient cathedrals in the UK. www.stdavidscathedral.org.uk
Tyr Y Felin - variety of outdoor adventures provided in Pembrokeshire, including coasteering, surfing, rock climbing, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing www.tyf.co.uk
Thousand Island Boat Trips - provides boat trips to the many islands off the Pembrokeshire Coast and guided walks around the area. www.thousandislands.co.uk
Cwm Deri Vineyard is situated in the heart of the Pembrokeshire Countryside and surrounded by the beauty of the National Park. It is a privately-owned small-holding of 25 acres and has been open to the public since 1992. The vineyard is a well-established tourist attraction, boasting visitor numbers in excess of 40,000 per annum.
www.cwm-deri.co.uk
Pemberton's Welsh Chocolate Farm - at the chocolate farm you are able to smell, taste, drink, see, touch, listen to and absorb the full flavours of fine chocolate at their chocolate workshops. www.welshchocolatefarm.com
East Nolton Farm is a working livestock and stud farm which also provides a riding stables where visitors can take a horse riding trek and explore the beach and surrounding cliffs of Nolton Haven. www.noltonstables.com
Sycamores Ranch - Enjoy the thrill of American western style trail riding throughout the beautiful Pembrokeshire countryside. www.americanhorseriding.com
Celtic Diving Services is a Diving Centre in Pembrokeshire which offers snorkelling and scuba diver training along with diving trips and boat charter to explore the underwater world of Pembrokeshire. www.celticdiving.co.uk
Castell Henllys Iron Age Hillfort is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and one of many prehistoric promontory forts in the National Park Pembrokeshire dating to around 600BC. www.castellhenllys.com
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Castles of Pembrokeshire
Pembroke Castle is situated within minutes of beaches and the breathtaking scenery of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. This mighty fortress is birthplace of Henry VII, father to the infamous Henry VIII and grandfather to Elizabeth I. Explore from the top of the lofty towers to the cavern deep beneath. A fascinating castle visit with stunning exhibitions, relating to the castle's history, that will captivate all ages. Enjoy a picnic in the beautifully kept grounds, or on the roof of St. Annes's Bastion and take in the views along the estuary. A visit to Pembroke Castle is not complete without a stroll around its tranquil waterway setting, and then on into the medieval walled town of Pembroke with its old buildings many of them housing, restaurants and speciality shops. Events are held every weekend throughout the summer months - for more information see www.pembrokecastle.co.uk
Manorbier Castle - About 6 miles from Tenby lies Manorbier Castle, the birthplace of the 12th Century scholar Gerald of Wales who described Manorbier as ‘the most delectable spot in Wales’. The remains of this picturesque seaside castle date to a period later than Gerald of Wales himself, and it was extensively restored in the 19th Century, but the view is timeless and excellent looking out to the tiny secluded cove of Manobier beach. Life-size figures enhance a family's exploration of the castle and grounds.
Carew Castle and Mill - Carew Castle is justly celebrated as one of the most magnificent castles of South Wales. Its position is low-lying, but still prominent in the flat land around the tidal reaches of the Carew river. The castle stands at the end of a ridge at a strategically excellent site commanding a crossing point of the still navigable river.
Llawhaden Castle is located about 8 miles east of Haverfordwest, just off the A40. The narrow approach road into Llawhaden gives no hint that the great bishops once took refuge here. Even the village itself, quiet and rather secluded, hides the splendor of its medieval past.
Picton Castle was once the home to the Philipps family and a substantial number of friends and servants. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries the Philippses of Picton Castle were the most powerful family in Pembrokeshire, exercising tremendous political, social and economic influence over all aspects of local life. A centre of squirearchal government, and a focus of local social and cultural life, functions which it has retained in some measure to the present day. Picton Castle is now owned by the Picton Castle Trust.
Cilgerran Castle stands on a precipitous, craggy promontory overlooking the river Teifi where it merges with the Plysgog stream. The Teifi here is just at its tidal limit, so the castle was able to control both a natural crossing point and the passage of seagoing ships.
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Beaches
Saundersfoot is a large, south east facing beach of golden sand and is one of the most popular stretches of coastline in Pembrokeshire. Bathing here is generally safe, and Saundersfoot is very popular with families. Being a lively tourist beach, all the expected amenities can be found close to the beach, including shops, cafes and ice cream parlours. There is disabled access to the beach, with disabled toilet facilities nearby. Dog restrictions are in place between between 1 May and 30 September, and Lifeguards are on duty from the end of June to the end of September.
Tenby is Pembrokeshire's main holiday resort, and its beaches reflect this. They provide plenty of facilities, are winners of various environmental awards, and are often crowded especially during the main holiday periods. North Beach consists of a sweep of golden sand, with occasional rocks, including the prominent Goscar Rock, dotting the beach. The harbour and castle are at the southern end of the beach which is well sheltered from the prevailing winds. Access to the beach is good, but parking close to North Beach especially during peak times can be difficult.
Tenby Harbour beach is small, picturesque and brightly coloured by the neat painted cottages and spectrum of summer sail, which gives it a magnetic attraction to all. To sit on the harbour wall watching fishermen cast their lines and the boats sailing to and from Caldey Island is a pleasureable way of whiling away the time. There is a Tenby Harbour walk which starts from outside St. Julian’s Chapel, and tickets are available from Cofion Bookshop, next to the Tudor Merchant’s House or the Harbour Cafe.
Tenby Castle beach lies in the cove between Castle Hill and the East Cliff. At low tides it is possible to walk out to St. Catherine's island, but people will need to take care that the tide does not cut them off. Castle beach is only a short walk from town but the slipway sports a café, hire facility, deck chair rental and toilets. The beach is patrolled by a Lifeguard between the hours of 10am and 6pm during the summer season and boat trips to Caldey Island run from the beach at low tide.
Tenby South beach consists of a mile long stretch of sand but it is much larger and quieter than Tenby North beach. It is also more exposed and therefore offers better conditions for those wishing to partake in watersports such as surfing, windsurfing and kite-surfing. Tenby's south beach is a firm favourite with holidaymakers. The beach, which is backed by cliffs on which the town stands, offers unlimited views of Caldey Island which is inhabited by monks. Facilities are very good.
Coppet Hall is a small sandy beach, with pebbles at the high tide line. Joined to the busier Saundersfoot beach it has good parking facilities available meaning it can become crowded in the summer.
Wisemans Bridge is wide and mostly sandy with some rocky stretches. Its claim to fame is that it was used in the 1944 for rehearsals of the D Day landings under the watchful eye of Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill himself. At low tide it is possible to walk to neighbouring Saundersfoot. Very limited parking which is in demand in busy summer months.
Amroth is a charming coastal village where time seems to have stood still. The beach is punctuated by a series of groynes that help protect the village from winter storms and rough seas. This beach and village mark the easterly end of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, which winds its way for 186 miles past all the coves, beaches and cliffs.
Barafundle Bay voted as one of the top 10 beaches of the UK. It is a beautiful bay of golden sands and turquoise blue waters and with it being east facing and well sheltered from the prevailing winds, it is an ideal hideaway spot. To find Barafundle Bay, turn off from the minor road between Stackpole and Freshwater East where a lane leads to a car park at Stackpole Quay. There are toilets and a cafe at the car park. The beach itself is a 1 km walk along the Coast Path and there is a steep descent from the path down to the beach.
Broadhaven South is a pleasant beach backed by sand dunes which are an important habitat for wildlife. Offshore is a dramatically-shaped limestone stack known as Church Rock. The stream running down to the beach drains from the Bosherston lakes called the lily ponds, Broadhaven South and the lily ponds are part of the Stackpole Estate, with the lakes themselves covering 32 hectares. Worth a visit, the lily ponds are home to a rich variety of wildlife, including otters, water fowl and dragonflies.
Stackpole Quay was built in the 18th century, to ship out limestone from the nearby quarry and bring in luxury goods for Stackpole Court. The quay is owned by the National Trust and nearby is the the village of Stackpole itself which has a very inviting pub. Close by are interesting areas of woodland - Castle Dock, Cheriton Bottom, Caroline Grove and Lodge Park - which were planted as part of the estate 200 years ago. There are species here from all over the world, many of them brought in from London's Kew Gardens. The woods are managed by the National Trust, who have created several miles of pathways for horses and walkers.
Manorbier can be considered as one of the prettiest beaches in Pembrokeshire, overlooked by the impressive medieval Manorbier Castle and the 12C church. The beach itself is sandy, with rocks and rockpools at either end and a pebble bank along the high tide mark. Parking is available in a National Trust Car Park above the beach and along the low cliff at the northern end of the beach. Toilets can be found in the large car park and there are shops and a pub in the village.Freshwater East is a wide, sweeping crescent of sand and shingle backed by dunes and grassy headlands. Popular with boat owners, divers, fishermen and surfers alike, it has a shop, pub, caravan park and toilets - all set behind the dunes.
Freshwater West is a huge sweeping swath of sand and is haven for surfers, as they are drawn to the area by the big Atlantic rollers. However, it can be dangerous to swimmers because of strong undertows, and hazardous quicksands, so families with young children should be on their guard. The main beach is sand with pebbles at high tide. The water here is in pristine condition and home to many species of birdlife, seals and fish.
Marloes sands is a beautiful, isolated stretch of sand with rocky outcrops along its length. It is rarely busy and out of season if you make the effort to walk to the beach you are likely to have it to yourself. From the beach there are good views out to Skokholm and Gateholm Islands, the latter of which is at the NW end of the beach and can be reached on foot at low tide. The remains of neolithic to medieval settlements can be found on the island. To get to Marloes Sands, head to Marloes on the B4327 and just before the church in the village of Marloes turn left where you will find the car park and a signpost for the 1km walk to the beach.
Martins Haven is a small stony beach which has the embarkation point for boat trips to Skomer and Skokholm Islands. Popular with divers, it can get very crowded although many people travel down to Martins Haven to walk the cliffs. Bird life abounds and in the late summer/autumn months, the seal pups can be seen from the cliffs above on the many secluded coves that abound this area of the coastline. A National Trust car park is available 200m from the 'beach' and toilets can be found on the road to the beach.
Dale offers a sheltered bay and is perfect for taking those first steps into the world of windsurfing. Dale has a shingle beach with some sand at low tide and an attractive seafront, all overlooked by Dale Castle on the hill above. There is a local pub and cafe/shop on the front making it an excellent place to while a few hours watching the yatching/boating fraternity at play on the water. Car parking is plentiful although it can get busy at peak season such as bank holidays.
West Dale - A sand and shingle bay surrounded by steep unstable Old Red Sandstone cliffs. The bay itself is WSW facing and therefore takes the brunt of the stormy seas. It has difficult access, strong rip tides, submerged outcrops, unpredictable currents and sometimes powerful waves although this does not deter the many surfers who use the beach. There are no amentities at the beach, but the nearby village of Dale offers shops, pub and accomodation. Limited parking is available along the roadside, from where it is a 10 minute walk along the coast path to the beach.
Little Haven is a picturesque old fishing village with steep streets that descend to a stony beach. The beach itself is popular with swimmers and divers in the summer months and thus can get very crowded. However, at low tide there is a pleasant walk along the beach to Broad Haven with numerous caves and rockpools to explore. Small campsites and guest houses are plentiful in this area and Little Haven itself has its own restaurant and pubs serving bar meals. To find Little Haven follow the coast road south from Broad Haven.
Newgale is probably one of the most dramatic views as you approach it either way from the road. It provides the ideal location for water sports. There is always plenty of space on the long, two mile stretch of flat sand and whilst the Atlantic Ocean rollers ensure some exciting surf, it is a safe beach for the young and not so expert. The beach is patrolled by lifeguards during the school holidays. It is easy to find, lying midway between Haverfordwest and St. Davids on the main A487 road. There is a cafe at both ends of the beach and the Duke of Edinburgh Inn is next to Newsurf on the sea front. There is ample free parking and also a small picnic area.
St. Brides Haven is a small cove with sand exposed at low tide and shingle/pebbles further up the beach. It faces North West so is protected from the South Westerly winds making it excellent for bathing. There are many rockpools to explore and the cove provides good views aross St. Brides Bay. To find it follow one of the small lanes that lead off the B4327. There is limited car parking available by the church. Toilets can be found above the beach.
Solva is a busy little village in the summer, with plenty of cafes, restaurants, pubs and gift shops. There is not the best of beaches but it does have a very picturesque little harbour from where a pleasant afternoon watching the small boats coming and going can be spent.
Nolton Haven is a sheltered shingle cove which also offers a sandy beach area. Accomodation is available in Nolton Haven itself from a choice of caravans to self catering accommodation. There is also the Mariners Arms which provides accommodation and it also serves meals. Parking is available and Nolton Haven can be found on the coast road between Newgale and Broad Haven or by following the signs from the A487.
Whitesands is a very popular and often extremely busy beach. It is an enclosed bay with a sandy beach that can have some really nice waves and tends to pick up quite a bit of surf. It does get crowded however and is popular with surf kayakers although to protect the normal beach holiday makers, activities are zoned in the summer to try to avoid conflicts amongst the people using the beach. There is a large car park right on the beach and in the summer often a long queue to get into it. Accommodation is available in St. Davids and there is a shop, cafe and toilets in the car park. To find Whitesands Bay follow the signs from St. Davids.
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