Panoramic Pembrokeshire

Luxury

1. 1. Day one

   

   Arrive Cardigan and Poppit Sands

   We meet you at Carmarthen Station for the 60 minute transfer to Cardigan and the start of your adventure. Enjoy the increasingly rural landscape of green fields and lots of sheep! Your hotel is on the bank of the River Teifi overlooking the estuary and Cardigan Island. Sit by the water’s edge and enjoy the relaxing environment with some refreshment from the hotel’s own craft brewery. You may see wild geese, shelduck, or maybe a kingfisher or even an otter or osprey . Croeso i Sir Benfro! (Welcome to Pembrokeshire!).

2. 2. Day two

   

   Poppit Sands to Moylegrove

   Set out from your hotel along the lane beside the estuary to reach beautiful Poppit Sands. Pick up a picnic here before your route takes you up hill to Camaes Head where you get your first glimpse of the sea with the coastline stretching before you. The undulating path is a narrow grassy track between the gorse bushes and above the sheer cliffs to the sea. You reach the highest point of the whole route with panoramic views to Dinas Island and Strumble Head that you will visit in the coming days. Turning inland reach the settlement of Moylgrove and your boutique accommodation. Enjoy a supper tapas hamper while you watch the sun go down or take a taxi to nearby St Dogmaels.

   7 miles (11 km)

3. 3. Day three

   

   Molyegrove to Newport

   Setting out again from your hotel, this is possibly the most challenging walk of the tour along rugged cliff top paths and many ups and downs with no refreshment opportunities for most of the day. Your reward is the sight of the coastline stretching before you – dramatic cliffs, stacks and arches. Pass ‘The Witches Cauldron’ an enormous chasm created by the collapse of a sea cave and keep your binoculars to hand as you come to a welcome refreshment stop overlooking Newport Sands. The charming village of Newport (Trefdraeth) provides your accommodation for the night.

   9.5 miles (15 km)

4. 4. Day four

   Newport to Pwllgwaleod

   The cliffs today are not quite as high but still as wild and rugged. Walk too along the rocks on a beach section and spot the end wall of a chapel above the beach. The rest was washed away in the enormous storm of 1859 that created all of Pembrokeshire’s pebble banks. Rest at a sandy sheltered cove, before rounding Dinas Island. Not an island at all but a peninsula divided from the ‘mainland’ by a glacial meltwater channel. It offers stunning views and noisy colonies of razorbills and guillemots. Your path brings you to an historic inn and favourite watering hole of Dylan Thomas, where we meet you for a transfer back to Newport.

   7 miles (11 km)

5. 5. Day five

   

   Strumble Head to Abercastle

   A transfer this morning takes you through Fishguard where the ferries leave for Ireland and up to Strumble Head. The lighthouse – now fully automated – is perched on a tiny island reached by a suspension bridge. Your path climbs to a high point and you can see the whole of coastline down to St David’s. What a jaw dropping view! This section also gives you a great opportunity to spot porpoises and even orca, basking sharks and minke or humpbacked whales. Grey seals can often be seen basking on the rocks below while choughs and ravens can be seen in the air. Detour to a working woollen mill for local colour and cuppa before reaching Abercastle where you stay the night.

   9 miles (14 km)

6. 6. Day six

   

   Porthgain to Whitesands

   Starting at Porthgain, a gentler start to the day takes you to The Blue Lagoon at Abereiddy a disused quarry now used for coasteering and cliff diving. Beyond, the route gets a little more challenging and isolated as you approach the open heathland of St David’s Head and an area composed of volcanic rocks and dotted with pre historic remains including a burial site thought to be around 5,500 years old. Rounding the headland you reach the beautiful beach of Whitesands Bay, loved by surfers, kayakers and sand castle builders! We will meet you here for a transfer to your very special hotel for the next two nights.

   9 miles (15 km)

7. 7. Day seven

   Whitesands to St Davids

   Returning to Whitesands the terrain changes from wild and rugged to sandy beaches and pretty coves. The RSPB reserve of Ramsey Island comes into view as you head for St Justinians from where the Life Boats and RHIB rides around the islands depart. The tidal race here makes the waters of Ramsey Sound a challenging place for boats whilst kayakers come from far afield to test their skills against the whitewater. Rounding the most westerly point in Pembrokeshire Skomer Island is clearly visible. Turn inland to St David’s – Britain’s smallest city and place of pilgrimage for centuries – on the way back to your hotel.

   9 miles (14 km)

8. 8. Day eight

   

   St Davids to Solva

   Walking from your hotel, head back to the coast. If you wish to explore more of St David’s with the 12th Century St David’s Cathedral, Bishop’s Palace and the Oriel y Parc Gallery with art and artefacts from the collection of the National Museum Wales, you have the option for a shorter walk today and set off after lunch. Your are heading for the pretty village of Solva with its white-washed houses clustering around the harbour and your overnight stay in the heart of the village. The longer walk allows you to explore Solva and enjoy lunch at a café on the Quay, with a detour inland to the Solva Woollen Mill who’s traditional rugs and floor runners adorn homes the world over.

   5 or 8 miles (8 or 13 km)

9. 9. Day nine

   

   Solva to Druidstone

   Set off at your leisure for a lovely day of hidden coves and sandy beaches affording excellent views across St Brides Bay. The cliffs are very crumbly so take care not to go too close to the edge. Before long the long golden beach at Newgale will come into view with a pitstop. When sand and tidal conditions allow a submerged forest can sometimes be seen at the northern end of Newgale Sands – one of several along the Pembrokeshire coast – some dating back 8000 years and clear evidence of rising sea levels. Your rest for the night sits overlooking the beach of Druidstone Haven and the perfect place to watch the sun dropping into the sea.

   9 miles (14 km)

10. 10. Day ten

    

    Skomer Island

    For lovers of wildlife, today is a magical opportunity to visit the Island of Skomer – one of Britain’s most important seabird colonies - accessed by boat from Martin’s Haven. Only available from April to August with limited dates in September, this uninhabited island is bursting with seabirds including razorbills, guillemots, Manx shearwaters and of course the Atlantic Puffin which nests there from May-July.
    There's a quite steep climb from the boat up onto the island and you may cover 4-5 miles if you walk all round the island. On your return we will meet you for a transfer to your inn at Hazelbeach on the outskirts of Milford Haven. The Ferry House Inn is our classic choice chosen for to its atmosphere and location.

    Optional distances

11. 11. Day eleven

    

    Angle to Freshwater West

    A transfer across the Cleddau Bridge takes you to the start of your walk at Angle. As you round the headland you can see the peninsula of St Anne’s Head from where Polish airman flew Wellington bombers in WWII from the disused military aerodrome at Dale. It was also around this unassuming spot at Mill Bay that Henry Tudor landed in 1428 with 1800 French mercenaries and marched across England gathering support to defeat Richard III at Bosworth and become King Henry VII. We meet you at the far side of Freshwater West beach for a transfer to your hotel in the centre of Pembroke. The Coach House is our classic choice of hotel chosen because of its atmosphere and location

    8 miles (13 km)

12. 12. Day twelve

    

    Explore the Pembroke area and coast

    Today is a rest day with a visit to Pembroke Castle or Upton Castle Gardens if you prefer, or a boat trip on the River Claddau. Imposing Pembroke Castle has a fascinating history. Originally built around 1093 it has withstood many a siege – its late 12th Century keep an outstanding feature for its huge cylindrical tower. It is best known as the birthplace of Henry Tudor – where his young and pregnant Lancastrian mother was given refuge by her brother-in-law Jasper Tudor. Henry spent much of his young life in France before returning to claim his birthright, bringing an end to the Wars of the Roses and starting the Tudor dynasty as father to King Henry VIII and grandfather to Queen Elizabeth I.

    After lunch we transfer you to your hotel where you can relax in preparation for the last stage of your Welsh adventure with an optional short walk to the coast.

    Optional 3 miles (5 km)

13. 13. Day thirteen

    

    Barafundle Bay to Manorbier

    Set out from your hotel with a choice of routes to your destination at Manorbier. The longer distance takes you to Broad Haven beach and around to Barafundle Bay one of the prettiest little spots along the coast, before you come to Stackpole Quay and a delightful Tea Room. Walk on to Freshwater East Beach, a local nature reserve before you reach Manorbier with its majestic 11th Century Norman Castle set on the cliffs with fairytale turrets, grand hall and landscaped gardens. Enjoy a drink in the café where we will meet you for a transfer to your hotel just outside Tenby.

    8 or 12 miles (13 or 19 km)

14. 14. Day fourteen

    

    Tenby to Amroth

    Start the day with a short train hop to Tenby (trains run every 2 hours) or a taxi transfer and spend a time exploring this pretty seaside town before you set off again along the coast on a gentler route to the official end of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path at Amroth. Pass yet more spectacular beaches at Saundersfoot before reaching Wiseman’s Bridge where in 1943 a full-scale rehearsal of the D-Day landings took place. If you reach Amroth at a low spring tide you may see 5,000 year old tree stumps revealed before you see Amroth Castle and we meet you for a transfer to your final night in Saundersfoot.

    6 miles (9 km)

15. 15. Day fifteen

    Depart Amroth

    At a time to suit we will transfer you back to Carmarthen for a direct train to London or your preferred onward location.