Holiday rentals in Pembrokeshire

The westernmost county in Wales is also one of its wildest, but worth the stunning long drive around the Preseli Mountains for its beautiful coastline and towns packed with creative types. Pembrokeshire’s southern stretch hosts its best-known resorts. The busiest is Tenby, thronging with visitors in the summer, with its medieval town walls and two beaches, but there’s also sandy near-neighbour Saundersfoot and the bucolic Barafundle Bay. Go west for quieter spots like Broad Haven, Little Haven, and Solva, or north to the craggy coves at Ceibwr or Cwm-yr-Eglwys (which has church ruins right on the beach).

Pembrokeshire’s towns have always attracted artists, and are renowned for their crafts, food, and culture. Narberth in its middle has thriving independent shops and galleries, while Newport in the north is known for high-end restaurants and quirky museums (it’s also a short hop from the beautiful market town of Cardigan, just over the border in Ceredigion). Britain’s tiniest city, St David’s to the far west, is also a delight, boasting a cathedral, breathtaking cliffs, and 15-minute boat trips to the puffin-dotted islands of Ramsey, Grassholm, Skokholm, and Skomer.

Summer is undoubtedly boom-time for this corner of Wales, as when the sun shines on its beaches, you couldn’t be anywhere better. Llangwm Literary Festival also entertains book-lovers in August, while the Narberth Food Festival extends the high season into September. Spring and autumn are recommended for popular resorts like Tenby for travellers who don’t want a holiday bustling with fun-seekers and beachcombers — but many of the quieter coves are a delight, and very peaceful, all year round. Also great in most weather are the 186 miles of the stunning Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, but do bring waterproofs and warm weather gear, and be warned that this corner of Wales can get windy. When the weather turns, head to the characterful towns of Haverfordwest, St David’s, or Narberth for some cawl (Welsh stew) and bara brith (Welsh fruit loaf) to warm your cockles.

Caldey Island

Two miles off Tenby’s coast is a gorgeous island inhabited by seventy monks, who encourage visitors to pop by every summer. It has an abbey, church, and pretty lighthouse, as well as a tearoom, perfume shop, and chocolate factory (the monks sell their own products from here). Rare wildlife thrives here too, such as red squirrels, and rare flowers blossom: Caldey has stunning purple orchids.

Newport

Set on the dramatic expanse of the North Pembrokeshire coast, this village is a thriving hub of independent restaurants, antique shops, and galleries. It also has one of the cutest museums in the United Kingdom: Ty Twt, a family-run emporium of doll’s houses from around the world.

Manorbier

Wales is well-known for its castles, but the lesser-known Manorbier is one of the most beautiful, perched on cliffs above a gorgeous Welsh village. It houses a lovely cafe and a dressing-up room for children. Nearby you’ll also find a pretty dovecote, a Grade I-listed church, and one of the most memorable stretches of the South Pembrokeshire coastline.