Walking the Pembrokeshire Coast Path - Independent walking holidays with Celtic Trails

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path provides a walking experience few other coastal trails can match.

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path twists and turns its way around the entire Pembrokeshire coastline for 186 miles/ 299 km and will take you over 400 stiles, and 37,000 feet ascent and descent

Walking the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, each day is a new experience with an ever-changing succession of beautiful sandy beaches, hidden smugglers coves, picturesque harbours and villages, views across the offshore islands and the incredible marine and seabird colonies.

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path can be walked a section at a time and in either direction.
Start or finish in Am Roth on the south Wales coast, Pipit Sands in the north, or Sandy Haven nearer the centre by Milford Haven.

Amroth to (Milford Haven )
This short section takes you to the captivating medieval walled harbour town of Tenby, along a beautiful section of coastline with inlets, blowholes and sea arches and across beautiful Barfundle Bay, one many unspoilt beautiful wide white sandy bays and only accessible on foot. You can visit a tiny 12C hermit chapel hidden in the magnificent cliffs and explore Manorbier enchanting Norman castle overlooking the beach.

The Coast path trail continues through the industrialised areas and oil terminals around Milford Haven. If choosing to start from Amroth we recommend missing out this section and Celtic Trails will transfer you to the start of the next section at Sandy Haven.

Sandy Haven to St David’s
Our clients often choose to start their walking holiday from on this section. You walk along the estuary out of Milford Haven, one of the finest natural harbours in the world, and around lovely St Anne’s Head. This section of Pembrokeshire coast path is dotted with pretty harbour villages, Dale, Little Haven, Porthclais, the little harbour of saints and pilgrims, and colourful Solva, a small port since 13C. You cross Mill Bay-where Henry Tudor landed in 1485 - two weeks later to claim the crown from Richard III. And spectacular Marloes Sands, where it will be hard to resist a refreshing dip in the inviting ocean. From the craggy outcrops you overlook the seabird sanctuaries on Skomer and Skokholm islands and you have the opportunity to spend an extra day visiting amazing Skomer Island with its protected seabird colonies. You end in St David’s, Britain’s smallest ‘city’ no more the size of a large village where Wales’s patron saint established his monastery in 500AD

We strongly recommend an extra day at Marloes for wildlife enthusiasts. From here, you can take the boat to Skomer Island, a nature reserve famous for its puffins, wildflowers and other birdlife. Book required in April and May.

St David’s to Poppit Sands
No one should miss spending some time in St David’s Cathedral taking in the truly magnificent construction and the atmosphere of 1000 years of Celtic Christianity.
From St David’s the exciting Cardigan Bay coastline’s magnificent cliffs pounded by waves form some of the highest and remotest sections of the walk. Enjoy superb views out to sea as the coast path twists around the more rugged coastline. You cross Whitesand Bay where it is said that St. Patrick had his vision to convert Ireland to Christianity here, setting sail from this bay in 5C. You pass the picturesque old harbour town of the Fishguard with its wonderful tale of the French surrender of 1797 . You visit the ancient little town of Newport, with its interesting steep sided streets, old shops and Norman castle, walk around Morfa Head beneath the Preseli Hills, where the stone for the construction of Stonehenge originated, past Castellreryffyd, Iron Age fort and Pwll-y-Wrach (the Witches Cauldron).

Trail Facts