POD LIFE

Pod life in Pembrokeshire couldn’t get any better than a stay at Parker’s Folly near St Davids. Perched in the rural countryside right on the edge of the Coast Path, this one is a perfect choice for solo travellers and couples looking to indulge in culture, activities and more.

Set down an unmade lane within the owner’s extensive grounds, this iconic green pod boasts a secluded location only 100 metres from the world-class National Trail, the Wales Coast Path; a location which also boasts breathtaking views out to St Brides Bay.

Fronted by a lawned garden and a gravelled patio where you’ll likely spend hours soaking up the tranquillity of this coastline, Parker’s Folly is sure to be one you’ll want to return to again and again. The interiors may be compact as you’d expect with a pod but they’re of four-star quality here, boasting mod-cons such as a dishwasher and smart tv. There’s WiFi too! You even have your own utility room in the outside shed where you’ll find a washing machine and tumble dryer, handy if you’re packing light.

Naturally, you’ll spend most days heading out to explore the coastline; Caerbwdi Beach is easily accessible via the Path and is the closest bay to you. Lace up the boots and head west for days out at Caerfai before continuing to St Nons, Porthclais and St Justinians for epic views. The opposite direction leads you to Solva and onto Newgale via the lesser-travelled coves of Nine Wells and Porthmynawyd.

The charming city of St Davids is just a short distance away and oozes all things food, culture and history. Sightsee St Davids Cathedral in May for their annual music festival, book tickets for outdoor Shakespeare in the Bishop’s Palace and follow your own pub trail through the handful of traditional inns in the city.

Purchase gifts and homewares in the independent stores, pick up produce from the local butcher and greengrocer before heading into any of the many activity centres to join a boat trip or watersports session. Discover a utopia of insects at The Bug Farm, tour the nature reserve at Ramsey Island or spend beach days at Whitesands before trekking the summit at Carn Llidi for a sunset picnic.

Amazing Things To Do For

Easily keep to a budget with our top tips and recommendations on free things to do in the extraordinary Pembrokeshire Coast National Park during your next staycation.

There’s a common myth that holidays can be expensive things and whilst we appreciate that you will naturally incur some costs along the way, that’s not to say that you can’t save a few pennies if you’re willing to be a little savvy with your planning. To give you a helping hand on how to keep your holiday spending at bay, we’ve put together this useful guide on free things to do in Pembrokeshire. And before we start, let us just say this - there are so many fantastic things to do without having to spend a penny!

First up is exploring the coastline. Being a National Park, this is the most obvious choice and quite frankly, this is our top recommendation whether you’re looking to spend or keep to a budget. It’s a must!

There’s just so much to be seen that you could easily waste away seven days (or longer!) journeying across the varied landscape of this seaside county without even really seeing a fraction of everything on offer. The beaches are one of the main attractions in Pembrokeshire and it's clear to see why when the bays are made up of soft white sands and clear blue shores. Some have high pebble banks to climb over like Newgale whilst others are backed by intricate networks of grassy sand dunes. Beaches like Saundersfoot are set alongside bustling villages and towns whilst others such as Traeth Llyfn are so far off the beaten track that there are no facilities nearby.

Leave the purse at home for a day out at the beach where your time can be filled with leisurely swims and sunbathing with a book. Bring along your own cricket set for beach game afternoons or make sure to pack your surfboard if you’re a watersports enthusiast. Some of the larger bays do have shops and hire centres if you feel like treating yourself to a new rounders set or need to hire a wetsuit.

Stick with the coast for walking adventures and head out on the Wales Coast Path; there are 186 miles of it in Pembrokeshire so plenty to explore. You can pick the route up from pretty much anywhere along the coastline, at the beaches or seaside towns and harbours. The best thing is that it runs in both directions so you can head left one day and right another.

If you look at a map of the area, you’ll find the county’s outline is rather rugged resulting in various headlands jutting out into the sea. More often than not, these very headlands provide unspoiled circular walks to discover so you can check out views of the oceans and countryside. Our favourites include Dinas Island (spoiler, not an island), St Davids Head and the Stackpole Estate.

Whether you’re visiting the beach or heading out for a coastline hike, you might want to take note of the local buses as they may be cheaper/easier than parking.

Next up on our recommendations is sightseeing. A vast selection of Pembrokeshire’s best-loved monuments and attractions are all free to visit so of course, they deserve a mention. The only thing you’ll be paying out for here is transport if you aren’t staying nearby or if you want to try and visit them all. But once you get there, all are free with the option for spending via donations, gift shops, cafes and guided tours if you want to. We can even help you put together your own sightseeing trail, just ask our Concierge team.

So where will you go first? St Davids Cathedral in the UK’s smallest city is certainly one to tick off the bucket list, as is St Govans Chapel built into the cliffs near Bosherston. Pentre Ifan is a burial chamber nestled in the Preseli Hills whilst Fishguard Fort played a significant role in the last invasion of Britain. Strumble Head Lighthouse is a mecca for photographers whilst Dobby’s Grave at Freshwater West is where the Potterheads go. Tenby Lifeboat Station is also a popular destination in the heart of the resort where you can go to see the lifeboat up close (unless it’s out on call) and learn more about the awe-inspiring work of the RNLI.

As well as sightseeing places, you might also wish to sightsee some of the best events hosted by the district, depending on when you’re visiting. The streets and shores of Pembrokeshire erupt with activity and there are events to suit everyone’s interests. Music lovers will appreciate the free Blues Trail during November’s Tenby Blues Fest and Aberjazz Fringe performances in August in Fishguard. Sports fans will want to join the crowds supporting Ironman athletes in September and Long Course Weekend participants in July (both Tenby), whilst culture vultures may want to take to the streets of Cardigan for a parade of horses and vintage vehicles in April’s Barley Saturday.

As for other affordable attractions to take note of, you might want to schedule a day at the Welsh Wildlife Centre and Teifi Marshes in Cardigan. In terms of nature, this facility is a haven with resident kingfishers, otters and wading birds to name but a few. Open five days a week, you can take a leisurely wander through the grounds learning all about the natural habitats along the nature trails. Take in the display rooms for interactive and film exhibits before letting the kids run wild at the play area as you set up the picnic. Note, parking here does cost £4 (all day) unless you are a local or a member, though you can walk on foot across from Cardigan.

Llys Y Fran is another firm favourite for a freebie day out with an incredible expanse of over 350 acres of land to explore. The walking trails on offer here are some of the best inland paths around, taking you right the way around the reservoir with fantastic views of the working dam. Mountain bikers will be in their element with over 9 miles of trails; you can bring your own or hire bikes if you need to plus there’s a repair centre in case you need assistance.

You may struggle to tear the little ones away from the adventure playground where there are swings, climbing frames and even a mini zip wire to try out. There’s even a free dog agility course with a seesaw, weave posts and catwalk. Llys Y Fran really is great fun for all the family! Picnic sites can be found across the park though there is a cafe onsite if you want to pick up hot/cold refreshments.

Top Tips

STAY CLOSE

Book accommodation nearby to a beach or right on the Coast Path and you needn’t even pay for travel to reach them. Give us a shout if you need recommendations.

Public Transport Borrow A Book

Making use of public transport can eliminate parking costs, particularly if you have a free bus pass.

Check out the local library to pick up your beach reads for free.

REUSE & REFILL

Don’t forget to pack your own reusable water bottle as lots of places now have free refill stations.

PICNIC LIKE A PRO

Packing a picnic can be a much more affordable option than eating out, though we do say to make sure to carry change for a warming coffee or refreshing ice cream depending on the season.

Prepare for paradise, because you’ll find it right here at The Roost. Positioned on the hillsides overlooking Whitesands Beach, this incredible beachside holiday home is guaranteed to give you memories to treasure for a lifetime. With extraordinary sea views and one of the area’s best beaches within walking distance, what more can you want from a coastal getaway?

Pass through the lively but minute city of St Davids, follow the country roads and continue along an unmade no-through road to reach the unbeatable setting for this wonderful stone barn conversion. Enter the kitchen/diner through the French doors and pass by the cottage-style kitchen with farmhouse dining table to head straight for the upstairs, for that’s where arguably the best room in the house lies.

Upon reaching the first floor, you’ll discover a galleried sitting room where the gabled end is largely glass, offering views towards Ramsey across Whitesands Bay below. Neutral blues and greys reflect the seaside setting with sofas and chairs centred around a woodburning stove. Curl up with the sounds of logs crackling and waves crashing in the winter months or settle down on the window seat and lose hours gazing at the water. Follow the path across the lane to reach the sloping garden with barbecue and firepit for alfresco feasts under the stunning dark skies.

There’s no denying The Roost is set in an enviable location, with Carn Llidi summit behind the property and the Coast Path just a stone’s throw away. Stroll downhill for morning dog walks on the sand, pack a picnic to enjoy sunset atop Carn Llidi or carry your boards and kayaks straight into the shores for seven days of blissful watersports. Try the cafe behind the beach or book surf lessons if you’re still learning.

St Davids nearby has everything else you might possibly need, with pubs and restaurants, produce shops and retail stores, a weekly farmers market and of course, historical landmarks to sightsee. Book boat trips and watersports from the activity centres, visit The Bug Farm and St Nons Chapel or watch the lifeboat launch from St Justinians.

Full Property Details

Bring your bathers and your beach towels because a stay at 1 Sunnycove in Tenby is all about the beach. This gorgeous apartment stands right on the edge of North Beach, so close that you’ll almost feel like you’re sailing on the water when the tide comes in.

Large windows can be found throughout this immaculate holiday home with nearly every one at 1 Sunnycove looking out over those panoramic seaside scenes below. Gaze out across the soft sands sprinkled with beachgoers all the way across to the picturesque harbour, where the landscape juts out with the old and new lifeboat station and the hillside rises to where once Tenby Castle stood prominently. The open-plan lounge/ diner boasts French doors that open out onto a small balcony where you can easily spend hours, unless you’re tempted to take a seat on the stone terrace outdoors that is - the views from both are simply outstanding.

A sandy staircase to the side of the apartment leads down to the shoreline where you can waste away your days sunbathing and swimming. Bring along your body board or kayak to enjoy watersports during your stay, you needn’t spend a penny. Though if you have put some money aside to treat yourself to an activity or two, there are plenty here. Sign up to a guided coasteering session, hire a jet-ski or book a boat trip out to Caldey Island for coastline views and more.

Follow the side staircase up however and you’ll be led into the centre of this cobbled town where the streets are filled with independent cafes, pubs and restaurants if you fancy refreshments. Browse the shop windows and galleries for unique trinkets and local artwork or picture the old town walls and the “famous” five arches landmark for your socials. Pick up produce from the local butcher and the greengrocers to cook up a fresh meal at 1 Sunnycove if you want to save yourself the expense of eating out - you definitely won’t find a better view elsewhere.

Full Property Details

Ifyou’re looking for an easy family retreat from the mundane routine of life at home, then The Woolpack in Ivy Tower Village at St Florence is a great shout. One of a row of pretty pastel-coloured houses in this miniature holiday village, this cottage overlooks the green and offers access to excellent communal facilities including a heated indoor swimming pool (rota basis), a sauna, an outdoor play area and a tennis court.

These shared spaces are precisely what you’re in need of if you’re holidaying with busy little ones or high-energy teenagers. Reserve a slot for a family paddle before a restful moment in the sauna followed by lunch, before spending the afternoon channelling your inner Andy Murray on the courts with your racquet. Swings and a climbing frame can be found in the playground with plenty of green space for a quick game of footy or a round of cricket. There is also lots of room for picnics and barbecue points so you can eat out without paying restaurant prices.

If/when you do fancy heading out for a meal, there are two pubs within walking distance in St Florence as well as a handy village shop for daily groceries. Heatherton Adventure Park is just around the corner and operates a credit-pass system where you buy a pass and use credits against the activities you want to try such as baseball, go-karting and bumper boats. Manor House Wildlife Park and The Dinosaur Park are also nearby, whilst coastal resorts like Tenby, Manorbier and Saundersfoot with their sandy beaches are just a drive away.

The Woolpack itself overlooks the village green, a view best enjoyed from the Victorian-style dining conservatory. A modern kitchen and spacious lounge with beamed ceilings make up the rest of the living space with bedrooms upstairs. One of the most fantastic things about choosing a stay here at Ivy Tower is the flexibility to book The Woolpack alongside other holiday cottages; ideal if you’re holidaying as part of a larger group or toying with the idea of inviting parts of the extended family.