Gwar Y Coed

If you would like more information on the local area, please call us on 01348 837871 to speak to one of our friendly team.

Solva and Harbour.

• Solva is a bustling tiny village with a wide selection of cafes, restaurants and pubs and an excellent well stocked local shop, Bay View Stores, just up the hill towards St. Davids, for newspapers, groceries, fresh sandwiches, bakery, post office, fishing equipment, even local fresh crab and wonderful home cooked take away meals etc in the deli section. There are art galleries and Window on Wales, well worth a visit. One mile up river is Solva Woollen Mill producing some distinctive quality fabrics. Treat yourself to a meal in the Cambrian or a cream tea in the traditional old-fashioned tea room.
• At high tide the beach is a narrow strip at the head of the inlet but at low tide the harbour is completely dry with the exception of a stream that runs down the middle of the harbour, providing hours of entertainment catching fish, shrimp and crabs.
• If you head down the beach towards the mouth of the inlet a large stretch of sand is revealed with plenty of rock pools and caves to explore. The bathing here is very shallow and very good for small children.
• At high tide, jumping off the harbour wall provides hours of fun. Several paths lead up to The Gribbin with superb views.
• Running parallel to Solva, on the other side of the ridge is another narrow valley, which ends up at an idyllic little pebble beach.
• Both these valleys are meltwater valleys created during the last ice age.
• If you're planning to visit, check out the tide times to make sure you've plenty of beach to play on and that you don't get cut off by the incoming tide!

St. Davids

• Although St Davids has the status of a city it is, in reality, a small village. Useful as a source of groceries - there is a well-stocked supermarket, butchers and greengrocers, as well as an ice cream and chocolate shop and two banks. There are also galleries and shops - clothes, gifts and outdoor gear; come and browse or buy - it is a delightful place to while away your holiday!
• Don't miss the outdoor farmers' market on Thursdays throughout the summer on the Cross Square - all sorts of local produce and tasty morsels.
• There are plenty of places to dine, all serving tasty local produce. Choose from Cwtch, St Davids Kitchen and the local Indian Restaurant as well as 4 pubs.

St Davids Cathedral and the Bishop's Palace

• Wander down through the historic road, Pebbles to the Cathedral and admire the view. St Davids Cathedral, both a historical monument as well as a place of worship, was built in 1181 and has weathered the centuries with varying fortunes.
• Visit the refectory in the newly restored cloisters for coffee or a meal and take time to enjoy the history and atmosphere of this very special place
• .Across the tiny river Alun is the ruined Bishop's Palace with its lovely decorated stonework, rose window, halls and stairways. Restored sufficiently to fire the imagination of young and old, let your children play while they absorb the atmosphere of this site of medieval power and influence.

Oriel y Parc

• Oriel y Parc - the Tourist Information Centre, art gallery and cafe. In this interesting modern building you can gather information about the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, useful maps and guidebooks, enjoy the art gallery with its resident exhibition of Graham Sutherland's work and programme of visiting artists - and then take breakfast or lunch at the Centre cafe.

St Non's Chapel and Holy Well

• Located on a stunning coastal site with dramatic views it is believed that St Non gave birth to St Davids at this very special place. It is wonderful for a picnic stop along the coast path.

Boat Trips - book in St Davids to visit the offshore islands

• Boat trips to suit all tastes leave from St Justinians during the season (April to October) to circle Ramsey Island and to see the marine wildlife, birds and spectacular Pembrokeshire coastal scenery. It really is a must for your St.Davids stay. Go dolphin and whale spotting too with longer trips out to Grassholm and the lighthouse! Book your tickets in St Davids.

Pembrokeshire Coastal Path

• Walk the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path which stretches the whole length of the Welsh coastline and encircles the St Davids Peninsula. Enjoy fabulous cliff top walking and breathtaking scenery within easy reach, never more than a couple of miles from the House. The path follows the rugged coastline and encircles the peninsula through Whitesands, Porthsele, St Justinians, Porthclais and Caerfai Bay - walk as far as you like and get a dedicated walkers' bus back. In the summer busses call in at all beaches, coves and villages along the coast.

Whitesands and the Peninsula beaches

• Whitesands Beach, just a short drive from Gwar Y Coed is one of the most stunning locations on the Pembrokeshire coast. The wide sandy 'Blue Flag' beach has lifeguard cover in the summer and surf hire and surfing lessons available at the beach - so it is popular for swimming, surfing and water sports of all sorts. Whitesands is a lovely place to walk and when you have had fun on the beach visit the Whitesands Cafe for tasty snacks and refreshments. On the other side of the city is Caerfai Bay. The scenery is spectacular and the beach reached down a steep path, is a wonderful rock-pooling, game-playing platform for sandy heaven. If you walk the coastal path around the Peninsula you will find a number of small coves and less accessible beaches - at many times of the year, you will have them to yourself!

Coasteering

• Walk, scramble, climb, swim & cliff jump your way around the best of Pembrokeshire's rocky coastline, lots of fun and increasingly popular for those with a sense of adventure, offered by TYF in St Davids (01437 721611)

Porthgain

• A charming village with an attractive harbour. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was a flourishing seaport exporting slate and shale. Now it is a quaint harbour occupied by small fishing boats. Don't miss the opportunity to buy crab fresh off the boat when the fishermen return. Have dinner in - or outside at Sloop Inn, and enjoy some of the finest Fish and Chips at the Shed where locally caught crab and lobster are also served.

Newgale Beach

• Almost 2 miles of golden sand backed by a huge pebble bank formed after a BIG storm in 1859.
• Kitesurfing and surfing are popular on this beach and tuition is available.
• Walk right down to the southern end to find a walk-through cave and numerous sheltered bays. Cross the river, at the back of the pebble bank opposite the cafe at the north end to gain access to several low tide bays.
• At very low tide it's possible to walk round to Cwm Mawr beach but keep an eye on the tide times as beware of being cut off by the tide.
• Dog restrictions apply to the middle third of the beach between the 1st May and 30th September.
• Beach facilities - Toilets, lifeguards are on duty between the beginning of June to the end of September.
• Onshore facilities - there is a surf shop, cafe and pub at the northern end of the beach. Surfing and kitesurfing tuition and board hire is available from the shop. At the southern end there's a cafe/beach shop, toilets.

Nolton Haven

• A coastal hamlet, with a sandy beach, halfway along the coast of St.Brides Bay, the local Mariners Inn serves bar food.
• East Nolton Riding Stables , 01437 710360, offers horse riding for novice and experienced riders. Try countryside trails or beach trekking on Druidstone Beach.

Broad Haven

• The seaside village has everything you need for your holiday: a large, sandy Blue Flag beach, a well-stocked convenience shop, 3 pubs, a restaurant, fish & chip take away as well as a surf shop selling and hiring out water sports gear.

Little Haven

• A popular holiday village with picturesque setting, sandy beach, cafe and an excellent choice of pubs - The Swan Inn , The Castle and The St. Brides all offering a good choice of freshly prepared food, including local fish & seafood.
• Lobster & Mor offers quality crafts & local produce, together with delicious crab/lobster sandwiches.
• Corner House Cafe provides 'simple, yet awesome cafe fayre', with freshly baked artisan bread, locally sourced produce & delicious desserts, along with wonderful coffee, La Bastilla P3 beans, slowly roasted, just perfect, & delicious Pembrokeshire ice cream.

Dale & Marloes

• Unspoilt Dale village is in the heart of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. It has a safe shingle beach and lots of water-based activities including kayaking, sailing and windsurfing
• The award-winning traditional Griffin Inn overlooking the beach, serves fresh produce, including fish & seafood dishes.
• Marloes Sands is a 'must'. This fabulous National Trust beach has spectacular geology including sandstone and jagged volcanic rocks with folds and faults. The hard sand is great for beach games and rock pooling at low tide.
• Marloes Mere, above the beach, is a haven for bird watching and attracts a large number of waterfowl in winter.

Castles

• Pembroke Castle , Carew Castle and Manobier Castle are all magnificent historic fortifications in South Pembrokeshire , hosting many events from pop concerts, proms, living history days, falconry displays, circus days, knight school for children etc.

Holiday Fun

• Pembrokeshire has a very good selection of quality activities to suit all tastes.
• Hangar 5 trampoline Park in Haverfordwest (01437 700555).
• Blue Lagoon Water Park with wave machine & slides. (01834 862410).
• Dr. Beyon's Bug Farm & Grub Kitchen, a unique attraction popular with children and adults alike. It's a scientific research centre and a working farm, run by TV entomologist, Dr. Sarah Beynon (07966 956357).
• Heatherton World of Activities & Theme Park , near Tenby offers indoor & outdoor fun including paintball, fishing, archery, golf plus cafe.
• Folly Farm, Adventure Park and Zoo as well as Ritec Valley Quads , in Penally, near Tenby (01834 843390).