9-Day / 8-Night Moderate

From your point of arrival, use the public transport information we provide to make the journey to Amroth or Tenby. 

Amroth is a small, quiet seaside village at the southern tip of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, where a long shingle and sand beach marks the official start of the Coast Path. The village has a handful of pubs and cafés, and the beach itself, with its submerged prehistoric forest visible at low tide, offers a fascinating first glimpse of a coastline rich in history and natural character.

Tenby is one of the most characterful and beautifully preserved seaside towns in Wales. Enclosed by medieval walls and perched above two sweeping golden beaches, Tenby has been welcoming visitors since the Victorian era and shows no sign of losing its charm. With its colourful harbour, excellent restaurants and cafés, independent shops and a wealth of history to explore, it makes for a wonderful overnight stay.

This first hike offers a varied and beautiful introduction to the Pembrokeshire coast. The first few kilometres are relatively easy as the trail alternates between the shoreline, woodland and clifftop, with fine views out over the waters of Carmarthen Bay. Once past the little seaside resort of Saundersfoot, the trail follows grassy clifftop paths and wooded valleys with regular ups and downs, revealing secluded coves and glimpses of Caldey Island, before descending to the golden sands of the charming seaside town of Tenby.

Passing the last of Tenby’s golden beaches, the trail climbs back to the clifftops and follows grassy paths along the limestone cliffs. Take time to admire the dramatic strata and fissures in the cliffs, and keep an eye out for the remains of an old limestone kiln and a steep-sided blowhole before descending towards Lydstep beach. From there, a short transfer brings you to your accommodation.

Following a morning transfer, the trail climbs from Lydstep back to the clifftops and continues to Skrinkle Haven. The path grows more rugged with more ups and downs as the trail skirts the Manorbier military range and returns to the cliff edge towards Manorbier Beach. From the beach, with the castle just visible to the right, the trail quickly regains the clifftops. Take time to admire the dramatic strata, ridges and fissures in the sandstone cliffs, which display a striking range of colours.

The trail continues along the sand dunes at the back of Freshwater East before climbing to the clifftops towards Stackpole and the lovely Barafundle beach. From Barafundle the path continues along Stackpole Head before dropping down to the beach at Broadhaven South. From there the trail offers two options to Bosherston: a shorter route via the famous lily ponds, or, if the military range is open, a longer coastal route past St Govan’s Chapel, hidden in a cleft in the cliffs.

Today’s hike passes the Castlemartin firing range, and the route depends on whether the range is open to the public. If it is open, the coastal path leads past St Govan’s Chapel and across the flat clifftops to the Elegug Stacks, dramatic limestone pillars rising from the sea and home to colonies of guillemots and razorbills, with seals often visible in the water below. The route continues to the Green Bridge of Wales, one of the most impressive natural arches in Britain, before heading inland towards Castlemartin.

If the range is closed, the trail leads inland from Bosherston, skirting the edges of the firing range through farmland towards Castlemartin. Both routes meet just past Merrion Barracks and continue to Castlemartin and on to the golden sands and expansive views of Freshwater West. From Freshwater West, a transfer brings you to your accommodation for the night.

Leaving the golden sands of Freshwater West behind, after a short transfer, the trail feels rugged and remote as it follows the cliff edge all the way to Angle. There are several steep but short ups and downs along this stretch of the trail and some interesting signs of industry and watch towers. As the trail winds its way around the headland towards West Angle beach, more signs of industry become visible, across the deep harbour of Milford Haven. From Angle beach the last few kilometres take you around Angle, passing the military Chapel Fort and museum before returning to the village via the Old Point house Inn. A transfer back to Freshwater West this morning.

A transfer brings you to Broad Haven, its lovely beach tucked into the southern corner of St Brides Bay, a great arc of coastline that will accompany you for the next two days. Today’s hike offers a wonderful variety of coastal scenery, and the opening kilometres are relatively gentle as the trail winds along low clifftops and dips down to a succession of small, sheltered coves. From the historic Druidstone, you pass some reminders of historic coal mining before the path eventually opens out onto the sweeping expanse of Newgale Sands, one of the finest beaches on the Pembrokeshire coast. 

Beyond Newgale, the trail climbs more steeply before dropping into the quiet valley of Cwm Mawr, then settles onto the cliff path as it passes the headland of Dinas Fawr. The walk ends with some of its highlights: a visit to the hidden beach at Gwadn at the entrance to Solva Harbour, before the trail climbs up to the Gribin, a rocky headland and ancient settlement guarding the entrance to the estuary. From there, the walk reveals the unspoilt harbour and the colourful cluster of houses that is Solva – one of the most charming harbours on the Welsh coast.

From Solva, the trail climbs back onto the cliffs where the remains of an Iron Age promontory fort offer an early taste of the ancient history woven into this coastline. The route continues along dramatic cliffs past the shingle cove of Caerbwdi Bay to Caerfai Bay, where a second promontory fort crowns the headland. The path then leads to St Non’s, birthplace of St David himself, before dropping down to the sheltered little harbour of Porthclais, with its lime kilns, colourful boats and welcoming café kiosk.

Beyond Porthclais, the coastline grows wilder as the path approaches Ramsey Sound, where the churning tidal current separates the mainland from Ramsey Island, a bird sanctuary and haven for grey seals. From St Justinian, with its lifeboat station perched above the water, the cliffs gradually lower towards the beautiful expanse of Whitesands Bay, with its surfers, beach sauna and café. A short transfer brings you into the charming cathedral city of St Davids.

Leaving St Davids, the trail follows quiet fields and lanes before arriving back at the beautiful expanse of Whitesands Bay. From here the path rounds St Davids Head, one of the most dramatic headlands on the Welsh coast, passing the ancient stone ramparts of Clawdd y Milwyr, the Warriors’ Dyke, which once defended a clifftop stronghold three thousand years ago. Continuing along the headland, a Neolithic dolmen perches on the ridge above the sea, with the great rocky mass of Carn Llidi rising behind it.

Beyond the headland the coastline grows wilder and more exposed as the path makes its way past a succession of remote coves and clifftops, eventually climbing over the shoulder of Carn Penberry before descending towards Abereiddy. Here, a flooded former slate quarry has become the extraordinary Blue Lagoon, its deep turquoise water a striking contrast to the dark rock and grey shingle of the bay. The final stretch follows the cliff path past more reminders of the industrial past that once defined this coastline, before descending into the picture-perfect little harbour village of Porthgain – a place that wears its history lightly and rewards those who arrive on foot.

There are regular bus services from St Davids to Haverfordwest, from where onward train connections are available to Cardiff and other destinations in the UK. Your hosts can usually provide the most accurate local details, but if you need additional guidance, our team is happy to help.