South Pembrokeshire

South Pembrokeshire boasts some of Wales' best sandy beaches and most spectacular limestone formations and makes an impressive starting point for the Pembrokeshire Coast Path (PCP).

Once known as Little England Beyond Wales, it was divided from the north by the Landsker Line – a physical and then a linguistic barrier roughly following the old Norman frontier. The divide is less pronounced now, but there's a noticeable English feel to places like Tenby, especially in summer, when the masses descend with their buckets and spades, building miniature replicas of the castles their ancestors once used to keep the Welsh at bay. Those sturdy fortifications are still visible in Tenby, Manorbier, Carew and Haverfordwest, reaching their apotheosis at Pembroke Castle.

Explore South Pembrokeshire

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout South Pembrokeshire.

  • Castle

    Pembroke Castle

    This spectacular and forbidding castle was the home of the earls of Pembroke for over 300 years and the birthplace of Henry VII, the first Tudor king. A…

  • Beach

    Barafundle Bay

    Regularly voted one of Britain's most beautiful beaches, Barafundle Bay is a scenic 10-minute walk south along the coast path from Stackpole Quay (turn…

  • Castle

    Carew Castle

    Looming romantically over the River Carew, its gaping windows reflected in the glassy water, this craggy castle is an impressive sight. The rambling…

  • Island

    Caldey Island

    Connected to Tenby by a seasonal boat service, Caldey Island is home to grey seals, sea birds and a red-topped, whitewashed monastery that houses a…

  • Church

    St Govan's Chapel

    One of the most dramatic sights on this extraordinary stretch of coast is this 13th-century chapel, wedged into a slot in the cliffs, just out of reach of…

  • Museum

    Narberth Museum

    Housed in a wonderfully atmospheric restored bonded-stores building, this volunteer-staffed and passionately well-maintained museum celebrates the rich…

  • Beach

    Freshwater West

    Wild and windblown, this 2-mile strand of golden sand and silver shingle backed by acres of dunes is Wales' best surf beach, sitting wide open to the…

  • Lake

    Bosherston Lily Ponds

    Criss-crossed by a network of footpaths and wooden bridges, these famous ponds are a wonderfully tranquil spot for a stroll. The lilies bloom in June and…

  • Zoo

    Folly Farm

    If your toddler's tolerance for castles and churches is waning, this combination zoo, petting farm, fun fair and amusement park could be the antidote…

  • Nature Reserve

    Stackpole Estate

    The National Trust's Stackpole Estate takes in 8 miles of coast, including two fine beaches (Barafundle Bay and Broad Haven South), a wooded valley and…

  • Island

    St Catherine's Island

    At low tide you can walk across the sand to little St Catherine's Island, but it's a long, cold wait if you get trapped by the tide – check tide tables in…

  • Historic Building

    Tudor Merchant's House

    This handsomely restored 15th-century town house is set up as it would have been in its heyday, with colourful wall hangings and period-style beds and…

  • Beach

    Broad Haven South

    A mile southeast of Bosherston village, this beautiful golden-sand beach is framed by grey limestone cliffs and pointed sea stacks. The beach was formed…

  • Zoo

    Reptile Experience

    Come face to face with huge snakes, hairy spiders and all sorts of other slippery, creepy and crawly critters during a two-hour-long hands-on experience.

  • Church

    St Mary's Church

    The graceful arched ceiling at the centre of this 13th-century triple-naved church is studded with fascinating wooden bosses, mainly dating from the 15th…

  • Castle

    Manorbier Castle

    Craggy, lichen-spotted Manorbier Castle was the birthplace of Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald of Wales; 1146–1223), one of the country's greatest scholars and…

  • Church

    Stackpole Elidor Church

    This pretty little church is nestled in a wooded valley; its earliest parts date back to the 12th century, with 14th-century vaulting in the transepts and…

  • Harbour

    Stackpole Quay

    The tiny picturesque harbour of Stackpole Quay marks the point where pink and purple sandstone gives way to the massive grey limestone that dominates the…

  • Landmark

    Elegug Stack Rocks

    Picturesque in the extreme, these two isolated pillars of rock rise steeply from the sea. The rocks are an important nesting site for guillemots and…

  • Museum

    Tenby Museum & Art Gallery

    Housed within the ruins of Tenby's Norman castle, this museum covers the town's development from a fishing village into a 19th-century seaside resort…