The hidden beaches of Pembrokeshire

Published 3 May 2020

A secluded beach near Manorbier on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path

Holidays. Remember them? Woah, those were crazy times, weren’t they? Last summer we had two weeks in Tenby, in Pembrokeshire, South Wales. Madness, eh! We’ll not see times like that again!

Our holiday accommodation was quite something in itself, but not as great as some of the countryside.

For part of the holiday we were joined by my parents, meaning on one of the days my partner and I could head off for a child free day. What we did was a walk on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, a trail that Catherine did many years ago aged nine.

The full trail is 186miles long, so our walk was barely a drop in the proverbial ocean, but if the rest of it is as spectacular as the section we did from Tenby to Manorbier, then it will be a stunner of a walk.

For me one of the most enticing parts were the series of secluded, isolated beaches that we went by. Sandy coves, off the beaten track, accessible only by foot. Many had metal staircases to allow you to get down from the top of the cliffs. But that was the only concession to those heading to the sand. If you wanted to get there, you’d have a long walk.

Some of them – like the one on this page, near the village of Manorbier – looked like they barely seen any visitors at all. A far cry from the crowds that would descend on more accessible beaches at Tenby and Saundersfoot.

These little, secluded, picturesque spots were so enticing that I think that if I ever did do the whole trail, I might need to give myself far more time than I think I’d need. Just in case one I can’t resist the charms of the beaches.

Comments

Vic Flange

3 May 2020 at 4:21 pm

One of the reasons I rather enjoy reading about your travels, your musings on the walking life, and so on, is that every once in a while a coincidence arises.

At Christmas, I decided that the Pembrokeshire Coast Path would be main walk of the year. In January, I booked time off work of the two weeks starting Monday 4th May. Yesterday, I would have been travelling to Amroth. Today would have been day one of the walk proper. Sigh.

Anyway, all the best.

Andrew Bowden (Rambling Man editor)

4 May 2020 at 8:58 am

Hi Vic – the good news is that Pembrokeshire is lovely and it will still be there when all this is over. But it’s incredibly frustrating. I have a big walking trip booked for September and who knows if that will happen. I’m not holding out much hope to be honest. Hopefully next year will prove to be a bit better.

Vic Flange

10 May 2020 at 10:00 am

Thanks, Andrew. Someone said to me that I might be able to do the walk in the autumn but I doubt that. If the cafes and pubs aren’t open then eating could be a bit of a challenge, to say the least.
As you stated somewhere on this blog, walking a long-distance trail in the UK is essentially an extended pub crawl: a remark that resonated with me! Hence, why another major walk will need to wait until those have reopened. :-)

Andrew Bowden (Rambling Man editor)

11 May 2020 at 8:58 am

Absolutely. If I can’t get a pint and a good pub meal at the end of the day, I’m not really sure if I want to go away!

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