Things to Do
Out & About in The Local Area
Pembrokeshire is blessed with a myriad of activities to suit all ages and tastes as well as plenty of great cafés, restaurants and pubs where you can refuel after a busy day. In the cottages you will find a comprehensive list of eateries, places to visit and things to do, but here we have identified our “Top Six”.
Sightseeing
Pembrokeshire is a magnet for walkers, nature lovers, foodies and families. With Victorian seaside towns and atmospheric and intimate coves, there’s plenty of places to visit in Pembrokeshire. It’s a safe bet you’ll love it here too.
Dominating the skyline in Pembroke, the castle is the most impressive in the county. The seat of the Tudor dynasty and birthplace of King Henry VII, the structure is an enormous oval mostly surrounded by a serene mill pond. Extensively restored in Victorian times, it is dominated by the complex gatehouse on the outside and the huge circular keep inside. A must for the history buffs.
Pembroke Castle has an extensive events calendar including concerts, seasonal festivities, such as Hallowe’en and the annual Christmas Market, as well as many educational programmes; this includes 5 indoor video rooms ideal for inclement weather. Guests with 4-legged companions, on a short lead, are welcome during the day but not at evening events.
Unusually built in a valley this stunning edifice, located in Britain’s smallest city, is a must view. Reputedly containing the bones of St David himself, the cathedral is one of the great historic shrines of Christendom. Nowhere in Britain is there a more ancient cathedral settlement, dating back fourteen centuries. Two pilgrimages to St David’s were the equivalent of one to Rome!
The Cathedral is open to visitors from 10-5pm Monday to Saturday and from 1-5pm on Sundays; details of services can be found on the Cathedral’s website.
Budding architects will enjoy the magnificent fan-vaulted ceilings to be found in the side chapels.
Various events take place throughout the year along with exhibitions; there is an extensive gift shop as well as a cathedral refectory serving refreshments made with local Pembrokeshire produce.
Beaches Not To Be Missed
Hidden Gems
Beach, please! Pembrokeshire is spoilt for choice, incredible Welsh beaches that are not to be missed.
Marloes Sands
Barafundle
Newgale
Freshwater West
Druidstone
Broad Haven South
Activities
Pembrokeshire’s Best Days Out
Wales has so much to offer, whatever the weather. Here are some suggestions for you and your family to enjoy but please ask us if you have any special activity request. If we don’t know the answer, we’ll certainly try to find out for you.
Advance booking is essential for all trips.
All sorts of activities for a fun-filled time including wakeboarding, ringo rides, aqua park, a bouldering wall as well as Tipi dining. Hugely popular so pre-booking is definitely required – activities are often booked up 2 weeks in advance.
The Tipi dining is open all year round with coffee and cakes served between the main dining times. Out of season opening is from Wednesday to Sunday; other times of the year it is open daily.
Family Days Out
Things to see
The holidays! Are you looking for fantastic days out near our cottages, we’ve got a list of great things to do in the holidays and weekends, from meeting adorable baby monkeys to brand new theme park rides, there’s something fro everyone!
A great day out for the family. The mission is to protect endangered species and focus on animal welfare. Animals at the park include wallabies, meerkats, ostrich, Damara zebra, lemurs, squirrel monkeys, gibbons, pygmy goats and Sumatran tigers (part of the European breeding programme). The park has free parking, picnic areas, a real food café and a shop plus an indoor hay play area, outdoor play area, wildlife trail, Wi-Fi, toilets /disabled toilets. Please note Dogs are NOT permitted in the park.
Photograph courtesy of PCNPA
Carew Castle has a history spanning over 2,000 years. It is set in a stunning location overlooking a 23-acre millpond. The architecture includes a Norman fortress and an Elizabethan mansion. There is also the only restored Tidal Mill in Wales, and 11th Century Celtic Cross, a Medieval Bridge and a picnic area with views over the millpond. The site includes a tearoom and visitor shop.
Indoor Entertainment
So where do you go when the weather puts the ‘mockers’ on your day? Well, the simple answer is, “Don’t let it!” Here’s a list of things to do in Pembrokeshire in the rain.
The Heritage Centre now houses the Millennium Falcon Exhibition which tells the story of the building of the original iconic Star Wars star ship in the town in 1979 for the Oscar-winning film The Empire Strikes Back. There are many photographs, unique film of the construction in 1979 – not seen in public before – and a detailed sectioned model of the stages of construction of the original. Please note that the there is no full-sized Millennium Falcon at the centre as it was dismantled and sadly disposed of after filming.
Situated at the County Showground, Withybush, near Haverfordwest, this venue is open all year round and is indoor. Suitable for family fun or competitive racing from 8 years of age, race suits, helmets, gloves are provided with instruction from experienced staff. Booking not always necessary – suggest a phone call to check availability.
Situated on the Hakin side of Milford Haven docks, Phoenix Bowl is a 10-pin bowling alley with a fully licensed bar and café selling fast food with view across the docks and Milford Marina. There are various gaming machines and a pool table as well as a large soft-play area for the little ones. It is popular with both locals and tourists. Parking is located near the bridge at the head of the dock with Disabled parking next to the complex.
An indoor activity to challenge your grey matter, based at Heatherton World of Activities. You’ll need to work as a team to find hidden clues and solve exciting puzzles to escape before you run out of time. There are 3 escape rooms to choose from: The Captain’s Treasure Room, The Wizard’s Lair and The Tenby Asylum.
The Creative Café can be found in Haverfordwest, the county town, on the High Street. The café is family friendly and ideal for wet day entertainment. While dining you can paint or indulge in home pottery. The kids will love it!
Eating Out
Pembrokeshire is blessed with restaurants, cafes and bars of varying prices and styles where you can have a snack or main meal. In the main seasons it is advisable to book ahead to ensure you can get a table. Below you will find a selection of our favourites, all of which are not far from the coast – we live here because we love the sea – but there are many other wonderful places to eat both inland and by the sea.
This newly-built restaurant, located next to Haverfordwest’s historic riverside warehouses on the banks of the River Cleddau, is a welcome addition to Pembrokeshire’s county town. Fabulously opulent floral décor is complemented by a central bar serving cocktails (Tuesday-Sunday: 11am to Midnight) and drinks to tempt every palate; an extensive wine list completes the liquid refreshment offering. An extensive range of seating areas is available to suit all ages from those dining solo, to couples and groups of varying sizes. Service is excellent, both polite and professional, and the palate is tempted with a range of superbly prepared dishes from Brunch (Tuesday-Sunday: 11am-3pm) to Evening meals (Tuesday-Saturday: 4pm-9:15pm). The premises features a retractable roof for alfresco dining in the warmer seasons. Bookings are highly recommended due to demand.
A licensed dockside café-bar with a glass room and glass dining pods, Foam serves excellent food with spectacular views over the second deepest natural harbour in the world.
The Blas Restaurant is located in Tŵr y Felin Hotel, St Davids, a short walk from Caerfai Bay and St Davids Cathedral. The hotel, now part of the Retreats Group, was previously a 19th century windmill; it is now owned by a former resident of St Davids who is also a leading international architect. The restaurant is a superb fine dining experience, and the menu utilises seasonal local Pembrokeshire produce wherever possible from the surrounding countryside and coast.
A delightful dining experience on the bustling dockside in Milford Haven, Coco’s uses local produce to create superb food to be enjoyed in a relaxed atmosphere. Housed in the ‘The Sail Loft’, a Grade II listed building, once used to service the Nantucket Whaling ships, it is a vibrant venue serving mouth-watering meals, decadent cocktails and delicious coffee and cake. There are baby changing facilities, and the restaurant is dog friendly