10 Best Facts about the Pembrokeshire Coast

10 Best Facts about the Pembrokeshire Coast

A county in the southwestern part of Wales, Pembrokeshire is bordered by Ceredigion to the north east and Carmarthenshire to the east. The rest of the area faces the sea. It is in this coastal region where the Pembrokeshire National Park is located.

As you enjoy the site of the Pembrokeshire coastal shore, there are a number of activities you can engage in. The activities include wildlife watching, relaxing walks, water sports as well as indoor activities. Your visit to the Pembrokeshire Coast cannot be complete without a walk along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

The Path will take you to the beautiful beaches in the area and links with nearby paths some of which are wheelchair and pram accessible. The most ideal landscapes in the UK can be found within the 15 National Parks. Covering about 25 per cent of the British countryside, these areas which include the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are popular tourist destinations.

In 2018, the Pembrokeshire Coast was recognized as one of the top UK destinations for holidaymakers. The Pembrokeshire Destination Management Plan aims to increase the region’s value. This will be in line with its objective to increase the tourist numbers and make Pembrokeshire one of the top five destinations in the UK.

Below are ten amazing facts about the Pembrokeshire Coast.

1. The first National Trail in Wales was at the Pembrokeshire Coast

A sign on the Pembrokeshire Coast path, near Ceibwr Bay. Photo by Hogyn Lleol/Wikimedia Commons

The Pembrokeshire Coast includes several sandy beaches and bays. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path which was opened in May 1970 was the first national path in Wales.

One of the best ways to explore the region is to hike the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail. During your walk, you will see the amazing parts such as picturesque beaches, secluded bays and rugged headlands.

2. The Pembrokeshire Coastline is about 420 km long

Marloes Peninsula, Pembrokeshire coast, Wales. Photo by Donar Reiskoffer/Wikimedia Commons

The Pembrokeshire Coastline is a remarkable 420 kilometres in length. The scenery along the shoreline includes hidden coves, grassy headlands, rocky outcrops and sandy beaches.

You can explore the coastline by walking along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. The Path is 186 miles or 299 km running from St Dogmaels to Amroth through the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

There are said to be a number of ships wrecked on the Pembrokeshire Coast. This has made the site very popular with divers.

3. The rise and fall of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path is approximately 35,000 feet

The total ascent and descent of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path is about 35,000 feet. This is almost the height of Mount Everest.

4. The Pembrokeshire beaches have received several awards over the years

Marloes sands is a beautiful, isolated stretch of sand with rocky outcrops along its length, Pembrokeshire coast, Wales/UK. Photo by Manfred Heyde/Wikimedia Commons

The diversity of the Pembrokeshire National Park and the Pembrokeshire coast make it a fantastic destination. Some of the most popular beaches in Pembrokeshire can be found at the National Park.

For surfers and beach lovers, there are more than ten Green Coast beaches and more than ten Blue Flag beaches. These beaches have received several awards over the years.

The accolades include recognition by the National Geographic Travellers Magazine. National Geographic Magazine recognized Pembrokeshire coast as the second-best coast globally.

The coastal path goes past 14 harbours and 58 beaches. If you enjoy spending time on land, you can explore places such as Carew Castle, Tidal Mill and Castell Henllys.

5. Pembrokeshire has a bus service that covers the entire Pembrokeshire coastal path

The coastal town of Solva, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Photo by Manfred Heyde/Wikimedia Commons

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is covered entirely by the Pembrokeshire coastal bus service. This coastal path is a part of the Wales Coast Path. The entire path around Wales is 870 miles or 1,400 kilometres in total.

6. The Pembrokeshire Coast was designated as a National Park

In 1952, the Pembrokeshire Coast was granted the status of a National Park. This status made it one of the 15 national parks in the United Kingdom.

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority was later established in 1996. This ensured the area and spectacular qualities remained protected.

7. The Pembrokeshire National Park covers more than 600 kilometres

Map of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, in Pembrokeshire. Photo by Hogweard/Wikimedia Commons

Although it is one of the smallest National Parks in the UK, Pembrokeshire National Park’s landscape is diverse. The park, which is Britain’s only coastal National Park, is about 612 kilometres.

It runs from St. Dogmaels to Amroth and stretches almost through the entire coastline. Pembrokeshire National Park also includes the Cleddau Waterway, a considerable section of Preseli Hills, part of Gwaun Valley as well as every offshore island in the region.

8. Most of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is privately owned

A large part of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is privately owned. The Park authority owns less than two per cent and the rest is privately owned by landowners.

The landowners who include the National Trust and the County Council work alongside the Park authority to safeguard the area.

9. Pembrokeshire Coast is a popular tourist attraction site

Green Bridge of Wales, Pembrokeshire. Photo by Manfred Heyde/Wikimedia Commons

The diversity of the Pembrokeshire coast makes it a popular tourist attraction site. With the National Park being one of the most scenic places in Wales, holidaymakers visit the site regularly.

Every year, about 1.1 million people visit the Pembrokeshire Coast, National Park. There are abundant wildlife, historical attractions and glamping areas that provide accommodation for the holidaymakers.

10. The Pembrokeshire Coast is teeming with diverse wildlife

There is a lot of marine wildlife available on the Pembrokeshire coast. The sea animals include dolphins, different types of seabirds and porpoises. The diverse landscape inland and at sea results in a wide variety of species in the region.

The land mammals include wild horses. A fantastic spot for nature lovers, the marine and land mammals add to the beautiful scenery that includes woodland, marsh and inland rivers.

The human occupation of the area that now forms Pembrokeshire extends back many years. The time period of this occupation is between 125,000 and 70,000 years. There are also several prehistoric sites in the area such as Pentre Ifan, and neolithic remains.

These dates back to about 12,000 to 6,500 years ago. In addition to Castell Henllys, there is an Iron Age village at Pembrokeshire. The Park Authority reconstructed this site to provide an indication of what life was like in the area about 2000 years ago.