New Cross House, Haverfordwest

Pembrokeshire Coast. Sleeps up to 8

The Pembrokeshire Coastal PathFrom the house you can walk out to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path which surrounds the city, offering miles of breathtaking coastline all within the easy reach of a two mile radius. The cliffs are spectacular; the bird and wildlife is captivating; the sea and sky a constantly changing panorama and you might walk the whole of the peninsula’s coastal paths without ever having to get in the car. St Davids Cathedral and Bishops’ PalaceIn the valley below the Cross Square is St Davids’ magnificent 12th century cathedral. Extraordinary in such a small city, the cathedral is built of fine local purple sandstone and has been a place of pilgrimage and worship for over a thousand years. The annual programme of concerts culminates at the end of May each year, with the renowned St Davids Cathedral Music Festival. There are shops, a treasury, library and refectory where you can enjoy a delicious lunch, snack or summer supper while you enjoy the latest gallery exhibition. Oriel y Parc National Park Visitor Centre and Gallery, St DavidsOpen all year and with free entry, the gallery displays a permanent exhibition of national treasures, including the work of Graham Sutherland, as well as a programme of circulating works. There is a resident artist, lots of activities to discover, suggested walks, a shop with all sorts of goodies and an excellent small café. Coastal Shuttle BussesIf you would like to go further and leave your car behind, jump onto the local coastal bus service - and travel up or down the coast. You can get on and off the bus at will and services run the length of the coastal path. Solva and Middle MillSolva is a pretty harbour village with parking on the water-side. With the chinking of boat halyards in the background, try Fish and Chips at '35' (next to the harbour car park) and investigate the shops - clothes and gifts, antiques, pottery and curios. Walk along the Quay to the Café at the Yacht Club and enjoy a crab sandwich (freshly caught) while you watch all the boating activity. From the lower village, make your way up to Middle Mill and visit the Mill and shop - the oldest working mill in Pembrokeshire and supplier of flooring to Prince Charles for his Welsh home. Colourful woven rugs and local craft of the highest quality will tempt you to take a part of Wales back home with you. St Davids Peninsula beachesThe St Davids Peninsula is blessed with a range of beaches to suit every taste – Whitesands' wide sandy beach is great for surfing and sandcastles, kite flying, rock pooling and games of cricket;Caerfai has a steep walk down to a lovely south facing sandy beach, sheltered by the surrounding cliffs;Porthlisky beach is only accessible along the coast path and so is secluded and untroubled by the crowds;Caerbwdi is a stony beach with sand at low tide - the stone here was quarried to provide the purple stone of the Cathedral. Porthgain Village and harbourPorthgain was a prosperous nineteenth century industrial harbour exporting slate from local quarries at Abereiddi and Porthgain itself. With the industry gone, the village is now popular for water sport enthusiasts - boaters, rowers, fishermen and canoeists - their activities overlooked by relics of the industrial past. The village can be busy in summer. It is on the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, served by the Strumble Shuttle (the local bus service) and offers the visitor galleries, a gift shop and excellent refreshments at the popular Sloop Inn and Shed Fish Restaurant. Abereiddi Beach and the Blue LagoonA short walk along the coast path from Porthgain is the hamlet of Abereiddi. With its pebbly car park, wide pebble and sand beach and pretty cottages down by the water, the beach is popular for families - swimming, canoeing, eating ice cream and playing on the sand. Just to the north is the famous Blue Lagoon where groups of hardy individuals take part in cliff jumping into the deep aquamarine water. The lagoon is an extraordinary remnant of the industrial past - the quarry now flooded with sea water at high tide, provides a calm deep pool for small boats and swimmers. Water sportsTry surfing, coasteering, kayaking, canoeing, body boarding, wind surfing and more with activity providers around the county. Ma Simes Surf Shed and TYF in St Davids and Newsurf in Newgale are recommended. Boat TripsBook tickets in St Davids and in Martins Haven to visit the magnificent bird islands of Skomer, Skokholm and Ramsey. Expect to see stunning coastal scenery and a wealth of seabirds, seals and possibly dolphins. Picton Castle and GardensJust the other side of the County town of Haverfordwest is Picton Castle with its extensive and lovely gardens. This beautiful castle, believed to have been built originally in the 13th century, has a rich history spanning nearly 800 years. Visit the house and gardens for a fascinating day out – and then perhaps have tea in the courtyard cafe. Beach riding with Nolton Riding Stables Nolton Haven is a pretty sandy cove at the back of St Brides Bay. Go up to the top of the village to the stables which cater for both beginners and experienced riders. Their instructors will check your riding requirements and offer you the countryside trails or beach rides to suit you. Family Days out in Pembrokeshire If you have the appetite to travel a little further, in the south of the county are theme parks galore with diversions for all the family. Look up Hangar Five Trampolines, West Wales Karting, Oakwood Theme Park, Bluestone Water Park, Folly Farm, Manor Wildlife Park, Great Wedlock Dinosaur Experience and Heatherton Sports Park for a range of different activities and a good mix. Year round holidays can be enjoyed in this elegant Victorian St Davids house, Grade II listed for its special interest.

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