The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is a spectacular and distinctive coastal area. It’s Britain’s Only Coastal National Park, as it’s the only one of Britain’s 14 National Parks to be entirely coastal in nature...
186 miles of walkers paradise on both ild headlands and pristine beaches with picturesque towns and villages like Tenby, St Davids and Solva en route. Most people walk a little bit a time, coming back year after year to explore a bit more. If you want to do the whole lot, allow 15 days...
No other county in Britain has more Blue Flag Beaches or Seaside Award beaches than Pembrokeshire. With over 50 beaches to choose from, there’s going to one that’s perfect for you, whether you want surfing, kayaking or kite surfing, or just somewhere peaceful to relax, sunbathe and build sandcastles... 
There are 51 forts and castles in Pembrokeshire including enormous stone fortresses like Pembroke castle, Manorbier castle and Carew castle. There are medieval walled towns of Tenby and Pembroke and fortified Bishops Palaces at St Davids and Lamphey. 
A pristine environment, clean seas, very little population and lush vegetation makes for rich and varied habitats, most important of which are the Islands: Skomer, Skokholm, Ramsey, Grassholm and Caldey. Home to thousands of Puffins, Gannets and other sea birds. Dolphin, Porpoise and Whale watching boat trips are popular too...
Gwaun Valley
The Gwaun Valley
The Gwaun Valley runs inland from Lower Town Fishguard towards The Preseli Mountains. The Gwaun Valley was created by torrents of meltwater from the retreating ice during the last Ice Age to leave a steep sided verdant valley.
Picture: The Gwaun Valley at Pontfaen
The Gwaun Valley is in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and has a unique atmosphere and an abundance of wildlife and prehistoric sites. The people in the hamlets of Pontfaen and Llanychaer uphold a unique tradition - they still celebrate New Year's Day on 13th January according to the old Gregorian calendar!
Picture: The Gwaun Valley
Nearby attractions include the occasionally open Dyffryn Fernant gardens at the Fishguard end of the valley and Pen Lan Uchaf gardens at the other.
Picture: Sychbant Picnic Site
There's a smart picnic site with a pond and toilets at Sychbant or if you carry on up the valley, you come to Cilgwyn where there's a candle centre. Cilrhedyn Woodland Centre, run by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, is well worth a visit on its limited open days throughout the holiday season.
Picture: Cilgwyn Candles at the north end of The Gwaun Valley
Accommodation in The Gwaun Valley itself is limited. There is a hotel at Gelli Fawr on the southern side of the valley, there's a touring caravan site at Llanychaer towards Fishguard and there are quite a few self catering cottages available in the Gwaun Valley too.
The pub at Pontfaen, The Dyffryn Arms, is run by the formidable Bessie Davies, a real local character. The pub is a time capsule of a bygone era. The bar is the front room of Bessies house and the beer is served through a hatch straight from the barrel. It's well worth a visit for the experience but don't expect anything fancy. Beer is all you'll get.
ID: 1988 Revised: 12/3/2010
