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 wild 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...
Wildlife in Pembrokeshire
Whales and Dolphins
The deep waters off Pembrokeshire are a good place to see Cetaceans: Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises. Over a hundred Bottlenose Dolphins live, permanently, in Cardigan Bay, off the North Pembrokeshire coast, as do rather more harbour porpoises, their smaller cousins. During summer months, thousands of visiting dolphins can sometimes be seen, many with very young calves.
Numerous Whales pass the tip of Pembrokeshire as they pass through the Irish Sea.
Sightings of very large whales like Fin Whales are quite common as well as smaller species like Minke Whales.
Picture: Common Dolphins. image courtesy of Voyages of Discovery
How to see them:
Porpoises can be sighted from the shore between Poppit and Strumble. Dolphins can be seen between Poppit and Fishguard. They sometimes come into Fishguard Harbour and Newport Bay. The marine division of the Wildlife Trust for West Wales, called Sea Trust carry out regular porpoise watches at the lookout at Strumble. They also carry out surveys onboard the Stena Ferry between Fishguard and Rosslare.
Regular Whale and Dolphin watching trips can be taken from St Justinians.
What to see:
- Harbour porpoises
- Bottlenose dolphins
- Common Dolphins
- Minke Whales
- Fin whales
- Killer Whales
- Humpback Whales
- Basking sharks
Links:
The Dolphin Coast Video (opens new window)
The Sea Trust (opens new window)
Marine Code Boat Trip Operators (opens new window)
ID: 1515 Revised: 6/4/2009
