Fishguard, Pembrokeshire - good for a holiday with 3yo and 7yo?

[WingDefence]

Due to various reasons I've not booked anywhere yet for our week's holiday 23-30 July but have found a lovely looking place in (Lower) Fishguard that I've provisionally booked.

I just wanted some MN advice please on the area! We've done Anglesey and Abersoch before but don't know Pemborkeshire. Because of tricky bedroom requirements I've looked in Devon, Dorset, Norfolk and haven't had any joy.
This one looks lovely but is way more than we wanted to spend so I want to double check with you lovely people before committing my hard earned cash!

Help!

[MWestie]

We stayed near St David's at Easter (4 and 8 year olds) and it was lovely...visited lots of different beaches basically whatever the weather, walked bits of the coast path, rambles, fish and chips, ice cream, boat trips. Think it depends what kind of holiday you're looking for really.

[Pinkallium]

I've not been to Fishguard, but in general I highly recommend Pembrokeshire for a family holiday. We have been twice before and will return again this year (DC are 6 and 4) Beautiful beaches, coast path, boat trips to the islands, and lots of castles to visit. It works for us, hope you have a great time.

[ThereIsIron]

We had a great holiday in Tenby a few years ago. DCs were 3, 8 & 11. There's loads to do around there.

[Happynow]

Go for it! Fishguard is one of my most favourite places and Lower Fishguard is really beautiful. We stayed in a lovely rental a few years ago right on the harbour and had such a wonderful time. There's a lovely little pub there and some decent places to eat in the town. The people are so friendly. It is quiet but I like to get away from it all and there are interesting places nearby, great walks and the countryside is gorgeous.

[WingDefence]

Thanks all! Feel happier about it now :)

We love rurally so staying in the countryside would be totally lost on the DCs so beaches etc are what we want MWestie (did Northumberland and North Yorks the past two summers).

Boat trips would be brilliant. Where would those go from Pinkallium?

Happynow I found a totally gorgeous place on the quay which might be the one you stayed in but it didn't have much of a garden and DS is footy mad so didn't choose it in the end.

So in general Fishguard being on the north coast shouldn't be a problem for places like Tenby, St David's etc?

[WingDefence]

*live rurally

[Pinkallium]

St David's is best for boat trips. You can see seals, puffins and lots of sea birds, although it depends on the time of year. Probably a bit late for most of the birds by August. This sort of thing www.thousandislands.co.uk

[WingDefence]

Thanks Pinkallium :)

[MrPoppersPenguins]

I have family near Tenby. Been visiting Pembrokeshire for over 20years. It's a wonderful place for a family holiday. St David's and Tenby are about an hour drive apart. We tend to visit a few places in a day- focus on one bit of the coastline at a time. Costal path is amazing, Boscherton lilly ponds (national trust) is lovely and leads to an amazing beach. Check out St Govans chapel en route (it's sandwiched into the cliff, pretty cool), we also love Angle beach as it has a sheltered end if its breezy and a gorgeous cafe right on the beach. Freshwater west beach is stunning (where they filmed Harry Potter and Robin Hood films), Solva and st David's are really pretty. We went on a boat ride from St David's, round the nearest island (saw loads of seals) and my 4 year old got a tour of the lifeboat launch while we were there. The boat ride from Tenby which lands on Caldy island is nice but beware the biting insects on Caldy! Saundersfoot is where we usually stay- very family friendly. Have an amazing time!!

[Scoopmuckdizzy]

Pembrokeshire is wonderful. Bosherston lily ponds are lovely and they lead to Broadhaven South beach which is paradise!

Newport is not far from Fishguard and is lovely for a wonder around and lunch and a beach visit.

Tenby is amazing- we love it there and a boat trip over to Caldy island is a must!

[Sadik]

Lower town is lovely. Dc can play down by the water, but you'll need to go a little way for a 'proper' beach. Folly farm is reasonably close and is a great day out for that age range, and if it rains Blue lagoon water park.

Bosherton is a fair distance though! I wouldn't bother going that far, myself.

[MrSlant]

That stretch of coastline from St Davids to Cardigan is just amazing. Plus you've got big Tesco in Haverfordwest not too far so you can top up supplies. Newport about 15 mins north is lovely and has some great cafes and a fab beach (although you have to go up and round past the golf club for the big beach) and Parrog which is a little harbour beach by the yacht club where you can walk a little way round the coast. 30 mins sees you at Poppit Sands which is a proper holiday beach, dunes, rock pools and an excellent cafe.

I don't know what you are into but I went to see the tapestry in the town hall of the attempted invasion there and even though I'm not a massive fan of that sort of thing it was amazing. Also great market there one morning with lots of local produce. Weds/Thurs not sure.

Different but similar to Abersoch/Anglesea much nicer IMHO but I may be biased.

[MrSlant]

YY Bosherston whilst a fantastic place to visit is quite a distance, time wise remember to double travel times compared to roads in less rural places. Porthgain not far and has excellent chippy by the harbour, Blue Lagoon at near by is worth a look but probably out for fun for a few years unless you have a very adventurous 7 year old.

[WingDefence]

Thank you so much - I knew MNers would help me out Some great suggestions here that we will definitely investigate. MrSlant yes I think we might have a wait a while for that

Really looking forward to it as it was a last minute decision to look at Pembrokeshire!

[Ifailed]

lovely beach at Freshwater East, with little river for damming, caves, cliffs, rockpools etc.

[Sadik]

Hooked chippy in Fishguard is relatively new, and is really excellent, one of the best I've been to anywhere (they also do good home made icecream).

[WingDefence]

Always need a good chippy - thanks Sadik!

That beach sounds great Ifailed :)

[Bonywasawarriorwayayix]

Explore north of Fishguard too. Pwllgwealod and Cym-yr-Eglwys are hamlets with beaches a mile apart across the neck of Dinas Island. Both lovely. You might see porpoises from Dinas Island too.
St David's is 15 miles from Fisghuard, and it's worth taking the coast road between them as there are lots of little coves- Aber Mawr, Aber Bach, Abereiddy etc.
Have fun

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

I used to live in Tenby. Never been to Fishguard in my life. St David's is nice but tiny. If the weather is good the beaches are fab but more touristy stuff is nearer Tenby. I think if the weather is bad you will be driving a lot.

There is a great dolphin boat trip outfit in that neck of the woods called A Bay To Remember. Would recommend their trips.

[Wheresthattomoibabber]

Crabbing in the evening sun in Lower Fishguard is one of my favourite memories of holidays with the DC.

[FaFoutis]

My favourite beach is Marloes. No facilities so fairly quiet, very beautiful. DD tells me it was in snow white.
Fishguard has a little arts place / cinema which my dc like to go to, and the celtic place nearby would be good for your DC's ages : www.pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk/default.asp?PID=261.
Solva is nice, very busy for the crabbing though. There's a good art gallery cafe along the road.
St Davids is near Fishguard, Tenby isn't. I wouldn't travel as far as Tenby from there with my dc because of the moaning.

[NicknameUsed]

The beaches in Tenby are lovely. I seem to remember that the middle of Tenby is a traffic free zone during the summer holidays, so if you visit for the day you need to be aware of that. There is a large car park at the end of the North beach that doesn't cost the earth to park in, but you would probably have to get there early on a nice day to get a parking place.

[Sadik]

YY to Castell Henllys as a good day out with little ones.

[WingDefence]

A flurry of posts - thanks all (sorry hadn't seen them before :))!

Some great ideas and tips here - all really appreciated

[JustHappy3]

Yes yes to crabbing in lower town. They like bacon! Are u aware that the edge of the quay is a sheer drop down to the water? Just warning you to watch the 3 year old. There's a park with swings and slide in lower town. Tesco do online deliveries to the area.
Pwllgwalod (sp? Pronounced Phil-gway-lod) is a good place to park and walk 20 mins on the flat path to Cym-yr-Eglwys (sp? Prounounced Cum-Wreg-loys) which is a loveky beach but can get packed and car park is often full.
There's a new trampoline place just outside Haverfordwest (and Merlin's Magic softplay).
The St David's boat trips are great.
There's a canoes day out that goes from Lower Town.
There's the last invasion tapestry in the library in fishguard - there's also a small cinema.
Don't underestimate how long the journey takes once you get to the end of the motorway.