pembrokeshire

[dreamingofsun]

which places are good to visit and which ones should we steer clear of in pembrokeshire?

This rather depends what your family is like; but there are some general thoughts.

1. Beaches. The most beautiful require a little effort to get to; but nothing which is beyond a five year old. Marloes is heaven on earth, Druidstone is lovely and, further south, Barafundle has the loveliest sand (but a deep shelf into quite deep water). Surfing teenagers will love Newgale. Whitesands is a lovely beach with easy parking, ice creams etc.. On less sunny days, places like Abereiddy are great for pottering around rock pools. Avoid Broadhaven- not a bad beach but ugly, tacky village and it never seems quite as clean as it might. Look up the tides on the internet because you don't want to arrive and wait 6 hours for the tide to go out.

1. Castles. Pembroke, Carew and Cilgerran all good, although Pembroke itself is depressing

1. Walking- go to the tourist info place in st David's and get maps and suggestions

1. Boat trips- can be rough but on a nice day going out to see the puffins on Ramsey is good.

1. Rainy days- Pembrokeshire doesn't have much by way of indoor entertainment. Go to the woollen mill at Tregwynt (and the lovely shop) and the potter at Wolfcastle will let you have a go. The cathedral at St David's is worth seeing and that's about it. Take waterproofs etc, then if it's just a bit wet you can pretend it isn't. If it really pours, however, make sure that you have books, games etc.. There are cinemas in the main towns. There's a really atmospheric and unusual church at Nevern.

1. Restaurants etc..we love cwtch in St David's, there's a nice one in Porthgain, several in Solva and Llys Meddig and Cnapan in Newport. The pub in Mathry does good food. Snacks can be abit of a problem- cafes tend to be a bit depressing. If you haven't read the account in "How Does She Do It?" by Alison Pearson of feeding small children on a rainy day in St David's, do so.

1. Lots of places to go riding

1. Haverfordwest is really horrible

1. General. As a general rule, the south is more touristy,with some hideous caravan parks; but it has more by way of ready made entertainment. The North, IMO is rather more interesting. There are lots of exceptions to that rule in both directions

Good luck with the weather

Just noticed your user name! You are an optimist!

thanks pointissima. we like to do a bit of everything. have 2 boys - young teenagers. i would love to see puffins - is it better to do this on ramsey or skomer? the restaurants look good from their websites and i'd missed some of the lovely beaches you mention. there was a heatwave last time we holidayed in wales - fingers crossed for this time.

Pointissima - you're a Pembrokeshire expert! Thanks, we're off there next week I hope, so that was all really useful for me too. I don't suppose you could recommend anywhere nice to stay; I have been looking at posh yurty type places like Trellyn and Manorafon, but I'm not sure I can bring myself to spend that much money on what is essentially camping! But a static caravan on a small and friendly site within short driving distance of a nice beach would also be great if you know of any? We have a 4 month old and a 2 year old, so that's why I'm considering a step up in luxury from our usual pre-children basic tent.

Am expert because we went there every summer when I was a child and now my parents live there!

On puffins, dreamingofsun, you are right, the puffins are actually on Skomer rather than Ramsey. Sorry! The boys may also like the Iron Age Fort at Henllys

Chequered Flag, we stay with my mother (not altogether recommended!)but there's what looks like quite a nice caravan site just outside St Davids, which has an organic farm shop etc and is near beaches. I think it is either called caerfai or porthclais. There's also a very small, quiet and safe static park in Trefin (midway along the coast between Fishguard and St Davids- 10-15 mins drive from Whitesands, which is perfect for small children). Given that you're not yet tied by school holidays it may also be worth seeing if you can get a bargain cottage.

We're not going until August. This is making me wish that it were sooner!

thanks ladies - i too am getting excited and have just booked a couple of the restaurants you recommeded pontissima.

chequered - please can you report back once you've been?

Well I live here (smug emoticon).I am at the North end,the beaches here are wonderful-Aberporth.Poppit Sands,Cwmtydu,mwnt.Really great (trip of a lifetime) boat trips out to see the dolphins with "bay to remember",the "wild welsh zoo"(manor house wildlife park)near Tenby is lovely animal-wise although the cafe is organised in a truly bonkers way so take sandwiches.Folly Farm if its wet has a freaky combination of animals and vintage fairground rides ,the rides are in a huge hanger,and rather creepy imo,but my dds loved them all madly and can't wait to go again(.The cafe there is dark and a sea of chips so again take sandwiches.)Narbeth has a sweet little high street with small boutiques and a good deli,if you want to go shopping.Pentre Ifan burial chamber is worth a visit and small boys love it.The harbourmasters Arms in Aberaeron is lovely for a special meal ,if you want to venture that far up the coastline.Run by a horrible man who is blocking off the right of way along the coast so that people have to pay to look at "his" seals in the coves below.
where are you staying? Could be more specific if nec.

st davids and manorbier with youngish teenager boys - we all like different things - eating, shopping, beaches, walking/not walking, boy things like cars/action games, museums.... its sometimes difficult to tell the things that are actually good, rather than sound good on websites - so advice very welcome

Somehow managed to delete a bit of that post!!!Tha harbourmasters is NOT run by a horrible man,the bit I deleted by accident shpould have read- avoid Cardigan island farm park as it is (run by a horrible man etc)

Well the smaller beaches around St Davids are very beautiful,look for coastal walks near Dale point.I really do suggest driving up North to near Cardigan for the "bay to remember" trip,we've taken several groups of friends out (one with boys your age) and everyone was stunned by the dolphins and the whole experience.The couple who run it live in my village and are lovely,you would need to call them to book,I'll try and find the number.The boys probably would like the vintage rides in folly farm but may feel too old for the animals and the rest of it.You would like Narbeth I'm sure if you just want to potter in some shops.The Deli is called ultracomida and its on the high street,they have a great cheese selection.And good food for lunch but you do always have to wait ages,(which may be more of a pain for me than you as my dds are very small).The boys could do a canoe trip along the Teifi ,I think they are organised through FForest,who have teepees and cabins near Cardigan,again I can find a number if that sounds something you would like and its not too far afield.

I can highly recommend www.scolton.com. Its a group of ten cottages. We had a fab holiday there last August.

It has an indoor pool and steam room, great for a rainy afternoon.

About £500 a week in June for a 2 bed cottage. Within half an hour of St Davids, and can also get to Tenby in half an hour.

This palce is great if it's a rainy/dull day Iron age fort at Castell Henllys.

If you have little ones Tenby and Saundersfoot are a great base with lots to do.

Folly Farm is a must, I have been loads when my two were really small.

My Mum has a a static on this site here
It is very quiet and clean and near to everythin, esp recommend a walk down to Monkstone beach.

helly narbeth sounds nice. we would all love to see dolphins - are there more near cardigan? there are boat trips around st davids i thought - are we less likely to see the dolphins here?

said - i can see my youngest loving the fort

There was a very hunky guide when we were there. All rugged and knowledgeable about all things Iron Age

Yes you are more likely to see the dolphins up near Cardigan as there is a large pod in Cardigan bay.On boxing day we were watching them from the beach,lovely.

my link didn't work,will try again www.baytoremember.co.uk/

another vote for scolton cottages, we were there last June
And I loved Broadhaven, would be my 1st choice to go next...when we can afford!