Motorhome Hire — Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire, in the far south-west corner of Wales, is home to the only national park in Britain devoted entirely to coastline. The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park protects 186 miles of coast path that passes through some of the most spectacular marine scenery in Europe - from towering sea cliffs and hidden coves to broad sandy beaches and tidal estuaries. For motorhome travellers from our Pontefract depot, Pembrokeshire is around four and a half hours via the M1, M50, and A40, and the journey is worth every mile.

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path, a National Trail, is the defining feature of this landscape. Running from St Dogmaels in the north to Amroth in the south, the path follows every twist and turn of the coast, climbing over headlands and dropping into secluded bays with a rhythm that is addictive. You do not need to walk the entire 186 miles to appreciate it - sections of any length can be tackled as day walks from campsite bases along the coast. The stretch from St Davids to Solva, the cliffs around Marloes, and the coastal path around Stackpole are among the finest.

St Davids holds a unique place in British geography as the smallest city in the United Kingdom, its city status granted by the presence of its magnificent cathedral. St Davids Cathedral, set in a natural hollow below the main street, is a building of extraordinary beauty and atmosphere. Founded in the sixth century by the patron saint of Wales, the present structure dates from the twelfth century and contains the shrine of St David, medieval woodwork, and a ceiling painted with Irish oak. The city itself - really a large village - has independent shops, galleries, and cafes that make it a perfect base for exploring the northern Pembrokeshire coast.

Tenby, on the south coast, is the quintessential Welsh seaside town. Its pastel-coloured Georgian houses line the harbour walls, and three sandy beaches - North Beach, Castle Beach, and South Beach - wrap around the headland beneath the medieval town walls. The old town, reached through the Five Arches gate, is a maze of narrow streets filled with independent shops and restaurants. Caldey Island, reached by boat from Tenby harbour, is home to a community of Cistercian monks who produce perfume and chocolate - a peaceful contrast to the bustle of the town.

The offshore islands of Pembrokeshire are a wildlife spectacle of international importance. Skomer Island, managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, hosts the largest Manx shearwater colony in the world, along with puffins, razorbills, and guillemots that nest in extraordinary numbers on its clifftops. Day trips run from Martin's Haven between April and October, and the experience of sitting among puffins as they waddle past your feet is one of the great British wildlife encounters. Ramsey Island, off St Davids Head, is home to grey seals, choughs, and peregrine falcons, with boat trips offering close encounters with the island's wildlife.

The beaches of Pembrokeshire are consistently ranked among the finest in the United Kingdom. Barafundle Bay, reached by a short walk from Stackpole car park, is a perfect crescent of golden sand backed by dunes and pine trees, with no road access and no facilities - just the sea, the sand, and the sky. Freshwater West, a long, exposed beach on the southern coast, is popular with surfers and was used as a filming location for the Harry Potter films. Whitesands Bay, near St Davids, offers excellent swimming and views across to Ramsey Island. Marloes Sands, accessible only on foot, rewards the walk with a dramatic sweep of red sandstone cliffs and rock pools.

Pembrokeshire's interior is less celebrated than its coast but well worth exploring. The Preseli Hills, a range of low moorland hills in the north of the county, are the source of the bluestones used to build the inner circle of Stonehenge - quarried here over 4,000 years ago and transported 150 miles to Salisbury Plain by means that remain debated. The hills offer easy walking with wide views, and the landscape is scattered with Neolithic burial chambers, standing stones, and Iron Age hill forts.

Campsites in Pembrokeshire cater well for motorhome travellers. Caerfai Bay Caravan and Tent Park, just outside St Davids, has pitches overlooking the coast with direct access to the coast path. Manorbier Country Park, near the Norman castle at Manorbier, sits above one of the finest beaches in south Pembrokeshire. Freshwater East Caravan Club site provides a peaceful coastal base on the south coast. Many sites have electric hook-up, waste disposal, and fresh water, and the smaller farm sites scattered along the coast offer a quieter alternative during peak season.

The food scene in Pembrokeshire reflects its coastal setting. Fresh crab and lobster from the local boats, Pembrokeshire early potatoes (the county's mild climate produces the first new potatoes in Wales each year), and fish and chips from the harbour-side shops in Tenby and Saundersfoot are all highlights. The farmers' markets at Haverfordwest, Fishguard, and Narberth showcase local producers, and the annual Narberth Food Festival is one of the best small food events in Wales.

Pembrokeshire delivers a motorhome holiday that combines outstanding natural beauty, world-class wildlife, and a coastline that genuinely takes the breath away. From our Pontefract base, it is far enough to feel like a proper escape, yet close enough for a week's hire to give you time to explore properly. If you love the coast, Pembrokeshire belongs at the top of your list.