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Pembrokeshire Coast National
Park
Pembrokeshire, South Wales
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Location Guide |
| This is Britain's only truly coastal national park. It is a spectacular
landscape of rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, wooded estuaries and wild inland
hills, and a place of sanctuary for wildlife. It is a living, working landscape
where people and wildlife co-exist. This over the centuries has left it's mark
in the form of tombs and Norman castles, Celtic crosses, medieval churches and cottages,
Victorian forts, historic towns and villages as well as quarries and
quays. There are 262 scheduled Ancient Monuments in the National Park. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park boasts a wealth of places to
explore. Its stunning coastline includes the most westerly point in Wales and
has been buffeted and broken by thousands of years of raging seas and powerful
winds giving rugged cliffs and secluded rocky coves, but it also offers
safe, sandy beaches ideal for families. There are a wide variety of beaches most
providing good swimming, but others also available for surfing, windsurfing,
boating, investigating rock pools or for those wanting to get away from the
frantic day to day living, just take it easy on the soft sand soaking up the
sun.
Its rocky shores, cliff-top grassland, estuary mud-flats, ancient woodland,
lowland heath and upland moor make up a mosaic of special habitats. These
provide sanctuary for many rare and endangered plants and animals. It's a paradise for the wildlife enthusiast. Offshore lie Pembrokeshire's unique islands, each
with its own special character.
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Pembrokeshire Coast
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Visiting the beaches will show you some of this
rich natural heritage. There's a huge variety of bird life, from puffins
to peregrine falcons. The area is unrivalled for seabirds and includes some of
the world's biggest colonies of Manx shearwaters and gannets. From the
Coast Path National Trail
you'll see
grey seals, which breed here in early autumn. Porpoises, dolphins and the
occasional whale or basking shark also frequent these seas.
In spring the coastal grassland is a colourful blaze of wild flowers and away
from the coast, rare plants and insects flourish in woodland, heath and marsh
areas seldom explored by the general visitor.
As well as the mainland it also incorporates the offshore islands of
Skomer,
Skokholm,  Ramsey, Grassholm, and Caldy, with daily boat trips to from Easter to October,
to those that allow visitors. Trips to
Skomer leave Martins Haven, Ramsey and islands beyond depart from St Justinians.
Rather than take your car to St Justinians there is a bus service running from
St David's which runs at times to allow you to catch the island boats.
It is a beautiful but fragile environment is actively and
sensitively managed by the National Park Authority, for your enjoyment and that
of future generations. Whatever time of year you choose to visit, and whatever
you come looking for, Pembrokeshire's beaches are almost certain to provide it.
Look out for other locations in this section of
the website for details on specific places within the National Park.
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Location:
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, South Wales |
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Grid Reference: |
Ceremonial County:
Pembrokeshire |
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Map Link: The National Park is covered by 3 Landranger
OS Maps 157 (St Davids), 158 (Tenby) and 145
(Cardigan)
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Aerial photo: |
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Getting there: By car come off the end of the M4 and head for
Pembroke Dock, within this area is Pembrokeshire and the many places you can
explore. |
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Access: Rugged terrain will be difficult for those who
have walking issues. |
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Website:
www.pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk
www.pcnpa.org.uk/website/default.asp?sid=16&LangID=1
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Other Useful Websites:
www.visitpembrokeshire.co.uk
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Email:
info@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk |
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Address: Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority,, Llanion Park, Pembroke Dock,
Pembs |
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Postcode: SA72 6DY |
Telephone: 0845 345 7275 |
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Opening Times: All year round |
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Charges: None |
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Nearby Locations:
Skomer Island,
Skokholm Island, |
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Other Location Pages:
Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail
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Other Relevant Pages: |
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Notes: Within the local towns and villages there will
be basic amenities, eating and drinking places and local accommodation if
needed. Walks, sunbathing, boat trips to wildlife
islands, Beeches, cliff structures, seascapes, and so much more to see and
do. See write up above for more details. Nature watching includes Rocky shores, cliff-top grassland, estuary
mud-flats, ancient woodland, lowland heath and upland moor give a wealth of
creatures both large and small, and wild flora and fauna.
The weather can change suddenly so take along
warm and waterproof clothing. Sturdy footwear with good grip for walking on
uneven and rugged ground. Sun cream and a bottle of water for warm days.
Take your camera and long lenses may be worth having a macro for the tiny
wildlife and flowers you may find in the heathlands. Sturdy walking stick or
a monopod to help on rugged terrain. |
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Please let us know any other information that we
can add to the Grid(s) or page and any errors that you discover. Before making a long trip to any location it is always
wise to double check the current information, websites like magazines may be
correct at the time the information is written, but things change and it is of
course impossible to double check all entries on a regular basis. If you have
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then please let us have copies. In referring to this page it is helpful if you
quote both the Page Ref and Topic or Section references from the Grid below. To print the
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Please submit information on locations you discover so
that this system continues to grow.
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