Pembrokeshire Coast Path: Everything You Need to Know!

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path was officially opened in 1970 and was the first national footpath in Wales. The official path is 300 kilometres, or 186 miles, and runs from Amroth to St Dogmaels. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is part of the Wales Coast Path, which is 1400 kilometres, or 870 miles, long and runs along the entire coast of Wales. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path passes through 58 beaches and 14 harbours. The total ascent and descent over the entire length of the path is approximately 10668 metres, which is almost as high as Mount Everest.

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path not only offers walkers spectacular coastal scenery but also shows that humans have lived here for centuries. It is an area that is mainly formed by the activities of fishing and farming, as can be seen in the small coastal artificial settlements and the agricultural landscape. These villages were not only providers of food, they also linked Pembrokeshire to what, in the days before road and rail, was the main highway from the sea. Many reminders of this maritime tradition can be seen along the path, from Stone Age Neolithic cromlechs and Iron Age hillforts.

The best part of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path starts in Broad Haven and ends in Cardigan. The route is 138 kilometres, or 85 miles, long and is divided into 6 stages. The route takes you through Britain's beautiful coastal landscape, past remote beaches, castle ruins and small fishing villages. The trail also takes you past prehistoric monuments, such as Stone Age cromlechs and Iron Age hillforts. Along the way, you may also spot puffins and seals enjoying the scenery.

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is best walked between mid-June and the end of July, although the path is accessible all year round. The months of June and July have the lowest rainfall and average temperatures of 17 °C. In the months of April and May, there is also relatively little rain, only then, the temperature is 12 °C on average. August is one of the warmer months, with an average of 18 °C, however, this is a rainy month. It always feels a little chilly when walking the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, as it is quite windy at the coast.

On the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, you can either stay in a cosy hotel, B&B or hostel, with breakfast included where possible, in a small village, hamlet or town. You can also choose to camp since wild camping along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path is allowed. However, accommodation options can sometimes be limited. The problem with the Pembrokeshire Coast Path is that the stages usually finish in small villages or even hamlets, where there are usually only 1 or sometimes 2 accommodation options. So if the accommodation is fully booked, you may have to walk a longer distance or take a transfer.

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is a very popular walk attracting thousands of tourists every year. Thanks to its popularity, there is always the option of transporting your luggage. Your suitcase will be collected from your hotel each morning and waiting for you at your next hotel at the end of the day. Pretty convenient, right?

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path starts in Broad Haven and ends in Cardigan. The path can be walked in both directions, but Cardigan is a large town with lots to do. That's why we took it as our ending point.

Starting point

To get to Broad Haven, the easiest option is to take the plane, train or bus to Cardiff. From there, you can travel to Broad Haven by train and bus in about 3 hours. Broad Haven does not have a rich history but has been a seaside resort since 1800.

Ending point

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path ends in Cardigan. From here you can easily travel back to Cardiff by train. This takes about 4 hours. Cardigan is one of Wales' most historic cities, with its ancient history, modern conveniences and beautiful scenery. Cardigan is an old-fashioned Welsh market town but at the same time very arty and a bit hippy.