101 places to go – Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
If winning the Triple Crown a few days before their patron saint’s day wasn’t enough to convince you that Wales has something to celebrate, consider the miles of scenic beauty, wonderful heritage and impressive culture too. In short, there’s never been a better time to sing about ‘The Land of Song’.
Needless to say it wasn’t easy for us to focus on just one part of Wales for this week’s ‘101 places to go in the UK, Ireland and France’ but, after a gently heated debate, we chose the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. After all, it’s the only National Park in the UK deemed worthy of the status for its coastal scenery alone and, to continue the celebratory tone, it’s set to enjoy its 60th birthday this year. We think you’ll agree it still looks pretty good!
Have you been to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park? Let us know what to see and do in the comments below.
• Carew Castle may lie in a ruined state but thanks to an incredibly dramatic setting, and stewardship from the National Park authority, it remains an incredible sight and one of the Pembrokeshire Coast’s biggest attractions. The castle stands over a 23-acre millpond and a one-mile circular walk takes in the area’s other impressive sights, including the only restored tidal mill in Wales, an 11th century Celtic cross and a medieval bridge – finishing off at a lovely picnic area.
• The Pembrokeshire Coast is no stranger to admirers – with many visitors stopping take to take pics and videos. You’ve probably seen a few of them: the recent film adaptation of Robin Hood filmed on Freshwater West, as did Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The beach at Marloes hosted the crew from the forthcoming Snow White and the Huntsman and the Patrick Stewart-starring Richard II, which also filmed at Carew Castle.
• Castell Henllys Hill Fort may not look out of place in a Harry Potter film but it’s how the locals lived in the Iron Age. Nowadays it makes for a fascinating example of reconstruction archaeology – so much so that it’s used to train budding archaeologists in the summer.
If you’d like to help celebrate Wales take a look at our featured holiday cottages in Pembrokeshire.
