Pembrokeshire is wild and beautiful, with a dramatic coastline created by glaciers and spiked with limestone stacks. This rugged nature alternates with peaceful, sandy coves, behind which are charming ports and some wonderfully atmospheric castles. Some of the best places to stay in Pembrokeshire can be found in these pretty ports, and some even in the castles. The options range from luxurious country house hotels to restaurants with rooms and chic little B&Bs.

Pembrokeshire’s coast is so beautiful that it’s had national park status bestowed upon it; the park covers about a third of the county, including the whole 299km stretch of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, and the Preseli Hills, an area of high moorland, largely used for sheep farming, but also the location of some important prehistoric sites.

Pembrokeshire’s beaches are often award winning, and they make a fantastic backdrop for walking, surfing, sailing, sea-kayaking or simply admiring the marine life. Pembrokeshire also has a number of charming little islands off the coast. And a quite an impressive number of shipwrecks - including a famous Viking wreck, which is just off The Smalls.

The interior is wild and beautiful too, with a number of impressive pre-Celtic and Celtic sites as well as the castles. Then there's charming St. Davids - which is the UK’s smallest city, but a fairly special one -closely associated with Wales’ patron saint, and home to his spectacular cathedral.

Pembroke was the founding town, and has a number of historic buildings and Pembroke Castle, where Henry Tudor (who became Henry VII) was born. Tenby is a popular centre too, with its medieval walls and elegant seaside; Fishguard is where you catch the ferry to Ireland from.

What not to Miss

• The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, with its cliffs and beaches and views and islands, and marshes and forests. It includes the beautiful and historic Preseli Hills, the Daugleddau estuary, St. Bride’s Bay and Caldey Island. Expect to be frequently surprised and impressed by what nature is capable of.
• The Preseli Hills get a second mention, because this is where you’ll find the impressive neolithic burial site, Pentre Ifan, which is around 5500 years old, with a vast, five metre long capstone atop three upright stones - which look just like those of Stonehenge.
• Charming St. Davids is the UK’s smallest city, but it has a cathedral - and what a magnificent, 12th century cathedral - so it qualifies. Wales’ patron saint was both born and buried here and it’s been a place of pilgrimage for 1500 years.
• Pretty pastel, seaside Tenby with its Georgian mansions and Norman-built walls.
• Pembroke Castle - home to the Earls of Pembroke for almost 400 years and where Henry Tudor was born. You can walk on the walls all the way from tower to tower, and there are some very colourful exhibits telling the castle’s story.
• St. Bride’s Bay with its wildlife rich islands of Skomer, Grassholm and Skokholm. If you want to see puffins, guillemots and Manx shearwaters, then this is the place to come. Skomer also has a grey seal population.
• Castell Henllys, a reconstructed Celtic village, built on its own skeleton, is a wonderful place to experience history, with costumed folk bringing the whole place to life and performing traditional crafts etc.. It was excavated and reconstructed over the course of 27 years by archaeological students from all over the world, and supervised by the University of York.

Don't forget that if you want to guarantee a room in one of the best places to stay in Pembrokeshire during the peak summer months, you'll need to get organised and book well ahead. This is a very popular region!

The Best Places to Stay in Pembrokeshire

For Something Special

• Roch Castle Hotel was built in the 12th century. And from the outside it still looks like a castle. But inside it’s sleek and stylish, with six very comfortable rooms. Adults only, sorry. But if you’re spending your time visiting castles it would be pretty special to stay in one.

For a Country Retreat

• Set in 600 acres of its own farmland, right up against the Pembrokeshire coast, Crug-Glas is a luxurious, seven room boutique hotel with stunning views and a fantastic family-run restaurant.
• Jabajack is a restaurant with eight rooms, set on its own vineyard. The unique restaurant is spread throughout the farm, with four different locations - it sounds inconvenient, but it’s certainly worth a visit even if you don’t stay overnight.
• The Stackpole Inn is a delightful country inn with just four rooms and a restaurant serving some of the best food for miles around. The decor is elegant but simple and the rooms start from just £90 per night.

For Ocean Views

• St Brides Spa Hotel overlooks Saundersfoot Harbour, and its great Cliff Restaurant is known for serving up fish fresh off the boat. There are 34 rooms, with simple, neutral tones and modern furnishings. This is a great spot for exploring the coast.
• If you’re looking for somewhere quiet and relatively secluded, then Stoney Bridge, a luxurious, four room B&B converted from a large house, might be perfect for you. There’s plenty of light and indulgent bathrooms - ideal if you’re planning a lot of walking.
• Close to the coast, Trefloyne Manor is a lovely, country hotel with 12 elegant rooms and beautiful views from private balconies. Here you’re well located for walking trails along the scenic Pembrokeshire coast.

For the wild coast by St. Davids?

• Overlooking the Pembrokeshire coast, the Twr Y Felin Hotel is a chic, contemporary, 21 room hotel cleverly converted from a 19th century-built windmill. The decor is quite sleek and metallic, and the art is modern, making this a stylishly modern coastal retreat.
• The Penrhiw Hotel has been converted from a 19th century-built vicarage just outside St. Davids. There are just seven stylish rooms, and a five star level of service.

For the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

• The Grove, Narberth is a grand old Welsh farmhouse, beautifully restored and converted into a 12 room hotel. There are great views and the location is excellent.

For Families

• Canaston Oaks is a collection of seven comfortably converted farm stables, with all the mod. cons. and great local facilities. It’s peaceful and has plenty of charm too.
• Penally Abbey is a Victorian beauty turned 11 room, family-friendly boutique hotel. The views over the beach and the water are wonderful, and the rooms and suites have been recently refurbished in a classically luxurious style, taking advantage of plenty of original features. The restaurant is well-regarded too.

For Great Value

• 32 Townhouse in Narberth, is a charming hotel with just eight plush rooms, plus an excellent restaurant and atmospheric bar. The location is excellent and rooms start from around £85 per night.
• St. Katharine’s House is a charming, B&B with just two bedrooms, in the small but pretty coastal town of Milford Haven. The decor is traditional, with patterned wallpaper, large windows, antiques and open fireplaces.

Best B&Bs

• The Broadmead is a 15 room, boutique B&B on the outskirts of Tenby. Surrounded by pretty gardens and rural views, this is a charming spot from which to explore the region. The rooms have been individually styled, with nice original features and luxurious bathrooms.

For an Apartment or Villa

• If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private property we recommend you visit our online partner, booking.com.

Travel Information

• Pembrokeshire doesn’t have a big airport, it has a small one, Haverfordwest, which has very limited connections. So, if you’re flying, aim to come to Cardiff Airport. Pembrokeshire doesn’t even have a motorway, and is served in a rather limited capacity by rail, with lines running to Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven and Fishguard. You might also consider arriving by ferry into Fishguard or Pembroke.
• If you’re thinking about hiring a car (which is the best option if you really want to explore this area) we recommend checking what our online partners, Rentalcars have to offer.
• Most visitors come to Pembrokeshire for the summer, which is sunnier and warm-ish, with temperatures in July and August hitting 19 or 20°C most days.

Still not sure?

• Refine your search to the best places to stay in St. Davids?
• or the best places to stay in Tenby?
• or expand your search to include all our recommendations in Wales.
• or contact one of our friendly Gurus for advice.

Weather

Monthly Weather in Pembrokeshire