Best of the Pembrokeshire Coast Guided Trail

You're welcome to check in at St Davids Cross Hotel from 3:30pm onwards. Located right in the centre of Britain’s smallest city, it will be our base for the next few days. Your HF Holidays Leader will be on hand from 6:30pm, when we’ll gather to give you a warm welcome and explain the plan of action before dinner.

Distance: 9.5 miles (15km)

Ascent: 1,025ft (315m)

From St Davids, we’ll walk out across farmland to join the coastal path at Porthclais Harbour. Once a bustling port, it’s now popular with kayakers and coastal path walkers. From here we’ll wind along the high cliffs with views over Ramsey Island and pass through Porthlysgi Bay, Castell Heinif, St Justinian's, Porthselau Beach, and Whitesands Beach - renowned for being one of the best surfing beaches in the country. We’ll then loop inland to return to St Davids. It’s well worth keeping an eye out for seals, dolphins, and a variety of birds along this stretch of coast.

Distance: 8.5 miles (14km)

Ascent: 1,650ft (500m)

We join the coast at Pwllcrochan and enjoy good views as we make our way to the pretty bays of Aber Bach, and Aber Mawr, the most important Ice Age settlement in Pembrokeshire. A short detour inland takes us to the delightful 17th century whitewashed woollen mill, Melin Tregwynt. After visiting, we'll retrace our steps back to the coast and continue our journey. There's also Castell Coch, the remains of an Iron Age promontory fort. The peninsula treats us to even more wow-worthy vistas, which are well worth the effort, before the going gets gentler as we approach the hamlet of Abercastle and the beach of Aber Draw to Trefin.

Today you have free time to explore Britain’s smallest city or simply relax. Visit St Davids Cathedral, The Bishop’s Palace, or take a boat trip to the wild offshore islands for even more wildlife-spotting opportunities.

Distance: 9 miles (14.5km)

Ascent: 1,400ft (425m)

Leaving Newport, we’ll ascend to Carningli (The Mount of Angels), a summit steeped in legend and history. On a clear day we’ll have stunning 360-degree views across Pembrokeshire. 

After exploring the remains of the ancient hillfort here and soaking up the scenery, we’ll start a steady descent back to the coastal path, passing through the wooded valley of Cwm Rhigian on our way.

Quaint coastline and idyllic sandy coves line the way to Parrog, Newport’s oldest port. Before silting the estuary in the late 1800s, slates, herrings, wool, and other local products were exported from here. A gentle path leads us back into the town centre.

Distance: 9.5 miles (15km)

Ascent: 1,985ft (605m)

Porthgain is a fascinating village, moulded by a short-lived Industrial Revolution in Pembrokeshire. The small harbour was used between 1837 and 1931 to export stone, slate, and bricks.

Further along the coast we’ll encounter Abereiddy, a popular bay with deep blue water and extraordinary dark sand. From here there’s a fabulous few miles of clifftop walking before we go round the wild heather-covered section of St Davids Head to uncover the crescent-shaped beach of Whitesands Bay. You have the option of catching the Celtic Coaster bus back to St Davids or returning on foot.

Distance: 10 miles (16km)

Ascent: 1,970ft (600m) 

We’ll take the bus out to Newgale to enjoy an exhilarating walk back to St Davids along this classic stretch of coastline. And with one of Pembrokeshire’s most impressive sandy beaches behind us, we’ll walk over grassy slopes and clifftops to emerge at the old fishing village of Solva with its disused Lime Kilns positioned directly on the water's edge.

A steep climb out of the harbour gets us on to an undulating path along the cliff tops. We’ll search out the stunning natural sea arch at Gewni Island as well as interesting rock formations at ‘The Cradle’. There’s also Caerfai Bay’s purple sandstone cliffs where you’re treated to views out to Skomer and Skokholm island.

On the final stretch of our walk, we’ll see St Non's Chapel, the birthplace of St David – a fitting finale to this week of extraordinary walking.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before check-out at 10:30am.