The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in South-West Wales is home to some of the most stunning coastlines in Britain. This breathtaking landscape is famous for its beaches, islands, and wildlife.
Let’s take a look at 12 facts that make this national park so unique and well worth a visit.
1. Pembrokeshire Coast is Britain’s Only Coastal National Park
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park was established in 1952 and is the only coastal national park in Britain covering 615 square km. Featuring a 300km coastal path, nowhere in the national park is more than 10 miles from the sea
The National Park Authority works hard to protect this precious landscape and maintain the coastal path with constant repair and conservation work. Because of this unique landscape, an amazing variety of wildlife makes its home here including species that have disappeared from other areas of the UK
2. It's Home to More Blue Flag Beaches Than Any Other County in Wales
In 2022, a total of 10 beaches inside the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park were given the Blue Flag Award
No other county in Wales has achieved this many Blue Flags giving the Pembrokeshire coast some of the most stunning award-winning beaches. The 2022 Blue Flag beaches included Amroth, Coppet Hall, Saundersfoot, Tenby Castle, Tenby South, Dale, Newgale, Whitesands, Poppit, and Broad Haven North.
3. The Park Features a 186 Mile Coastal Path
Stretching from St Dogmaels to Amroth, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path is an impressive 186 miles long. The total rise and fall is approximately 35,000ft which is greater than the height of Mt Everest! The trail passes over 50 beaches and 40 iron age promontory forts
Along the trail, fascinating historical sites are visible such as the ruined churches of Celtic Saints and stone castles of the Norman invaders.
An amazing variety of wildlife can also be found along the trail with the heaths, grasslands, and cliffs providing habitats for some common and rare species.
4. Pembrokeshire Coast is One of the Smallest National Parks in the UK
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is one of the smallest National Parks in the UK. However, don’t be fooled by its size! The park has one of the most diverse landscapes displaying a greater variety of rocks and scenery than any other equivalent area in Britain.
The park features a multitude of landscapes including clifftops, estuaries, secret coves, and beaches. Running along the coastline and inland are quaint fishing villages and agricultural farmland. Beneath the cliffs, marine wildlife thrives and even white dolphins can be spotted in the coastal waters.
5. The Milford Haven Waterway is the Second Deepest Natural Harbour in the World
Milford Haven Waterway is the second deepest natural harbour in the world after Sydney, Australia reaching 26m at its deepest point. The harbour is a drowned ria or valley which was flooded during the last ice age and is now a busy shipping channel for ferries from Pembroke dock to Ireland
The waterway covers the whole of the Marine Character Areas which is protected for its variety of marine habitats and rare species of maritime plants. Milford Haven Waterway is recognised nationally for its geology and ancient woodland and is one of the best examples of a ria system in Britain
6. One-Third of Britain’s Nesting Pairs of Choughs are in Pembrokeshire
The Chough is a rare bird and the rarest member of the crow family. They have distinctive features with their red bill and legs and are well-known for their loud call sound. The Choughs at the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park make up one-third of Britain’s nesting pairs found along the cliffs of the Castlemartin Penninsula, Skomer, Ramsey, and Stockholm.
These birds are internationally protected due to their fast decline in numbers but thanks to the geology of the national park, they can nest safely in inaccessible areas. The park has provided artificial nests in some places in order to encourage more nesting pairs and increase their numbers for the future
7. Carew Mill is the Only Restored Tidal Mill in Wales
Dating back to the 19th century, Carew Mill is the only restored tidal mill in Wales and one of only 5 in the UK. The mill is no longer working but the machinery is still in good condition showcasing the history of how the mill was once used.
At the mill, audio commentary and interactive displays show how water has been used as a sustainable source of energy for many years
8. Home to 286 Scheduled Ancient Monuments
The Pembrokeshire Coast Park is home to a number of historical sites including 286 scheduled ancient monuments. A scheduled ancient monument is a site that’s legally protected due to its historical importance and the national park authority works hard to protect these unique sites.
Ancient monuments such as burial chambers and castles are found within the park as well as the Bronze Age remains of Foel Drygarn.
9. Skomer Island is the Only Marine Conservation Zone in Wales
Skomer Island is the largest of Pembrokeshire’s islands and hosts a great number of seabirds and marine life. The waters around Skomer, Stockholm, and Middleholm are part of the Skomer Marine Conservation Zone which is the first in Wales
The island of Skomer has one of the largest colonies of seabirds in Southern Britain with puffins, razorbills, and kittiwakes all making their homes on the clifftops. During low tide, grey seals can be seen on the rocks as well as bottle-nosed dolphins in the ocean waters
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10. Castell Henllys is the Only Iron Age Village in Britain with Reconstructed Roundhouses
The Castell Henllys Iron Age Village is an exciting attraction within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The Village is the only one in Britain to have reconstructed roundhouses exactly where they would have been 2,000 years ago!
Archaeologists and other experts helped to reconstruct the village using the same kind of materials that were used during the Ice Age. Castell Henllys has contributed greatly to the discovery of how life in the Ice Ages would have been thousands of years ago
11. The National Park Covers Almost all of the Pembrokeshire Coast
As the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park covers mainly coastal areas it’s not surprising that almost all of the Pembrokeshire coast is included within the park. Every offshore island, the Daugleddau estuary, and large areas of the Preseli hills and Gwaun Valley are all within the park’s authority.
The park covers around 615sq km of land which includes a massive 420km of coastline!
12. Pembrokeshire Coast is Recognised for High-Quality Habitats and Rare Species
The National Park at Pembrokeshire is ecologically one of the richest and most diverse parts of Wales and is recognised as of international importance for a wide range of high-quality habitats and rare species.
The park is home to rare birds such as choughs, skylarks, and the stonechat as well as seasonal marine life including basking sharks, orcas, and various jellyfish. Coastal heathland, twisted hedgerows, and wildflower fields make the park the perfect place for many species to build their nests and burrows
Published: 27 December 2022 · Last updated: 25 June 2023