Around Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire has something for everyone.

It’s blessed with natural beauty, is steeped in history and provides all the thrills, spills and excitement you could wish for.

So, whether you’re looking for surfing, sailing and white-knuckle rides, or museums, castles and nature trails, it’s all within easy reach of Scolton Country Cottages.

We’ve picked out just a few of the places you might want to visit during your stay with us.

Beaches

Newgale

Newgale is a magnificent two-mile stretch of sandy beach just 12 miles from Scolton. It has the highest certification for quality, cleanliness and facilities, and is popular with holidaymakers and surfers (regular, kite and wind). Newgale has plenty of parking and a campsite across the road from the beach.

Tenby

Tenby is a picturesque harbour town and Pembrokeshire’s main holiday resort. It boasts no fewer than four beaches – North, South, Harbour and Castle – which are renowned for their cleanliness. South Beach has a wider expanse of sand, while the North enjoys views of St Catherine’s Island and Fort. Tenby is situated in the south of the county, around 25 miles from Scolton.

Freshwater West

This is a must-see for Harry Potter fans as it was used as a location for the Deathly Hallows part 1 and 2 films. The beach, which is near Castlemartin (22 miles south of Scolton), forms part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and is one of Wales' top surfing locations. In fact, it regularly hosts Welsh National Surfing Championships.

Broad HaveN

If you fancy a quick outing to the beach, Broad Haven is probably your best bet. It’s just 11 miles from Scolton and very popular with holidaymakers for its safe swimming, rock pools and wide expanse of firm sand.

Nature and walks

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park runs from the towering limestone cliffs in the south to the volcanic headlands and glacial valleys in the north. In between, its 612 square kilometres take in rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, wooded estuaries and wild inland hills.

It’s the only national park in the UK to have earned its designation because of spectacular coastline and provides the perfect opportunity to get some fresh air in your lungs while taking in the truly breathtaking landscape. Aside from the walks - the park has over 950km of public footpaths and bridleways - you’ll also find plenty of organised activities to get involved in, including wildlife watching, cycling and water sports.

Preseli Mountains

The Preseli Mountains rise up in the north of the county (just a short drive from Scolton) and lie mainly in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The landscape consists of wild moorland, heath and grassland, and is home to a wide range of plants and invertebrates, some of which are rare.

If you enjoy walking there are few better settings, given the stunning panoramic views, wildlife and historical landmarks, which include prehistoric remains, burial cairns and hill forts dating back to the Bronze and Iron Age.

Islands

There are six main islands off the Pembrokeshire coast – Caldey, St. Margaret’s, Skokholm, Skomer, Grassholm and Ramsey.

All are part of the National Park and are well worth visiting for their outstanding natural beauty, nesting birds, sea life and wild flowers. Dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks are regular visitors during the summer, while humpback, minke and orca (killer) whales are often seen off the Pembrokeshire coast.

Caldey Island, situated off the coast near Tenby, is one of Britain's holy islands. It's home to a monastery of Cistercian monks, who make their own chocolate for tourists to buy

Heritage

Pembroke Castle

Pembroke Castle is the birthplace of Henry VII and the largest privately owned castle in Wales. This magnificent fortress, which is surrounded by a serene mill pond, was extensively restored in Victorian times and is dominated by the complex gatehouse on the outside and the huge circular keep inside. There’s loads to see in and do at Pembroke Castle, including exhibitions, activities and music concerts.

Pembrokeshire is also home to numerous other castles, which are well worth a visit. Those castles include Carew, Cilgerran, Llawhaden, Picton and Manorbier.

St Davids Cathedral

With a population of around 1,500, St Davids is the smallest city in Britain, and its magnificent cathedral is a must-see on your visit to Scolton (we’re around 20 miles away).

The resting place of Wales’ patron saint is as historic as it is spectacular. Dating back 14 centuries, it’s the most ancient cathedral settlement and survived the plunder of the Norsmen in the 'Dark Ages'.

Oriel y Parc Gallery

Oriel y Parc, home to the National Museum Wales in Pembrokeshire, displays works of art from the national collection, with exhibitions drawing inspiration from Pembrokeshire’s incredible landscapes. The gallery is in St Davids, 20 miles from Scolton.

The Last Invasion Tapestry

This amazing 30-metre long tapestry tells the story of the last invasion of mainland Britain, which took place in 1797 in Fishguard (12 miles north of Scolton). It took 70 women two years to complete this stitching masterpiece, which is situated in the coastal town of Fishguard.

Activities for FAMILIES

Aside from the beaches and coastal activities, there are countless activities to keep children entertained on your visit to Pembrokeshire. Here are just a few:

Oakwood Theme Park

Oakwood boasts more than 30 rides and attractions, including ‘white-knuckle’ rollercoasters, water chutes and go-karts. There are also plenty of rides suitable for the young ones. Oakwood is near Narberth, around 12 miles from Scolton.

Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo

Folly Farm is home to Wales' only giraffes, as well as lions, rhinos, and penguins. It also has Europe's biggest indoor vintage funfair and a land train ride around Follywood Country Park. You'll find Folly Farm in Begelly - around 17 miles to the south of Scolton.

Heatherton World Of Activities

Heatherton is a large sport and leisure attraction, near Tenby. It offers a fantastic variety of activities – from go-karts, archery and paintball to high ropes, golf and zorbing. Scolton is 22 miles from Heatherton.

Manor Wildlife Park

TV star Anna Ryder-Richardson and her husband have created this unique zoo which lets you get up close and personal to rhinos, zebras, ostriches, gibbons and much, much more. Manor Park is near Tenby and stone’s throw from Heatherton (see above).

Towns

Haverfordwest

Haverfordwest is the closest town to Scolton – around five miles away. It’s the attractive and ancient county town of Pembrokeshire, and is dominated by the Western Cleddau river, which runs through the middle of the town. Haverfordwest has a wide range of shops, cafes and bars, as well as out-of-town retail parks.

Narberth

Narberth is a beautiful little market town in the east of Pembrokeshire (14 miles from Scolton), and is, quite simply, a shopper’s paradise. Independent outlets selling exquisite items from fine art to fine food sit alongside vintage and antique shops … and there’s also no shortage of places where you can eat or grab a drink.

Tenby

It’s easy to understand why Tenby's seen as the most iconic seaside town in Wales. It combines charm, character and natural beauty while boasting a huge range of activities, attractions and places to eat. Tenby, which is 25 miles from Scolton, also won a Silver award for the best UK coastal resort at the British Travel awards in 2016, as voted for by the public.

Cardigan

Even though it’s across the border in Cardiganshire, Cardigan is just 20 miles from Scolton and a stunning coastal town to visit. Cardigan is an ancient, unspoilt market town on the River Teifi estuary at the base of Cardigan Bay, which stretches 129 miles. Cardigan boasts a rich heritage and a thriving culture of arts and crafts, events and music festivals. It’s also the gateway to the Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire coast paths.