Pssst…a secret corner of Pembrokeshire

There are some places that you just want to keep under your hat. For Simon Forrester, one of those is a corner of North Pembrokeshire in West Wales – St Dogmaels and Poppit Sands – and here he shares what it is that he loves.

Poppit Sands: Vast expansive beach in North Pembrokeshire near the village of St Dogmaels

For the first time it is now possible to walk the entire length of the Pembrokeshire coastal path and witness pods of bottle-nosed dolphins as you go because Cardigan Bay is home to Europe’s biggest population, but they are just the tip of Pembrokeshire’s charismatic mega fauna. Keep your eyes peeled and you can easily spot red kites, grey seals and the endangered curlew with its haunting song.

Porpoise

Bottle nosed porpoises: Europe’s largest population are in Cardigan Bay

It is true I am wildlife geek but even if you aren’t there is menu of ‘much to do’ in the area including some great foodie haunts where you can eat some of the edible local wildlife. One I love is a traditional pub and restaurant – The Ferry Inn – with a stunning terrace looking down the Cardigan estuary at St Dogmaels. If you just fancy the best fish and chips in the land then get to fish and chip shop in St Dogmaels early because the queue runs out the door and down the street.

St Dogmael's

The view from the terrace at the Ferry Inn down the estuary at St Dogmael’s

Right, after all that nosebag, it must be time to get active and what a choice. I am more inclined to just stride out on to the wide stretches of Blue Flag beach at Poppit Sands or on to the dramatic coastal path but if you did want more exhilaration then try surfing, kayaking, para-gliding and white water rafting.

And no trip is complete without a trip to world famous Cardigan based stylish and ethical clothing company, HOWIES. Their T shirts, jeans and sportswear look good and last – more than living up to their slogan ‘wear it out’. I am also heartened to hear that they have now wrestled control back from Timberland who bought them out. ‘Keep it Local’ we say.

Drive times to St Dogmaels, North Pembrokeshire:

2hours from Cardiff

2 hours, 59 minutes from Bristol

3 hours, 35 minutes from Birmingham

3 hours, 55 minutes from Manchester

4 hours, 30 minutes from Heathrow


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