Outdoor adventurers and nature lovers will love the Welsh seaside appeal of Tenby and the surrounds.
With beautiful Blue Flag beaches and plenty of nearby campgrounds, Tenby is a Pembroke destination for outdoor adventurers and campers in its own right and an ideal base from which to explore the wider South Wales region. With hills and mountains to the east, miles of coastal path to the west, and nearby islands such as St. Catherine’s Island and Caldey Island, visitors are spoilt for choice in Tenby, which is also within driving distance of other Welsh seaside towns such as Manorbier and Saundersfoot. Campers aren’t short on options either, whether you prefer caravanning, en-suite glamping sites with yurts and bell tents, or family-run campgrounds.
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, within which the town of Tenby is set, is dotted with family-run campsites and caravan parks offering views over the Irish Sea, as well as upscale glamping options. Plus, birdwatchers, horseback riders, and hikers are well-catered for within the park, which is also a hotspot for water-based activities like surfing and canoeing. If you have the time, you can also walk the length of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
While Cardigan Bay extends almost the entire length of the West Wales coast, the southern portion—from Aberystwyth down—is easily accessible in under two hours from Tenby. There, walk the southern portion of the Ceredigion Coast Path, enjoy the Blue Flag beaches, or try a wealth of watersports, such as coasteering and canoeing. Whichever stretch of the Bay you choose to explore, you won’t be short on full-service holiday parks complete with hook-ups and wifi, campervan sites, and campgrounds in which to pitch your tent.
Bike the Taff Trail, hike the miles of well-signposted rights of way, and stargaze after dark in the Brecon Beacons National Park, the only International Dark Sky Reserve in Wales. Just over an hour and a half east of Tenby, this national park is home to several family-friendly campsites and caravan parks—ideal during the winter months—that will suit most campers. Plus, enjoy inland water activities such as windsurfing and canoeing on Llangorse Lake.
Tenby is a pleasant seaside town which enjoys peak beach season during the sunny summer months of May to September. For outdoor pursuits, the cooler spring and autumn months are excellent, as well as quieter and cheaper. However, you should expect rainfall throughout the year, particularly during November, December, and January.