Nine of Pembrokeshire’s prettiest picnic spots…

With summer in full swing, and to mark National Picnic Week, here are some sublime summer picnic spots recommended by local businesses across Pembrokeshire:

Location: North Beach, Tenby – recommended by Laura Mackenzie, FBM Holidays

My favourite picnic spot in Pembrokeshire has to be beautiful North Beach in Tenby. It’s a fabulously sunny spot in the summer and there’s so much to see while enjoying delicious local produce. The iconic Goskar Rock is always quite the sight and recently visitors have been enjoying a bit of Wally the walrus spotting on the lifeboat station! Grab a picnic hamper from The Fuchsia Caffe, a refreshing brew from Harbwr Brewery and something totally delicious from Loafley Bakery & Deli in Tenby town and sit, relax and enjoy the sunshine and watch the activity at Tenby’s bustling harbour.

Location: Abereiddy and the Blue Lagoon – recommended by Cleopatra Browne, Celtic Quest Coasteering

Coasteering is everything your parents may have told you not to do as a child…cliff jumping, adventure swimming, scramble climbing and more. Abereiddy and the Blue lagoon are perfect spots for this adventurous activity, and we suggest taking a break with a picnic which should include a cup of ethically-sourced Cariad Coffee and MamGu welsh cake in this beautiful spot. There is a useful bus service which runs along this beautiful stretch of coast called the Strumble Shuttle bus service – using this service and leaving the car at home will help to ease traffic congestion at peak times.

Location: Broad Haven South – recommended by Neil & Zoe Kedward, co-owners, The Seren Collection

Picnicking amongst the dunes at Broad Haven South as the sun goes down, with the wild Atlantic hitting the beach, is one of the most glorious experiences in Pembrokeshire. We would be eating goodies from the Ultracomedia deli in Narberth.

Location: Carew Castle – recommended by Daisy Hughes – Visitor Services Manager, South Pembrokeshire

There are two great picnic spots at Carew Castle; one nestled close to the walls of the picturesque castle and another a bit further off the beaten track across the millpond from the Castle, which offers stunning views across the water to the Elizabethan wing of the castle.

From the picnic site the walk to the Tidal Mill and causeway is easily accessible. Here wading birds such as Herons, Little Egrets and Curlews can often be seen, as well as other wildlife such as Kingfishers and Shelduck. My picnic hamper would be filled with some delicious local Pembrokeshire apple juice or cider from The Pembrokeshire Cider Company.

Location: Manorbier Castle – recommended by Rachel Ruff, Manorbier Castle

Set in a stunning position, 12th century Manorbier Castle dates to Norman times and is perched above the beautiful bay of Manorbier. Picnic spots abound in the castle grounds or on the beach below, with the castle providing a spectacular backdrop.

Location: Oriel y Parc Gallery & Visitor Centre, St David’s – recommended by Claire Bates, Centre Manager

The picnic area at Oriel y Parc is an oasis of calm and tranquillity in the middle of the popular city of St David’s, with fruit trees, wild flowers and birdsong. This little-known spot is open to all and is a quiet area to relax after a day’s sightseeing in St David’s. Aside from breakfast and lunch options, there are many delicious treats to take away from the onsite café – the white chocolate blondie is a particular favourite.

Location: Port of Milford Haven – recommended by Kailea Turner, Milford Waterfront

With an unspoilt view of the Milford Haven Waterway, the grass picnic area on Mackerel Quay at Milford Waterfront is the perfect spot to relax, with picnic benches and deckchairs provided in the summer. Pick up delicious goodies from The Scoop Ice Cream Parlour and Sugar Loaf Bakery & Deli as well as multiple other restaurants with takeaway options. With views of the Waterway and Milford Marina, there is so much to see out on the water, from commercial shipping to watching the many leisure vessels.

Location: Poppit Sands beach and Abbey grounds at St Dogmaels, recommended by Marie Lewis, Over the Rainbow Wales

Every Tuesday the village of St Dogmaels holds a weekly food market (9 am-1 pm); it is the perfect place to pick up a range of locally-produced food for a picnic. Choose from bread, cheese, chutneys, salads, vegan salads and charcuterie, to dressed crab and baked goods including pies, pasties, cakes and croissants. Once you’ve stocked up, there are two spots which are highly recommended for a picnic – the Abbey grounds at St Dogmaels and Poppit Sands beach. 

Location: Porthclais Harbour, recommended by Julia Horton-Mansfield, Pembrokeshire Seaweeds

We’re passionate about Pembrokeshire (every square inch of it), but there is one place that we love especially: the old harbour of Porthclais. Here we can sit and eat a picnic in peace, imagining the noise of ancient ships from previous generations or, these days, watching the more leisurely bustle of kayaks and canoes as the tide comes into this little watery valley which was formed by huge glacial meltwaters millions of years ago. As educational foragers, we run courses on the seashore, around the ancient lanes of Cathedral Close in St David’s and along the Cleddau estuary. We also provide delicious ‘really wild picnics’ for our guests to share, which include ingredients they have foraged for en route.

To ease congestion on Pembrokeshire’s roads, why not consider the Coastal Buses, which link rural communities in the coastal areas of Pembrokeshire?  They are particularly useful for walkers who want to do a stretch of the coastal path without having to go back and collect their car at the end of the day.

Ends / 22 June 2021

Notes to editors:

Visit Pembrokeshire is a trade-led organisation; it specialises in tourism leadership and advocacy, destination marketing, campaign and project delivery, industry liaison and support, research and intelligence, plus event support. Headed up by Chief Executive Emma Thornton and a board of nine directors, the Visit Pembrokeshire team is based in the existing Pembrokeshire Tourism offices at Llanion Cove, Pembroke Dock.

Visit Pembrokeshire’s new marketing campaign is being funded in part through the Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant, and aims to grow tourism in Pembrokeshire in a sustainable way. To find out more about how you can play your part, whilst helping to support the recovery of many local businesses and the wider economy, please visit www.visitpembrokeshire.com/playyourpart.

View our summer campaign video in English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NWPF7c4BOI  and Welsh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9BHdEeJWug

Press:  For further information or high-res images, please contact Julia Farish, Lizzie Cooper or Sue Ockwell at  Travel PR on 07786 006 514/ 07772 136 027 / 07831 126 356 or j.farish@travelpr.co.uk / l.cooper@travelpr.co.uk / s.ockwell@travelpr.co.uk.