Things to see and do Pembrokeshire

Built on the foundations of a 13th century fortified house, this Edwardian castle with its four round towers and imposing battlements, built by Sir John Wogan, was occupied by the same family for over 700 years. Picton Castle is one of the most important historic houses in Wales. It is surrounded by sixteen hectares of magnificent wooded and flowered gardens with a beautiful collection of rhododendrons. For information, the castle can only be visited by guided tours. Possibility to visit the gardens (for a fee) every day, all year round.

To the north of the village, a 13th century medieval castle - now private property - built by the de Vale family, the descendants of a knight who had accompanied Martin de Tours, the invader from North Pembrokeshire. This castle was one of Henri Tudor's first captures with 4,000 men and 55 ships. Then Henri Tudor will head east, crossing Wales towards England. From there, on August 22nd, he defeated Richard III of England before being crowned king and becoming Henry VII.

Beautiful church. The main tower dates from the 6th century and was built by the Normans, while the rest of the building dates from the 15th century. Celtic chiefs and priests were of equal status and it was customary for the chief to give the priest a piece of land with a stream or other watercourse as a boundary, to build a church on. It's the case at Nevern.

In the church is the "Vitalianus Stone" (a tablet dating from the ^5th century with inscriptions in Ogham, an old Celtic alphabet of Irish origin, and in Latin)

The first view of the cathedral is impressive. It is surrounded by a large park covered with funerary stelae and one can immediately see its cruciform structure at the intersection of which rises the large square tower, with its clock and pinnacles.

For more than a century, this site was a central place of pilgrimage and the majestic ensemble still exerts its aura... However, it all begins with the mystical solitude of Saint David, who led a life here withdrawn from the world, totally devoted to the Spirit... The holy man, who ate bread and herbs and dipped his body in ice-cold water to numb his ardour, influenced the Irish Church through his asceticism! It was during the reign of Henry I that the place took a more administrative and official turn, when it was decided that St David would be at the centre of the diocese. It is possible that the location was also chosen for reasons of political strategy, given its proximity to Ireland. Construction of the cathedral began in 1131, and it was also from this time that it became an important religious centre in Europe. In the 14th century, during the reign of Bishop Henry of Gower, the architecture took on the appearance it has today. Until his death in 1347, he oversaw major works in the cathedral, which he envisioned as his future tomb, and also built the wall separating it from the houses of the village. The present official entrance to the site is the only original of the four gates of the enclosure.

This popular walking area can be reached in less than 10 minutes by bus. Here again, one marvels at the extraordinary views of the sea, despite the frequent sea breeze. Don't hesitate to cover yourself well! Beacons indicate the routes of two circular walks that take you along spectacular cliffs. One is 11.5 km for about 3.5 hours. You can also opt for its short version, 5 km long, by cutting through the land. A copy of the detailed itinerary can be requested from the tourist office.

Fascinating reconstruction of an Iron Age fort. In each of the round, thatched houses, the interiors are reconstructed, based on the speculations of archaeologists. Very little information remains about the life of Iron Age man. In the houses, guides bake bread or spin wool, passionately recounting what we think we know about the period. Many discoveries about Iron Age techniques and knowledge were made during the construction of the site. Breathtaking!

Saundersfoot's beaches are among the most extraordinary in South Pembrokeshire, renowned for their exceptional beauty. To discover them, you can reach the village of Amroth from Tenby, by bus no. 350, then follow the coastal path to the beaches of Saundersfoot. To the west of the village, there is also Glen Beach, an ideal beach for family swimming, with restaurants nearby. Often events are organized throughout the year, the program is available on site.

At the time, it was said that two trips to St. David's was worth a pilgrimage to Rome. Thousands of people came here, making St. David's a major pilgrimage centre in the country. The architectural ambitions of the Bishop of Gower were high and made the complex a model of medieval refinement. Between 1328 and 1347 he transformed this old building for servants and animals into a huge palace. Built behind the cathedral between the 13th and 14th centuries, this imposing palace was once reserved for the nobility and the clergy. It shows the importance of this stage on the road to Compostela. Now in ruins, it is still impressive. The palace is built around the central garden. The east was devoted to the private spaces of the bishop, with his bedroom, small reception room and kitchens at the end, articulating the apartments with the south wing, rather devoted to the public spaces of reception. The room next to the lobby was probably used to house important visitors to St. David's. The western part probably served as a dormitory, where lesser visitors were housed. Numerous architectural details appear during the visit, which bear witness to the building's past splendour: finely decorated windows and arches, corbels sculpted in the shape of a face or animal, decoration of the arcades... Now in ruins, it remains, nevertheless, an impressive monument.

This chapel is located in a nice overhanging corner. During the last French invasion (22-24 February 1797), the French established their headquarters in a neighbouring farmhouse. A 1620 Welsh Bible, the oldest in the country, damaged by occupants using it to start a fire, was found there in the 1990s. It is kept at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth. The site is a good starting point for a walk along the coast to Carmaeg Wasta Point (9 km round trip).

This tapestry, created in 1997, traces the events that took place during the last "attempt" of French invasion of British territory in 1797. The tapestry illustrates the arrival of the French army consisting of three ships of 1,400 soldiers recruited from French prisons. It is by landing on February 22, 1797 on the beach of Carreg Wastad, that the French thought they would conquer Great Britain! They were blown off the island in three days!

Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber, a circle of stones in a field overlooking the valley, three stones support a five-metre-long boulder thought to weigh almost sixteen tonnes. As its name suggests, this is an ancient burial chamber dating back to 3500 BC. One of the most beautiful phenomena of its kind. We still don't know how the men of the megalithic period managed to gather and lift all this! Awe-inspiring!

North of Lamphey, (Llandyfái in Welsh); you can visit the ruins of Bishop's Palace (Lamphey Palace), dating from the 13th century, which was used as a second residence by the bishops of St. David's. Ruins with the appearance of a crypt, lost in the green moss and mist.... which testify to the opulence in which these holy men lived. It is a very beautiful visit, both for the ruins and for the environment in which they are located, which offers a very special atmosphere. And in addition, admission is free.

The castle tour is well organized and includes an explanatory brochure. This is one of the strangest and most fascinating castles in the south of the country. Built between 1280 and 1310, it was considerably enlarged in the ^15th century, as evidenced by its Tudor-style windows. The cashier at the entrance is sure to tell you about the many visitors who have seen the ghosts of Sir Roland Rhys, one of the castle's tenants, and his monkey, come to haunt the northwest tower where they lived.

It is one of the castles built by the Normans in the south of the country. The fortification built on the top of a hill was naturally protected by water. This impregnable fortress never fell under Welsh control and so Pembroke won the title of capital of Little England beyond Wales. Today, the castle still has an impressive atmosphere. The towers are intact - especially the one where Henry VII was born in 1457 - and we pass from large rooms, to oak beams, to dark and biscornus corridors..

Overlooking Jack Sound, the park was once designed to shelter deer, hence its name. A wall was built in the 18th century to define a zone for the protection of animals that were never introduced.

Today, the park is very popular with walkers and leads to superb views such as Wooltack Point, where seals and sometimes porpoises as well as seabirds can often be seen. In the southern part of the route, also don't miss the Iron Age fort at Watery Bay.

Since 2002, Voyages of Discovery has been offering sea trips to discover caves, seal watching and migratory bird watching around Ramsey Island. Aboard the Viking Challenger, you can try out the trips to Grassholme, where dolphins and whales can sometimes be spotted. Grassholme is also a wonderful trip for birdwatchers, with a large colony of gannets. You can also see shearwaters, another type of marine animal.

You can also leave the city centre and explore WhitesandsBay (Porth Mawr in Welsh). It is ideal for swimming, and is also the starting point for splendid walks along the coast. Detailed itineraries can be found at St. David's Tourist Centre.

Archaeological sites and Celtic shrines along the way recall the passage of Irish settlers along the coast. There are remains of the chapel of St. Patrick, who went to preach the divine word on the Green Island; the Warrior's Dyke, a defensive rampart dating from the Iron Age (750 BC to 100 AD); the Coetan Arthur, a Neolithic burial chamber and two other cromlechs at the top of Carn Llidi, at an altitude of 181 metres. From the volcanic promontory of St. David's Head, there are superb views of Ramsey Island.

Walking distance (3 km): Head north-east on High Street towards Feidr Fawr, then continue on the B4546. Very vast white sandy beach at the mouth of the Teifi estuary, absolutely impressive when it is at low tide and swept by the winds! This beach, the northernmost in Pembrokeshire, marks the beginning, or end, of the 186-mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

On the car park (paying in summer), behind the dunes, there is a small cafeteria serving ice cream and good pasties.

The date of the same time as the abbey (th century) and would probably have been the property of the monks. The aeronautical engineer Michael Hall bought the ruins a few years ago to put it in operation! This is done today. The wheel rotates again in the small river and you sell flour and breads made from it.

We show you everything about the Y Felin machinery, one of Wales'last water mills, during a pleasant guided tour.