Things to see and do Pembrokeshire

Next to the church stand the picturesque remains of an ancient abbey. It was built in 1115 by Robert Fitz Martin. In the nave of the ^13th-century abbey church, you can see the remains of medieval floor tiles.

Next door is Coach House, converted into a museum housing an exhibition of beautifully carved medieval stones and intriguing engraved Christian stones. The Sagranus stone, dating from the ^6th century, is the oldest and features inscriptions in Ogham, the ancient Irish alphabet.

A majestic, well-preserved fortified castle built around 1140 in the purest Norman style, its ruins overlooking the bay will transport even the most unimaginative into the realm of cloak-and-dagger fiction. For several centuries, it was the property of the Anglo-Norman de Barri family, and is now often used as a film set. Beautiful gardens surround the château, and make a fine picnic spot. Please note, however, that it is closed for private events (calendar on website).

The museum opened its doors in 1878. It includes the social and maritime history of Pembrokeshire as well as information on the geology and archaeology of the region. Another gallery is dedicated to the works of Augustus Jones and his sister Gwen, painters of the early 20th century. Gwen pursued her painting career in Paris where she was also Rodin's model. She painted still lifes, self-portraits, in a style influenced by Parisian avant-garde movements.

1.5 km from the coast, the island of Caldey welcomed Celtic monks in the 6th century, replaced in the 12th century by Benedictines of St. Dogmaels who founded a priory there, then it was bought by Cistercians. The few monks who live there today, known as Trappists, follow very strict rules: seven prayers a day!

On the island, you can visit the Saint-David chapel and the monastery, but above all a very old Celtic cross on which is an inscription in ogham, an old Irish alphabet from the 6th century.

In this particularly well reconstructed setting, we find ourselves in the midst of the ^15th century in the home of a wealthy merchant. Virtually intact, the Tudor Merchant's House houses three floors of Flemish fireplaces, period furniture and curios. A journey back in time! Don't hesitate to ask the very knowledgeable and competent staff. The museum is very well designed for children, with interactive games to keep them entertained! As with many museums, there's also a pretty souvenir store on site.

Perched on a rocky promontory, it is one of the most powerful lighthouses in Britain. To the southwest of the lighthouse stretches a jagged rocky bay, an enormous jaw open to the sea. No beach here: the jagged rock falls abruptly into the sea. Walking on the cliffs promises splendid views. On the east side, following the coast, about 2 km from the lighthouse, we come across a cliff that is permanently home to seal families. Strumble Head is also a wonderful place to watch the sunset.

On the banks of the River Teifi, the stone called "Blessing Stone"is known to have been used in pre-Christian times and may have been extracted from a cromlech. Legend has it that the spirit of the river appeared here in the form of a fish. When the monks settled in the village, they recycled the aura of this stone, blessing the fishermen before they set out to sea.

Today, we see nothing but flat stone, sheltered by shrubs forming a plant niche around it. Very nice view.