Pembrokeshire Coast Path

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs for 186 miles around the entire coastline of Pembrokeshire, and it's one of the great long-distance walks in the world. The scenery is relentlessly spectacular — towering cliffs, hidden sandy coves, sea stacks, blowholes, and headlands battered by the Atlantic. In spring, the clifftops are carpeted in wildflowers. In autumn, the seals come ashore to pup on the beaches. You don't have to walk the whole thing — the path is well served by the Coastal Cruiser bus service, so you can pick a section and bus back. Popular day walks include the stretch from St Davids to Whitesands Bay, the cliffs around Stack Rocks and the Green Bridge of Wales, and the dramatic coastline around Strumble Head. St Davids, Britain's smallest city (population about 1,800), is the highlight — a tiny cathedral city with a magnificent 12th-century cathedral hidden in a valley. The cathedral, built in a hollow so Viking raiders couldn't see it from the sea, is extraordinary. The Bishop's Palace ruins next door are worth exploring. The coast around St Davids is some of the finest in Britain — Whitesands Bay is a stunning beach for surfing.