The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is a National Trail in Wales which is 186 miles/299 kilometres in length with a total ascent equal to the height of Mount Everest. This is part one in a series of five which has been compiled into a playlist. Also, if you're planning to do the trail, there is a Trail Review video that provides hints and tips that will help you achieve a successful completion. More recently, I have completed a summary video that consolidates all the playlist videos into a single video. Needless to say, this does not have the same level of detail as the playlist videos but is more of a taster of this National Trail.
We take a south to north route staring in Amroth and finishing 11 days later in St Dogmaels near Cardigan. Early morning witnesses our start Amroth as we touch the start stone and wonder along the beach front to meet the plastic fish 'Bertie the Bass'. This is to highlight the waste of plastic within our seas. We then follow the cliff tops before descending to use the old tram line that use to take coal to Saundersfoot Quay. When we reach Saundersfoot beach we note that the tide is out so we can take a short cut across the beach to the harbour. Here we admire the boats in the marina and in particular the schooner that has been built to accommodate a museum of ships that use to visit Saundersfoot.
Next we head across mainly fields and woods and we stop to admire the wooden sculptors of animals that are in place at Allans View. From here we drop down on to Tenby beach and eventually have breakfast on Tenby Harbour. We escape the town of Tenby and walk along the long beach of Tenby South. Lydstep Haven is acquired next before we eventually arrive at the campsite of the YHA Manobier.
The next day, following a hearty breakfast at the YHA, we head back onto the trail of the Coast Path. As is the nature of costal paths we pass many inlets and coves as well as the more famous beaches including, Swanlake Bay, Freshwater East, Barafundle Bay and Broad Haven. Due to the Castlemartin firing range being active we head inland and discover the delights of Bosherston Lily Ponds. As we head further inland we discover the Castlemartin Range Trail. This takes us past the Merrion barracks where we also see two armoured tanks at the entrance to the camp.
From the entrance of the barracks we notice signs to the spectators viewing area for the range which we investigate. Eventually, after a long inland detour the path regains the coast and we next descend into the bay of Freshwater West. It is at this bay we discover Dobby's grave. On the grave there are many pebbles painted with pictures of Dobby and messages in remembrance of Dobby. It is at this beach that I decide to wild camp and enjoy the setting sun and the red sky.