Who are you?

Sam Johnson on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path
Sam Johnson on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path

Sam Johnson, freelance contributor to Practical Motorhome and Practical Caravan magazines.

Why are you a local authority on Pembrokeshire?

I grew up there during my teenage years and, while I no longer live in the area, I return frequently to visit family and friends.

What do you love about it?

Its relative lack of large commercial development. There are some busy towns, particularly in the summer. However, none of these are far from the beautiful, unspoilt coast or countryside, where you can feel you’ve escaped the rat race for a bit (weather permitting!).

What’s your favourite place to visit in the area?

The Pembrokeshire Coast
The Pembrokeshire Coast

Skomer Island in springtime. This marine reserve is especially famous for its puffins, but Manx shearwaters, razorbills, seals and even dolphins and porpoise can also be spotted here.

And if you are fortunate enough to visit Skomer at the right time of year (April-May) the swathes of bluebells are so vast that, from a distance, parts of the island appear blue!

Puffins can be seen on Skomer Island
Puffins can be seen on Skomer Island between April and August

Be aware, though, that you’ll need to arrive early – visitor numbers are controlled by a limited number of scheduled boat crossings, which can’t be booked in advance.

Alternatively, pick any section of the 186-mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path for beautiful views of unspoilt coastline. Mum and I set ourselves the challenge of walking its whole length in stages just over a year ago, but have only managed about 40 miles so far!

Which campsites would you recommend, and why?

Caerfai Caravan and Tent Site
Caerfai Caravan and Tent Site

It’s run by a friend of our family, so I might be slightly biased, but the sea views from Caerfai Bay Caravan and Tent Park are just sensational.

Pitches include electric hook-up and the site is within easy walking distance of the cathedral city of St David’s, the smallest city in Britain.

A lovely sandy and rocky beach is also accessible via a short – but steep – flight of steps to be found close the the site entrance.

What food and drink is the area known for?

Seafood, mainly. Locally caught fish, scallops and crab are widely served and there’s an excellent choice of restaurants and cafés to enjoy.

Cawl (a Welsh dish made using whatever meat and vegetables are available, and typically served with bread and cheese) is also popular.

Tell us somewhere great to eat or drink!

The Shed Bistro in Porthgain is rightly renowned for the aforementioned seafood and specialises in serving local produce. However, it’s not cheap and pre-booking is essential.

If your budget is more modest, the Hooked@31 fish and chip shop in Fishguard was a top 10 finalist in the 2020 National Fish and Chip Awards.

For drinks, there are plenty of village pubs that serve a good pint, and we particularly like the Harbour Inn at Solva, The Sloop Inn at Porthgain and The Ship Inn at Trefin.

Pembrokeshire also boasts its very own brewery, which is hidden away in the depths of the Gwaun Valley!

Where can you get spare kit?

Surprisingly few places. Tenby Tourers in Llanteg (on the A477 east of Tenby) claims to be the largest and also undertakes servicing and repairs.

Where can you find the cheapest petrol/diesel in the area?

At the time of writing, the cheapest we knew of was Letterston Filling Station (on the main A40 between Haverfordwest and Fishguard). Otherwise, the large supermarkets (Tesco or Morrisons in Haverfordwest, Tesco or Asda in Pembroke Dock) are a pretty safe bet.

Share a secret highlight that only a local would know…

Aberfforest Waterfalls
Aberfforest Waterfalls

Hidden away behind Aberfforest Bay, two miles west of Newport and about 100 yards off the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, are the beautiful Aberfforest Waterfalls. Or, if you prefer your secrets to be food-related, Pointz Castle ice-cream in Solva is to die for!

If you liked this… READ THESE:

South Wales – Practical Caravan Travel Guide

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