Pembrokeshire – Tenby
Tenby is arguably the best-known holiday town in West Wales, with its golden sands, beautiful cliff-top scenery, interesting buildings and excellent eating places.
The historic town centre is walled and the ruins of Tenby Castle sit proudly atop St Margaret's Hill, overlooking the North, South and Castle Beaches, plus the Tenby Lifeboat Station which nestles amongst the rocks below.
The lifeboat boasts a new vessel since the 'Sir Galahad' was replaced by the Haydn Miller earlier this year, and visitors are welcomed at certain times. It is just a stone's throw away from the castle and the Museum and Art Gallery, whilst the Tenby Merchant's House is another place worth a visit.
Caldey Island is one of Britain's holy islands and can be reached by boat, and is well worth a visit to the Cistercian Monastery, which has stood there since 1906 on the site where worship had taken place since mediaeval times. The Monks are renowned for making perfume, chocolates and biscuits and these items can be bought from their shop in Tenby on Quay Hill.
Tenby is understandably popular because of the long golden sands, coastal footpath walks and the wide range of shops, restaurants and pubs that are to be discovered in its quaint back streets. The amusing-named 'Pig and Puffin' is joined by the Lifeboat Tavern, Coach and Horses, Tenby House, Three Mariners and Buccaneer Inn as hostelries to visit, whilst good food can be found at Plantagenet House, the Mews Bistro, the Bay Tree, the Quay Room and the Pam Pam Restaurant.
Hotels such as the Imperial, Heywood Mount, Fourcroft, Kinloch Court, Belgrave, Tenby House, the Park and Southcliffe Hotels provide a warm welcome for visitors whilst Trefalun Park, Saltern, Rumbleway and Northcliff all provide caravan facilities.
The town has some interesting shops for visitors, not least Jays of Tenby and Equinox for gifts, Thornton's Chocolates, Angels Fancy Dress, County Clothes, TP Hughes, Stewarts Seconds, Jago's and Barry Llewellyn's Sports Shop. FBM are proud of their reputation as top estate agents and FBM Holidays have a major share of the lettings market. There is a thriving indoor market, and St Mary's Church is a focal point for worship in the heart of the town.
There are a host of activities nearby, plus the 'Silent World Aquarium' situated in the town, whilst 'Pembrokeshire Boat Charters' take visitors for a meander up the River Cleddau or out to St Brides Bay, Caldey or any number of other Islands like Skomer, Skokholm, Grassholm and Ramsey.
The Tenby Art Festival is an annual event, as is the Boxing Day Charity Swim, whilst there is an active Civic Society and successful rugby, football and bowls clubs, plus the renowned 18 holes links course at Tenby Golf Club and the Tenby Sailing Club on the harbour for visitors to enjoy year after year.
