Make it your mission to explore the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
There is a reason this exquisite coastline was Britain's first and only coastal national park; it is ruggedly beautiful with coves and bays, sandy beaches, wooded estuaries and inland hills. Not to mention an incredibly diverse range of wildlife. The National Park is large, at over 240 sq miles, but that doesn't mean you can't explore it…
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is a much-loved national trail that runs from Amroth Castle for 186 miles along the coast to St. Dogmaels, displaying as it goes the incredible scenery of the south-western coastline. There is just about every type of maritime landscape to enjoy along the route, so pick a section to tackle and set off! You don't have to make it a challenge, go at your own pace, enjoy the views, breathe fresh air and return by public transport if you like. There are all sorts of services operating in the area to help you get the most out of your walk and one of these is called the Puffin Shuttle.
The Puffin Shuttle is a small but useful bus service that runs between Martins Haven, at the southern end of St. Bride's bay, round the coast and up to St. David's at the northern end. The service is organised by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park as an encouragement for people to explore the coastline. It runs year round, though in the winter season (between September and May) this is only twice a week, on Thursdays and Saturdays, with two return journeys which travel from Marloes to St. David's. This distance is only very slightly shorter than that of the summer timetable which operates daily with three return journeys between Martins Haven and St. David's.
The drive itself is around 25 miles, but there are stops along the way so you can decide on the length of your preferred walking route. St. Brides Castle is one of the main stops and visitors staying in this magnificent building often choose to catch the bus up to St. Davids – which is a drive of a little over an hour – and wind their way gently back to St. Brides. The views over St. Brides Bay are exquisite, and the Puffin Shuttle enables walkers to wander as far as they like without having to retrace their steps. Find the full time table online here > pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk/buses.
You can find out how to stay along this stretch of coast at St. Brides Castle for yourself, simply follow the link below.
