Pembrokeshire Coast National Park ( cy, Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro) is a
national park along the
Pembrokeshire coast in west
Wales.
It was established as a National Park in 1952. It is one of three national parks in Wales, the others being the
Brecon Beacons
The Brecon Beacons ( cy, Bannau Brycheiniog, ) are a mountain range in South Wales. In a narrow sense, the name refers to the range of Old Red Sandstone peaks which lie to the south of Brecon. Sometimes referred to as "the central Beacons" th ...
() and
Snowdonia (). It is the only national park in the United Kingdom to consist largely of coastal landscapes.
Landscape
:''See also
Geology of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park''
The National Park has a varied landscape of rugged
cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is an area of rock which has a general angle defined by the vertical, or nearly vertical. Cliffs are formed by the processes of weathering and erosion, with the effect of gravity. Cliffs are common on coa ...
s, sandy
beach
A beach is a landform alongside a body of water which consists of loose particles. The particles composing a beach are typically made from rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles, etc., or biological sources, such as mollusc shells ...
es, wooded estuaries, wild inland hills, the moorland of the Preseli Hills and the wooded valley. The total area is . There are four distinct sections: clockwise these are the south Pembrokeshire coast, including
Caldey Island
Caldey Island ( Welsh:''Ynys Bŷr'') is a small island near Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, less than off the coast. With a recorded history going back over 1,500 years, it is one of the holy islands of Britain. A number of traditions inherited fr ...
; the estuary; the
St Bride's Bay
St Brides Bay ( cy, Bae Sain Ffraid) is a bay in western Pembrokeshire, West Wales.
Either Skomer Island or the mainland extremity of Wooltack Point at the western end of the Marloes Peninsula marks the southern limit of the bay whilst its nor ...
coast, including the coastal islands; and the
Preseli Hills.
The
geology of the area is of particular interest with many good exposures both inland and along the coast, exhibiting a variety of rock types and structural features such as
natural arch
A natural arch, natural bridge, or (less commonly) rock arch is a natural landform where an arch has formed with an opening underneath. Natural arches commonly form where inland cliffs, coastal cliffs, fins or stacks are subject to erosion fr ...
es,
stacks,
rock folding and
sea caves. A stack of note is Elegug Stacks (), two large detached pillars of limestone which in the spring provide valued nesting sites for razorbills and guillemots. In the north, the rocks of , and , together with the extensive
moorland
Moorland or moor is a type of habitat found in upland areas in temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands and montane grasslands and shrublands biomes, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils. Moorland, nowadays, generall ...
on and , give an exposed and mountainous feel to the landscape, cut through by the wooded valleys of the and
Nevern
Nevern ( cy, Nanhyfer) is both a parish and a community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The community includes the settlements of Felindre Farchog, Monington, Moylgrove and Bayvil. The small village lies in the Nevern valley near the Preseli Hills o ...
. In the west, the National Park is dominated by the broad sweep of
St Bride's Bay
St Brides Bay ( cy, Bae Sain Ffraid) is a bay in western Pembrokeshire, West Wales.
Either Skomer Island or the mainland extremity of Wooltack Point at the western end of the Marloes Peninsula marks the southern limit of the bay whilst its nor ...
, bounded at its northern end by
Ramsey Island
Ramsey Island ( Welsh: ''Ynys Dewi'') is an island about off St David's Head in Pembrokeshire on the northern side of St Brides Bay, in southwest Wales, in the community of St Davids and the Cathedral Close. It is in area. Ramsey means (in ...
, near
St David's peninsula, and at its southern end by
Skomer. The southern coast is another contrast, with the limestone plateau and cliffs of the
Castlemartin peninsula, the steep-sided wooded valleys inland from
Amroth; the
Bosherston
Bosherston (Welsh: ''Llanfihangel-clogwyn-gofan'', translates to "St Michaels above the cliffs of St Gofan") is a village and parish in Pembrokeshire, Wales, within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
Bosherston has a population of appr ...
lakes — now, like much of the coastal strip, in the care of the
National Trust — and the tourist resorts of
Tenby
Tenby ( cy, Dinbych-y-pysgod, lit=fortlet of the fish) is both a walled seaside town in Pembrokeshire, Wales, on the western side of Carmarthen Bay, and a local government community.
Notable features include of sandy beaches and the Pembroke ...
and
Saundersfoot
Saundersfoot ( cy, Llanusyllt; Old Welsh: ''Llanussyllt'') is a large village and community (and former electoral ward) in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is near Tenby, both being holiday destinations. Saundersfoot lies in the Pembrokeshire Coast N ...
. Between the western and southern areas of the National Park lies the
Milford Haven waterway, where the tranquil estuary feeds into one of the finest natural deep water harbours in the world.
The National Park includes many sites (such as ) of historic and archaeological importance and areas which are of national or international nature conservation significance in their own right, including 7
Special Areas of Conservation, a
Marine Nature Reserve, 6
national nature reserves and 75
Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
In 2011 ''
National Geographic Traveler
''National Geographic Traveler'' is a magazine published by NG Media in Armenia, Belgium, the Netherlands, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Latin America, Israel, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and the UK. The U ...
'' magazine voted Pembrokeshire the second best coastal destination in the world for
sustainable tourism
Sustainable tourism is a concept that covers the complete tourism experience, including concern for economic, social and environmental issues as well as attention to improving tourists' experiences and addressing the needs of host communities. Su ...
.
In January 2016 the Authority launched the "Changing Coasts" project to document the way the coastline has changed as a result of recent winter storms; the project invites visitors to submit photographs taken (at any time of day) from fixed points; a pilot study will be carried out at .
Pembrokeshire Coast Path
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is a designated
National Trail
National Trails are long distance footpaths and bridleways in England and Wales. They are administered by Natural England, a statutory agency of the UK government, and Natural Resources Wales (successor body to the Countryside Council for W ...
. It was established in 1970, and is long, much of it at cliff-top level, with a total of of ascent and descent.
The southern end of the path is at
Amroth. The northern end was regarded as being at
Poppit Sands
Poppit (), is a small, dispersed settlement which lies on the southern side of the estuary of the River Teifi, near Cardigan, in northern Pembrokeshire, Wales.
It is primarily known for its popular sandy beach, called Poppit Sands () whic ...
, near
St. Dogmaels, where the official plaque was sited;
however, the path now continues to St. Dogmaels,
where a new marker was unveiled in July 2009, and links with the
Ceredigion Coast Path
The Ceredigion Coast Path ( cy, Llwybr Arfordir Ceredigion) is a waymarked long distance footpath in the United Kingdom, on the coast of Ceredigion, Wales. It is in length, running along the coast of Cardigan Bay from Cardigan to ...
to continue northwards as part of the
Wales Coast Path
The Wales Coast Path ( cy, Llwybr Arfordir Cymru) is a designated long-distance trail which follows, or runs close to, the coastline of Wales.
Launched in 2012, the footpath is long and was heralded as the first dedicated coast path in the wor ...
, the long-distance walking route around the whole coast of Wales from
Chepstow
Chepstow ( cy, Cas-gwent) is a town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the tidal River Wye, about above its confluence with the River Severn, and adjoining the western ...
to
Queensferry, which was officially opened in 2012.
Administration
The Park is managed by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, which has around 150 staff and a committee of 18 members. The Authority's purposes are to conserve and enhance the National Park, and encourage the public to enjoy and understand it. In pursuing these purposes, the authority has a duty to foster the social and economic well-being of the communities within its boundaries. Its offices are in
Pembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock ( cy, Doc Penfro) is a town and a community in Pembrokeshire, South West Wales, northwest of Pembroke on the banks of the River Cleddau. Originally Paterchurch, a small fishing village, Pembroke Dock town expanded rapidly followi ...
. The Chief Executive is Tegryn Jones.
The Authority also manages the entire length of the
Pembrokeshire Coast Path, a national trail which lies almost entirely within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
Beaches
Over the years Pembrokeshire's beaches, all of which lie in the National Park, have been awarded many International
Blue Flag Awards (10 in 2014), 47
Green Coast Awards (15 in 2011) and 106
Seaside Awards (31 in 2011).
[''Pembrokeshire (Annual Guide)'', Pembrokeshire Tourism, 2011] In 2011 it also had 39 beaches recommended by the
Marine Conservation Society
The Marine Conservation Society is a UK based not-for-profit organization working with businesses, governments and communities to clean and protect the oceans. Founded in 1983, the group claims to be working towards "cleaner, better-protected, h ...
.
Beaches in the park include:
*
*
Amroth
*
Barafundle Bay
Barafundle Bay () is a remote, slightly curved, east-facing sandy beach, near Stackpole Quay in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is part of the Stackpole Estate, managed by The National Trust. The beach was once owned by the Cawdor family of Stackpole Co ...
*
Broad Haven
Broad Haven ( cy, Aberllydan) is a village and seaside resort in the south east corner of St Bride's Bay at the western terminus of the B4341 road in south Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Broad Haven and Little Haven together form the Havens community ...
*
Broad Haven South
Broad Haven South is a beach located southeast of Bosherston on the edge of the Stackpole Estate in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Broad Haven South is known for Church Rock, which protrudes from the water around 150 yards from the shore. Popular wi ...
*
Freshwater East
Freshwater East is a village in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The majority of the village is on a cliff overlooking a bay. It is approximately from Pembroke by road, and south of Lamphey, and is in the parish and community of Lamphey. Freshwater East ...
*
Freshwater West
Freshwater West (also known as ''Fresh West'') is a beach near Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire in West Wales. It lies along the B4319 road and is part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Freshwater West, noted for its strong waves and curre ...
*
Manorbier
Manorbier (; cy, Maenorbŷr ) is a village, community and parish on the south coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales. The name means the ' Manor of Pŷr'. The community includes Jeffreyston and Lydstep.
An electoral ward with the same name exists. ...
*
Marloes
Marloes is a village and parish in Pembrokeshire, Wales, on the Marloes Peninsula west of Milford Haven and forms the western tip of the southern shore of St Brides Bay. It is within part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The parish h ...
*
Newgale
*
Newport
*
Poppit Sands
Poppit (), is a small, dispersed settlement which lies on the southern side of the estuary of the River Teifi, near Cardigan, in northern Pembrokeshire, Wales.
It is primarily known for its popular sandy beach, called Poppit Sands () whic ...
*
Sandy Haven
*
Saundersfoot
Saundersfoot ( cy, Llanusyllt; Old Welsh: ''Llanussyllt'') is a large village and community (and former electoral ward) in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is near Tenby, both being holiday destinations. Saundersfoot lies in the Pembrokeshire Coast N ...
*
Tenby
Tenby ( cy, Dinbych-y-pysgod, lit=fortlet of the fish) is both a walled seaside town in Pembrokeshire, Wales, on the western side of Carmarthen Bay, and a local government community.
Notable features include of sandy beaches and the Pembroke ...
*
Whitesands Bay
See also
*
UK coastline
*
Castlemartin Training Area
The Castlemartin Training Area is located within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park at Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is owned by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and covers
The ranges are active for 44 weeks of the year and when ...
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
National parks in Wales
Geography of Pembrokeshire
Coast of Pembrokeshire
Protected areas established in 1952
Tourist attractions in Pembrokeshire
Nature reserves in Pembrokeshire