Kilgetty

The A477 thunders past this unassuming Pembrokeshire village, but that's precisely what makes Kilgetty such a clever staging post for exploring one of Wales' most dramatic coastlines. Most drivers race through without stopping. Their loss.

Tucked between rolling farmland and within striking distance of both Tenby's Georgian elegance and Saundersfoot's harbour buzz, Kilgetty occupies that sweet spot where you can dodge the coastal crowds yet reach proper beaches in ten minutes. The village itself won't detain you long - it's more functional than pretty - but the Jubilee Park and Nature Trail offers a decent stretch of the legs through woodland that feels properly wild.

What really sells this spot is the geography. Saundersfoot sits barely three miles south, with its Blue Flag beach and cracking seafood restaurants. Tenby's pastel-painted houses and medieval walls lie just beyond. Yet here you'll pay half the accommodation costs and actually find a parking space.

The surrounding countryside rolls in gentle green waves towards the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, where clifftop walks reveal some of Britain's most spectacular seascapes. Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo draws families from across Wales, while the more adventurous can tackle the coastal path towards Amroth or explore the hidden coves that punctuate this stretch of coast.

Trains run regularly from Tenby to London, making this surprisingly accessible despite feeling properly rural. The M4 puts you within four hours of most English cities, though once you're here, everything worth seeing lies within a few miles. Stay at one of the local holiday parks and you've got the perfect base for day trips to St David's, Pembroke Castle, or simply beach-hopping along what many consider Wales' finest coastline.