Newport

Wild ponies roam the bracken-covered slopes above this compact Pembrokeshire town, where ancient burial chambers dot the landscape like scattered puzzle pieces. Newport sits in a valley where the River Nevern meets the sea, ringed by the mysterious Preseli Hills that provided the bluestones for Stonehenge.

The town itself feels properly Welsh - slate-roofed cottages line narrow streets, and you'll hear more Welsh spoken here than English on market days. Court Wood wraps around the eastern edge, offering woodland walks where buzzards circle overhead and red kites might swoop past your shoulder.

Archaeology buffs get excited about the ancient Camp site nearby, part of a network of Iron Age settlements that controlled this stretch of coast centuries before the Normans arrived. The whole area feels like one vast outdoor museum, but without the crowds you'd find further south in Tenby or St Davids.

Fishguard lies eight miles northeast - useful for ferries to Ireland or stocking up on supplies. The coastal path runs right through Newport, connecting dramatic cliff walks with sheltered river valleys. You can follow it west to the seal colonies at Strumble Head or east toward the golden sands of Poppit.

Staying at one of the holiday parks around Newport makes perfect sense for exploring this quieter corner of Pembrokeshire. Places like Llwyngwair Manor Holiday Park or Fishguard Bay Resort put you within striking distance of both the rugged coastline and the ancient mysteries of the Preseli Hills, without the premium prices of the busier tourist hotspots.