Saundersfoot

Two golden sandy beaches bookend this former coal port, where Victorian terraces tumble down to a harbour that once shipped anthracite across Europe. Now pleasure boats bob where cargo vessels used to dock, and the old railway tunnel carved through the cliff serves dog walkers rather than coal trucks.

Saundersfoot feels refreshingly unpretentious compared to some Pembrokeshire hotspots. The main beach stretches north from the harbour - proper sand that doesn't disappear at high tide, unlike some Welsh offerings. Kids can crab off the harbour walls while parents nurse pints at the waterfront pubs. The southern Coppet Hall Beach tends to be quieter, accessed via a steep path that puts off the less determined.

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path snakes right through town, offering cracking clifftop walks in both directions. Head north toward Wiseman's Bridge - the old railway tunnel makes for an atmospheric shortcut when the tide's in. Southward, the path climbs to Monkstone Point with views across Carmarthen Bay on clear days.

Reminders of Saundersfoot's industrial past pop up everywhere. The Winding House near the station recalls when this was Wales' busiest coal port. Bethesda Chapel, built for the miners and their families, still anchors the community. The old railway line that carried coal to the harbour now forms part of a pleasant walking route inland.

Tenby lies just four miles south - easily reached by the coastal bus that runs regularly in summer. But you might find yourself preferring Saundersfoot's quieter charms. The high street has proper local shops rather than tourist tat, and midweek you can actually park without circling for twenty minutes.

Staying at one of the holiday parks dotted around the area makes perfect sense. You're minutes from those beaches, but with space to spread out and explore the broader Pembrokeshire coast at your own pace.