Tenby

Medieval walls rise straight from golden sand, where Castle Beach meets the town centre in one of Wales' most effortless seaside setups. Tenby's pastel-painted Georgian houses tumble down to the harbour in a riot of colour that somehow never looks forced or touristy.

The Tudor Merchant's House tells the story of when this was a proper trading port, back when merchants got rich from cloth and wine. These days it's the tourists who spend their money, but Tenby wears its popularity well. The old town stays authentic despite the summer crowds.

Caldy Island sits just offshore like a full stop on the horizon. You can catch a boat across to visit Caldey Old Priory when the monks allow visitors. Back on the mainland, St. Julian's Church anchors the spiritual side of town, while Tenby Harbour Brewery keeps the secular crowd happy with proper local ales.

Getting here is dead simple via the railway - Tenby station drops you right in the heart of things. The climbing wall at Over Hang Climbing Centre sorts out rainy day entertainment, though honestly, you'll spend most of your time wandering between the galleries like Llewellyn's Gallery and The Naomi Tydeman Gallery, or just sitting by the harbour watching the boats.

Staying at one of the nearby parks like Kiln Park Holiday Centre or Sunnyvale Holiday Park puts you within easy reach of both Tenby's medieval streets and the wider Pembrokeshire coast. Saundersfoot is just down the road, and the whole area works brilliantly as a base for exploring this stretch of the Welsh coast without the hassle of daily packing and unpacking.