National park · United Kingdom
Pembrokeshire Coast National ParkParc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro
There is no entrance fee: park at a council car park (£4–7 a day, 2026 estimate) and walk a coast path section before 10:00, or take the seasonal coastal bus back; go Apr–Jun or Sep for quiet cliffs and puffins.There is no entrance fee: park at a council car park (£4–7 a day, 2026 estimate) and walk a coast path section before 10:00 AM, or take the seasonal coastal bus back; go Apr–Jun or Sep for quiet cliffs and puffins.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
629 km² (243 sq mi)243 sq mi (629 km²)
approximate
Established
1952
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
At a glance
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Area
- 629 km² (243 sq mi)243 sq mi (629 km²)
- About 629 km², mostly coastal strip plus the Preseli Hills inland (check).
- Established
- 1952
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, created in 1952, is the only UK national park that protects mainly coastline. It follows nearly all of the Pembrokeshire shore and adds an inland block over the Preseli Hills. Access is free; you pay for parking, boats and island landings. The 299 km (186 mi) Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs the whole length, signposted from villages and beaches, with seasonal coastal buses linking stages. Offshore islands — Skomer, Skokholm, Ramsey, Grassholm, Caldey — carry the seabird and seal interest, and each has its own boat and landing rules.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national site · 1952UK national park; the only one designated chiefly for its coast.
Size and age
629 km² (243 sq mi)243 sq mi (629 km²) · national park since 1952
About 629 km², mostly coastal strip plus the Preseli Hills inland (check).
Why go
- A free national park: no gate, no ticket, no opening hours — you pay only for parking and boats.
- The coast path is signposted from every village and beach, so you can walk one stage and bus back.
- Cliff-top wildlife: porpoise and seals from the path, puffins and shearwaters on the islands.
- Sandy beaches at Newgale, Whitesands and Broad Haven work for families, surfers and coasteering groups.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanStorms, short days, many cafes shut
- FebWet and windy; quiet if you are equipped
- MarPuffins return to Skomer mid-month; boats start Apr
- AprSkomer boats run; dry paths, few crowds
- MayBest all-round: seabirds, bluebells, long days
- JunPuffins still on Skomer; warm, busy at weekends
- JulPuffins leave late month; school holidays start
- AugPeak crowds; book parking, boats and beds ahead
- SepQuieter, warm sea, seal pups from late month
- OctSeal pups on beaches; island boats wind down
- NovShort days, gales, most boat trips stop
- DecStorm season; walk short low-level sections only
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puffins on Skomer and SkokholmApr–Jul · About 6,000 pairs; they leave the islands from late July. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
| Manx shearwatersApr–Sep · Huge colonies; heard at night on Skomer and Skokholm stays. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Grey seal pupsAug–Nov · Pups around Skomer and Ramsey; watch from the cliffs, keep distance. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Gannets on GrassholmApr–Sep · Major gannetry; summer boats from Martin's Haven. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Porpoise and seals from the coast pathAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Swansea
A48/A40 west via Carmarthen to Haverfordwest, then local roads to the coast.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Cardiff
Train to Haverfordwest or Fishguard, then bus or taxi to the coast; a car is better for the park itself.
2.5–3 h
Open the page →
From London
Train to Haverfordwest via Swansea, then hire a car locally.
5–6 h
Open the page →
From Ireland
Ferry from Rosslare to Pembroke Dock or Fishguard.
3.5–4 h crossing
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| South coast (Tenby and Caldey) | Sandy beaches, Tenby town, Caldey Island monastery. | Open; Caldey by seasonal boat from Tenby. |
| Marloes and Dale (Skomer coast) | Martin's Haven, the Skomer boat, cliff path and seal coves. | Open; island landing by booked boat only. |
| St Davids peninsula | Britain's smallest city, Whitesands beach, Ramsey Island trips. | Open; RIB trips from St Justinians. |
| North coast (Newgale to Poppit) | Surf beaches, Ceibwr Bay, folded cliffs near Moylegrove. | Open; car parks at main beaches. |
| Preseli Hills | The inland section: moorland ridge, prehistoric sites, wide views. | Open; walkers' paths, no facilities. |
Sketch map
- 1St Davids · Town≈51.882, -5.266Map ↗
- 2Whitesands beach · Beach≈51.895, -5.296Map ↗
- 3St Justinians (Ramsey boats) · Ranger station≈51.877, -5.315Map ↗
- 4Martin's Haven (Skomer boats) · Ranger station≈51.736, -5.296Map ↗
- 5Newgale beach · Beach≈51.856, -5.124Map ↗
- 6Tenby · Town≈51.672, -4.699Map ↗
- 7Ceibwr Bay · Beach≈52.083, -4.735Map ↗
- 8Preseli Hills (Foel Cwmcerwyn) · Summit≈51.950, -4.750Map ↗
Take the points offline
8 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Park centre from Wikidata; individual points are approximate, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | Free; the park is open land and coast, not a gated site. |
| Council car park, full day | GBP 4–7 (≈ US$6–10) | car | 2026 estimate; varies by beach and season, some take card only (check). |
| Coastal bus, single stage | GBP 2–5 (≈ US$3–7) | person | 2026 estimate; seasonal routes link coast path stages (check). |
| Skomer landing fee | Free | person | Set by the Wildlife Trust with the boat fare; check current price before booking. |
| Ramsey Island RIB trip | GBP 30–50 (≈ US$40–70) | person | 2026 estimate; about 1.5 h from St Justinians (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Skomer day landing permit or guide
Skokholm permit or guide
Ramsey Island landing permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- £4–7≈ US$6–10
- £2–5≈ US$3–7
- £30–50≈ US$40–70
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority before you go.
Park rules
- Dogs
- Allowed on most coast path sections but not on beaches with summer bans, and not on the island reserves; check signs at each beach.
- Seabird and seal disturbance
- Keep to the path on cliff edges and stay well back from seal pups; never chase or feed wildlife.
- Wild camping
- Not allowed; use campsites, hostels, B&Bs or holiday cottages.
- Fires and BBQs
- No fires or disposable BBQs on the path, cliffs or beaches; take all litter home.
- Parking
- Use marked car parks; roadside parking blocks narrow lanes and farm access.
Where to stay
In the park
St Davids
Small city inside the park; hostels, B&Bs, pubs, best base for the west coast.
In the park
Tenby
Walled seaside town on the south coast; hotels and self-catering, Caldey boats.
In the park
Newport (Pembrokeshire)
North coast village under the Preseli Hills; good for the quieter beaches.
Near the park
Haverfordwest
County town outside the park; rail station, supermarkets, cheaper beds.
Safety
Cliff edges and crumbling rock high
Tides cutting off beaches high
Weather turning fast medium
Cold water and rip currents medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Many beaches have car parks with level paths to viewpoints; Newgale and Broad Haven are the easiest for short flat walks.
- The coast path is rough and stepped in long sections; wheelchair users should plan short out-and-back stretches from car parks.
- Seasonal coastal buses accept wheelchairs on some routes; check before travelling.
Visiting lightly
- Use the seasonal coastal buses to walk one-way stages instead of driving between car parks.
- Book island landings through the Wildlife Trust and RSPB so fees fund reserve management.
- Keep to the path on cliff tops during the seabird season and give seal pups a wide berth.
- Buy food and fuel in the villages you walk through; the park economy is small and seasonal.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Pembrokeshire Coast National Park?
Nothing. There is no entrance fee and no gate — the park is open coast and countryside. You pay for car parks (about £4–7 a day, 2026 estimate), seasonal coastal buses, boat trips and island landings.
What are the best hikes in Pembrokeshire Coast National Park?
The coast path is the main walk, signposted from every village and beach. Easy half-days: St Davids to Whitesands, or around Newgale. Longer: the Marloes and Martin's Haven cliffs, and the north coast between Ceibwr Bay and Moylegrove. Inland, the Preseli Hills give a moorland ridge walk.
When is the best time to visit Pembrokeshire Coast National Park?
April to June and September. Puffins are on Skomer from April to late July, seal pups arrive from August, and May and September give dry paths, long days and fewer people than August.
Do I need a car?
It helps. Roads are narrow and slow, but seasonal coastal buses link coast path stages and main villages, so you can walk one way and ride back.
Can I see puffins without going to Skomer?
Rarely from the mainland. The reliable colonies are on Skomer and Skokholm, reached by booked boat; Ramsey and Grassholm trips show other seabirds and seals.
Is the park good for families?
Yes. Sandy beaches at Newgale, Broad Haven and Whitesands have car parks, cafes and lifeguards in season, and short flat sections of the coast path suit young children.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go