February Cottage Holidays in Wales
Enjoy family holidays, romantic breaks or an explorers getaway
In February, those long January days are over and springtime is in sight. What may seem like the slowest school term following on from the Christmas break comes to an end and we can celebrate with a week off for February Half Term.
As well as celebrating Half Term, we are encouraged to add a spot of romance to our lives with Valentine's Day on the 14th, get a little vocal with the Narberth A Capella Voice Festival and celebrate the birthday of our wonderful Pembrokeshire Coast Path at the end of the month. Here in Wales, one of the most important dates for the calendar is the first weekend of the Six Nations.
Where better to join in with the festivities for all of the above than with a cottage holiday in Wales this February?
Coastal Cottages Wales Cottage Holidays in February
First half term of the year, Valentines Day and the first signs of spring - February is a fantastic time of year to escape to the Pembrokeshire coast.
February Half Term
After six weeks or so of being back in school after a wonderful Christmas season spent at home, you’re likely to need a holiday come February Half Term. We all know it can be difficult to make the most of the outdoors during the darker January weeks, but February Half Term is a great chance to take the children exploring in the countryside.
Use this getaway to immerse yourself in the fresh coastal air in Pembrokeshire and inject a bit of activity back into your daily routine. Whilst we can’t guarantee balmy spring weather during this month, we can ensure you have a fun-filled holiday. Pack the waterproofs and wellies, and head to Colby Woodland Garden where the little ones can spend the day splashing in puddles and squelching through the muddy woodlands.
Venture through the walled and woodland gardens seeing what wildlife you can spot – bats, birds and bugs galore! Enjoy endless hours hanging from the rope swings, scrambling up trees and building dams with your free play kit. Schedule in a snack or spot of lunch with a visit to the Bothy Tea Room.
Another jam-packed day out is a visit to Manor House Wildlife Park in St Florence. Within these 52 acres, you can sight all kinds of fascinating species including Salt Monkeys, Llamas, Bactrian Camels, Meerkats and Zebras. But at Manor House, you also have the opportunity to get up close and personal with unique visitor experiences such as Being a Park Keeper for the day!
Walk through the Red Panda Woods, feed Wallabies, pet Pygmy Goats and watch the lemurs leap from branch to branch. Manor House Wildlife Park works alongside several conservation partners to help preserve and protect endangered species. For instance, in recent years, they have welcomed two Sumatran Tigers from other zoos to take part in a breeding programme.
Valentine’s Day
Sometimes we all need a little extra encouragement to show our partner just how much we love them and Valentine’s is the perfect nudge. Personally, and possibly a little biased, we suggest that the ideal way to celebrate your love is with a cottage getaway for two.
The best thing about a cottage break for Valentine’s is that you can make it as romantic or un-romantic as you want. If you want to deck the house with red roses, pop a bottle of champagne in the fridge and arrange a bespoke meal, you absolutely can and our Concierge team can help you arrange every little thing. We can even help arrange surprise proposals with a cosy indoors picnic.
That being said, if you want to escape over-the-top greetings cards and avoid romantic dining in posh restaurants, that’s okay. Organise a low-key holiday where your only plan is to spend a little bit of quality time together. After all, there’s something wonderful to be said about waking up with your sweetheart to a stunning sea view.
Narberth A Capella Voice Festival
Music lovers quite literally rejoice each February at the two-day Narberth A Capella Voice Festival. Narberth is one of Pembrokeshire’s most distinct countryside towns home to an eclectic selection of independent gift shops, vibrant grocery stores and quality restaurants.
Situated near the top of the High Street is the brilliant arts venue, The Queens Hall, which is the home of this annual celebration of music. Hosted by local company Span Arts, the Narberth A Capella Festival is a weekend-long jamboree of concerts, performances and workshops.
It is celebrated each year around the middle of February and has now been running for over ten years. Recently, they amassed an impressive 170-strong multigenerational choir bringing together crowds with local school children.
Watch the Six Nations in Wales
Rather than counting down to February Half Term as school children likely do, many across Wales spend the days between New Year's and February counting down to the first weekend of the Six Nations. For those of you who might not be rugby fans, the Six Nations is an annual competition where the six top rugby-playing nations in Europe compete. Taking part in this championship are Wales, England, Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy.
So why head to Wales to watch a game? Just imagine a cosy countryside pub, fire roaring, with a crowd of red shirts in great spirits. The atmosphere is pure electricity, something we Welsh know as “hwyl”. Head to the seaside resort of Tenby where you’re surrounded by rugby fans in every direction, spend the day in the very city named after the Patron Saint of Wales in St Davids or choose any one of our idyllic coastal pubs overlooking the sea.
Over the last few years, The Royal Oak in Fishguard screened the games on their big screen and offered audiences meals at half time. Crwst in Cardigan has hosted a six-course taster menu in honour, championing one popular dish from each nation.
Happy Birthday Pembrokeshire Coast National Park!
On the very last day of February, the UK’s only coastal National Park celebrates its birthday. Established on the 29th February 1952, celebrations often take place on the 28th but here at Coastal Cottages, we like to make it a month-long of celebrations!
Managed by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (PCNPA), this West Wales National Park is an incredible 612 square kilometres of a natural playground for all. This coastal paradise is made up of numerous Sites of Specific Special Interest (SSSI’s), Dark Skies Discovery Sites, Special Areas of Conservation and not to forget, a staggering 186 miles of Pembrokeshire Coast Path which is also an extraordinary National Trail.
Commemorate the Park’s birthday with a holiday fit for the very best explorer and spend your week discovering all that this gorgeous part of the world has to offer. Walk the footpaths, dive into the sea with a watersports afternoon or spend your morning gazing out to the sea. Tour the historic castles, sightsee geological landmarks like the Green Bridge of Wales and the Blue Lagoon and take pictures at every given opportunity of the wonderful hillsides and rugged coastlines.
