July Cottage Holidays in Wales
Celebrate Shakespeare, music and sports this summer
July officially marks the beginning of a six-week break from school, but there’s a lot more to Pembrokeshire this month. We’ve got the Long Course Weekend taking place in its home town, St Davids hosts their annual Arts Festival and the outstanding Fishguard International Music Festival returns.
So with sports, arts celebrations and plenty of family-friendly activities to keep you occupied, it’s no wonder that July is one of the most popular times to visit Pembrokeshire. Book a cottage holiday in Wales this July to find out for yourself just how much fun a getaway to this part of the coast can be, and we guarantee you’ll want to make it an annual tradition.
Coastal Cottages Wales Cottage Holidays in July
Summer has truly arrived! July is the start of the school holidays and home to one of Pembrokeshire biggest sporting events, the incredible Long Course Weekend in Tenby.
Summer Holidays
There’s no need to explain the attraction of the summer holidays. Warm sunshiny days and no school means that for many, the day-to-day mundanities of the term-time routine are a thing of the past and the focus is now on fun, quality time with the family.
Escape with the children to the seaside town of Tenby and teach them how to build sandcastles on Harbour Beach, tour the Tudor Merchant’s House for an insight into the old trading industry of the town, and take them on a boat trip to the offshore island of Caldey where they can explore this ancient monk-inhabited isle. Take a short drive out of town or hop on the bus if you’re travelling without a car and jump off at Folly Farm for a day looking at the exotic zoo animals or head to Heatherton Adventure Park for a jam-packed day of archery, mini-golf, baseball and more.
Perhaps you would prefer a week in St Davids? Stroll the bustling streets of the smallest city in the UK and discover the history of Saint David in the town named after him. Admire the architecture and savour the tranquillity at St David's Cathedral and explore the ruined St Davids Bishop’s Palace nestled just behind in the valley. Try your hand at surfing on Whitesands Beach, hike to the summit of Carn Llidi for panoramic views over the peninsula or take an exhilarating jet boat trip around the RSPB island of Ramsey. Before you leave, make sure to call in at Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm where you’ll find a paradise of insects and creepy-crawlies plus, you can even see how they taste at The Grub Kitchen!
If you’re hoping for somewhere a little more peaceful and somewhat off the beaten path, you might want to check out the charming coastal villages of Pwllgwaelod, Abercastle or St Brides. Each has small coves where you can paddle in the shores and search the rock pools from dawn until dusk. All are just a short drive or coastal walk from another village where you’ll find shops and eateries which only lend to the magic of these more serene bays.
Long Course Weekend, Tenby
Taking place in early July, the Long Course Weekend is a three-day bonanza of sports with swimming, cycling and running events on offer. Some may call this a triathlon as you can indeed sign up the Full Long Course Weekend and compete in all three disciplines, but to leave it there would be forgetting the main attraction of this event.
Unlike other triathlon events, the Long Course Weekend allows budding athletes to sign up for more manageable distances, and as many or as few disciplines as they like. Essentially, you could sign up for the full event competing in a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile cycle and a 26.2 mile run on three consecutive days, or you could solely sign up for a 5k run.
Being accessible to all, it’s no wonder that people travel to Tenby in their droves to take part in this event, as whole families can take place – something other triathlons are unable to offer. Throughout the entire weekend, you’ll find the town animated with activity as those taking part, those helping out and those showing their support make their way through this seaside resort.
Everything commences on Tenby North Beach with a children’s splash and dash before the adults take their dip; expect crowds like no other lining the promenade as the band blasts out music and the fireworks set off over the water. The cycle and the run follow routes out of town taking you through scenic courses the likes of Manorbier and Saundersfoot.
Sunset Cinema
Organised and brought to life by The Torch Theatre in Milford, the Sunset Cinema programme is a series of outdoor film screenings in some of Pembrokeshire’s most magnificent locations. Locations and films vary from year to year but no matter where or what’s on show, the Sunset Cinema is a wonderful way to spend a summer’s evening.
Full details are usually announced around May/June when tickets are made available for purchase online. Previous years have welcomed audiences to watch classic cinema favourites such as Grease, Back to the Future, Mamma Mia and Dirty Dancing in incredible landmark locations like Pembroke Castle, Milford Waterfront, Hilton Court Gardens and Picton Castle.
Make sure to wrap up warm, pack a picnic and grab your camping chair for a fun evening cosied up in front of a big screen under the stars. Refreshments are often available if you forget your picnics such as popcorn, ice cream and coffee, but a picnic of your favourite snacks is highly recommended. People have even been known to pack a three-course meal – champagne included!
Fishguard International Music Festival
The last couple of weeks in July are usually home to the Fishguard International Music Festival, a superb celebration of world-class music taking place in a selection of venues in Pembrokeshire. Incorporating a mixture of events, you can attend concerts, talks, recitals and more. That said, things are a little different in 2023 as this incredible festival is expanding their dates across a whole month. Performances begin on 4th August and continue right through to September 3rd.
During this celebration of music, you can indulge in folk music, jazz and world music from talented and award-winning quartets, ensembles and singers. Performers have included the Welsh National Opera Orchestra and choirs such as Only Boys Aloud.
Venues range further than the Fishguard region too, recent years have seen venues across this north-westerly stretch of Pembrokeshire become home to a concert or two. You might catch a choir at Rhosygilwen near Cardigan, an orchestra at St Davids Cathedral or a four-piece at Fishguard Town Hall.
St Davids Arts Festival
If outdoor theatre goes hand-in-hand with summer for you, then you will certainly not want to miss the St Davids Arts Festival. Starting in late-July and continuing through to August, this festival involves one acting company, two venues and sometimes three enactments to create a popular annual event each year in St Davids.
The troupe perform a different Shakespeare play each year using the incredible ruins of St Davids Bishops Palace as a backdrop. Held in the early evening, the play being during daylight and as the sun sets, the theatre lights come to life fashioning a seamless transition between the two.
The same troupe offers a more child-orientated play on altering nights at Mathry Community Hall, just a few miles away from the city. Previous years have used childhood favourites such as The Owl and The Pussycat as the subject. The third and final performance has included a poetry recital in previous years in the undercroft at St Davids Bishop’s Palace.
An event firmly rooted in this delightful city, the Arts Festival was first established in 1969 and first used the Bishop’s Palace as a venue the following year. Having run for over 50 years now, it’s safe to say that this event is much-loved amongst audiences.
Chairs are provided and refreshments are available – you might need a hot cuppa during the Shakespeare interval as it can become chilly once the sun goes down. Well-behaved quiet dogs are welcomed to the Palace but are not permitted in Mathry Community Hall.
Saundersfest
Brand new for 2023, this weekend-long event takes place from Friday 7th July to Sunday 9th July and consists of live music throughout the village of Saundersfoot near Tenby. All in aid of charity, you can expect buskers on the square and performances throughout many of the pubs and restaurants in this seaside resort. There will even be ticketed performances and concerts taking place on the sports field with the likes of Wynne Evans, Tenby Male Voice Choir and the Old Time Sailors taking to the stage.
Welshstock Festival
Immerse yourself and your family in the world of myths and legends at one of Pembrokeshire's newest festivals. Going into its second year in 2023, this wonderful event takes place within the beautiful grounds of Scolton Manor near Haverfordwest between the 21st and 23rd July.
Join in with craft and magic workshops, take in a theatre show or two, enjoy a fairy light display and tap a toe to live music performances. There will also be the chance to try yoga, hula hooping and see a circus show.
Pembroke Castle Cider & Sausage Festival
For a special night of celebration, Pembroke Castle are hosting a Cider and Sausage Festival with a variety of craft ciders and locally-made sausages to sample. Entertainment throughout the night will be provided by none other than West Country legends, The Wurzels, with support by local bands Preseli Pete & The Bluestone Boys and Daisy B & The Daisychain.
Pembroke Castle
