March Cottage Holidays in Wales
Plan an early spring break and head to Pembrokeshire this March
March is a particular favourite in the Welsh calendar as the very first day of the month is dedicated to honouring the Patron Saint of Wales, Dewi Sant. The locals become a little more patriotic this month and being Welsh is celebrated country-wide.
But of course, there is much more than just St Davids Day to get excited about in the third month of the year. There’s also World Book Day, Mother’s Day, International Dark Skies Week and some years, we might even have Easter to look forward to. Treat yourself to a cottage holiday in Wales at any time of this month and you’re sure to have a great stay.
Coastal Cottages Wales Cottage Holidays in March
March marks the official beginning of spring with bursts of colour emerging across the landscape, it's certainly a beautiful time of year to visit.
St Davids Day in Pembrokeshire
Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant, or St Davids Day as it is known in English, is a date in the diary which we here at Coastal Cottages look forward to every year. After all, there is no better excuse to use for eating an entire packet of Welsh cakes in one sitting.
But how do we celebrate? Across the country, you’ll find communities hosting festive Dragon Parades. Crowds gather along high streets in wait for a procession of handmade dragons to be held proudly high in the air. With little and large creations in varying colours, this is your perfect chance to see a real Welsh dragon flying through the streets of Wales. In St Davids, the very city named after Dewi, you will find closed roads and a convoy of local school and community groups marching their handcrafted creatures between Oriel Y Parc Visitor Centre and Cross Square.
In Saundersfoot, you can indulge in mouth-watering homemade cawl as part of the Saundersfoot Cawl Festival. Several establishments open their doors and welcome you in to taste their freshly made Welsh broth with the aim of becoming your favourite. To join in, you purchase a bowl and follow the trail through the village stopping off for a sample of each cawl before being asked to vote for the place you think made the tastiest dish.
No St Davids Day celebrations are complete without a visit to the Cathedral in the valley of St Davids, built on the very site where Dewi Sant himself founded a monastery way back in the 6th Century. Take a short drive out of the city or choose the scenic walk to St Nons, the birthplace of our Patron Saint. The legend goes that Non, David’s mother, gave birth here alone during a fierce storm. Make sure to see the Holy Well which allegedly miraculously sprang from the ground during the birth. You might even snag free entry to the Bishop's Palace as CADW offer a special discount to selection heritage sites each year.
Make the most of your Welsh visit and immerse yourself in our local culture. Add on one of our delicious Welsh hampers to your stay and dine on our country’s favourite delicacies such as Bara Brith or taste some local produce with a Tenby-made beer. Ask our Concierge Team to arrange a Bespoke Cookery Class and you can even learn how to cook your own versions of Welsh Cakes or Welsh rarebit.
World Book Day
A mere few days after St Davids Day is the internationally recognised World Book Day, held annually on the 5th March. It is undeniable that the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park offers a plethora of fantastic reading spots; dangle your feet in the water as you sit on a rock in the quaint cove at Nolton Haven Beach, perch with your book on the pebble bank at Newgale or relax on the grassy lawn at Scolton Manor.
Not only does our county offer countless serene spots to sit with your paperback, but it also has a strong connection to some worldwide literary greats. Take a seat overlooking the picture-perfect Tenby harbour where Roald Dahl spent Easter holidays during his childhood and stroll through the streets which inspired the great Dylan Thomas during his time living in Laugharne. Jockey come author Dick Francis grew up in the waterside village of Llangwm and Mary Shelley allegedly visited the area when her mother lived in Pembrokeshire.
Visit the very locations used to make fictional locations come to life on the big screen with a self-guided film tour of Pembrokeshire. Head to Freshwater West Beach where the infamous house-elf Dobby was laid to rest in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, see where Russell Crowe charged down the sands on horseback at Marloes Sands during the filming of Robin Hood and explore the bustling villages harbourside villages at Solva and Fishguard, both of which played the role of the village Llareggub in the silver screen adaptations of Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood.
Do as Roald Dahl did and stay at The Cabin, Tenby
Say Happy Mother’s Day
A little later in the month comes Mother’s Day, a day dedicated to commemorating all that your mother has done for you. This needn’t be restricted to just celebrating your mum, by the way, show your appreciation for your grandmother, your step mum and anyone else who might have stepped into that role.
Perhaps you want to encourage your mum to take some time to herself and take a break from looking after everyone else? Give her the gift of our Coastal Cottages Gift Vouchers, that way she can choose when and where she stays but you’ve given her that nudge in the right direction to spoil herself for a change.
Or why not combine celebrations for all the mums around you and book a getaway for the whole clan? Use Mother’s Day as an excuse to organise a family reunion and make some memories altogether. Our large properties sleep up to 30 plus we have what we call cluster cottages, individual homes which are set all in one convenient location allowing you your own space within walking distance of everyone else in the group.
Restaurants and attractions across Pembrokeshire join in with the celebrations, holding special events honouring mums. The National Botanic Garden of Wales has been known to offer free entry for mums on Mother’s Day. Gather the whole gang for a hearty Sunday lunch in one of many coastal locations, The Sloop Inn overlooking the picturesque Porthgain Harbour is often a favourite.
Laugharne Weekend
As we mentioned earlier, Laugharne was the beloved home of poet Dylan Thomas for many of his writing years and so still to this day, the community here have a strong adoration for literature. This three-day festival was launched to showcase the communities appreciation for all things literary and musical.
Unlike some festivals, Laugharne Weekend is intended to be kept small and exclusive. Over the weekend, various venues host talks from famous authors, writing workshops and wonderful live music performances with intimate audiences. Weekend tickets are available in advance and do often sell out, so if you’re thinking of attending you’d best book sooner rather than later.
International Dark Skies Week
The rural location, lack of city lights and far-spread villages throughout Pembrokeshire make it an excellent haven for stargazing. So much so that the area boasts an incredible eight Dark Skies Discovery Sites. Each is awarded status for its unadulterated view of the night sky, with little to no light pollution allowing for clear sightings of constellations and celestial objects. Discovery Sites include Broadhaven South, Newgale Beach and Poppit Sands.
Astro-photographers who have never visited the area will marvel at how they have never discovered this wonderful county with its peaceful hamlets and serene villages. If you’re new to the art of astrophotography, you might want to book one of our private Stargazing Experiences. These take place in the grounds of your holiday cottage and involve tuition from a professional astronomer. Not only will you learn how to take pictures of the dark skies, but you will learn about the objects you can see.
Easter Holidays in Pembrokeshire
The dates of Easter weekend vary each year and if we’re lucky, it will fall sometime in late March to coincide with the clocks going forward making for an all-round fantastic reason to celebrate with a holiday to the coast.
This springtime break is an ideal time of the year to whisk the loved ones away for a family holiday on the Welsh coast. The days are longer, the weather that little bit warmer and the sunshine seems extra bright. Take the children exploring the National Trust sites such as Stackpole Estate and Southwood Farm which will no doubt be hosting seasonal Easter Egg Hunts through their beautiful grounds.
Jump into the sea with a watersports session and learn how to surf or kayak, or for the older generation try your hand at power-kiting with a kitesurfing session. Go horse riding along the shore with a beach ride and soar into the clouds for magnificent views with a pleasure flight. The Easter holidays also see the return of our offshore boat trips, meaning you can once again sail across to the neighbouring islands of Caldey, Skomer, Grassholm and Ramsey for adventure days out and wildlife spotting.
Ramsey Island bench viewpoint looking towards St Davids Head
