May Cottage Holidays in Wales
The struggle this month is how to fit in everything you want to do
Climbing temperatures and mostly dry days make the fifth month of the year one of the best for a getaway weather-wise. Plus with two bank holiday weekends and a half term, there really is no better reason why you should plan a May cottage holiday in Wales.
And the attractions of a May holiday don’t stop there. Pembrokeshire also hosts an excellent sporting event this month, plus two music festivals AND two food festivals. We also celebrate the anniversary of our Pembrokeshire Coast Path this month as well as Dylan Day, an annual celebration of poet Dylan Thomas.
So make sure to pack the car with shorts and t-shirts (and a waterproof mac just to be safe), buckets and spades, your inflatable rubber ring and of course, some sun cream because a May cottage holiday in Wales is not to be missed.
Coastal Cottages Wales Cottage Holidays in May
Warm weather, sunny days, two bank holiday weekends and a wealth of events make Pembrokeshire a must-visit in the month of May.
Early May Bank Holiday – or May Day Weekend
What better way to kick start a month, or a season in that matter, than with a bank holiday weekend? Yes each year, the first Monday of May (unless moved for VE Day celebrations) is annually designated a bank holiday making it the perfect opportunity to whisk your loved ones away for a short break on the Pembrokeshire coast.
Often we’re blessed with a burst of warm sunny days during this weekend, so make sure to bring your bathers as you’re likely to want to spend most of your time at the beach. Venture to Nolton Haven where the sheltered cave gives superb conditions for a sea swim or drive out to Freshwater West with your surfboard to ride the waves. Spend evenings grilling up a feast on the barbecue, snacking on chips overlooking one of Tenby’s beautiful beaches or enjoy a picnic at the top of Carn Llidi overlooking Whitesands Beach as the sunsets.
The beauty of this bank holiday weekend is that you can use it to escape daily life and unwind in stunning surroundings of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, or you can make it an action-packed getaway and worry about resting another time!
Late May Bank Holiday and Half Term
The second bank holiday of the month comes at the end of May within the Half Term break. This is a wonderful time of year for family and even multi-generational holidays - the latter is where the grandparents come along too making a holiday for three or more generations.
As with the first bank holiday, weather is often suitable for beach days building sandcastles, rock pooling and crabbing. If this is your kind of holiday, you might want to head to Dale where you can go crabbing off the pontoon, Newport Sands where the shops are just a short walk away in case you need to buy an emergency new spade or try St Brides where you can discover all sorts of wonderful sea creatures in the water pools between the rocks.
For family days out, head to Folly Farm where you can spot exotic zoo animals such as penguins, giraffes and lions all in the same location as your typical barnyard animals such as pigs, chickens and cows – you can even have a go at milking a goat! Laugh and play in the indoor vintage funfair braving the ghost train, spinning on the waltzers and colliding on the bumper cars.
Wildlife fanatics will know May is the best time to take a tour of Skomer Island for a sighting of comical seabirds, puffins as this is breeding season. Make sure to get to Martins Haven in the early morning to guarantee a space on the boat as tickets cannot be purchased in advance, and don’t forget your camera as you’ll want to capture the movements of these vibrant-beaked birds to show your friends back home.
Tour of Pembrokeshire
Cyclists will want to clear their diary for the Tour of Pembrokeshire, which takes place on a Saturday in mid-May each year. Since 2012, this fantastic sportive event takes place in the North West region of Pembrokeshire taking in rural roads, countryside views and a scenic course like no other.
Nowadays the Tour of Pembrokeshire draws around 1500 cyclists to take part in the event, with four different distances available each with different courses. Depending on which route you sign up for, you may pedal through coastal villages such as Broad Haven and Solva, the rolling green landscape of the Preseli Hills, the harbourside village of Fishguard and the rural communities of Mathry and Trefin.
The distances range between 23.3 miles and 103 miles making them accessible for all abilities of cyclists and if you’re not quite interested in signing up yourself, you can always join in the fun as a supporter for the day cheering on those who zoom past. Spend the day in St Davids where all distances pass through and you can spend the day shopping, dining and visiting the Cathedral before applauding the athletes as they pass through.
Music Festivals
They said that being by blue spaces encourages creative spaces and that’s certainly the case for many living in and visiting Pembrokeshire, so it’s then no wonder that we have our collection of arts festivals throughout the year.
The month of May is hosts not one, but two great annual music festivals; the St Davids Cathedral Music Festival and the Fishguard Folk Festival. The first spans ten days around the half-term whilst the later usually takes place over the late May Bank Holiday.
As you may have guessed the St Davids Cathedral Music Festival takes place in the Cathedral and features a mixture of classical and contemporary performances. Past performers have included the BBC National Orchestra of Wales as well as local groups such as the Goodwick Brass Band and the Haverfordwest Male Voice Choir.
The Fishguard Folk Festival takes place in the quaint harbourside village of Fishguard in north Pembrokeshire. This four-day event kicks off with an opening ceremony in the town square and is followed with a weekend of performances including local musicians and well-known artists.
Don't forget to look up at the intricate ceiling when you visit the Cathedral
Food Festivals
Living in Pembrokeshire, we know that the county is a treasure trove for delicious food, quality drinks and local produce. Dine in the restaurants, pop into the local bakeries or enjoy a drink at any of our rural Welsh pubs and you’re certain to be delighted with what you find. But it’s at the food festivals where you can find a plethora of this local produce all in one place, and we recommend you visit at least once if you can!
Yes, May is definitely a busy month for festivals in Pembrokeshire as alongside the two wonderful music festivals, this month is also home to two food festivals. The relatively new Haverfoodfest takes place in early May, usually the early bank holiday Saturday, whilst The Really Wild Food Festival takes place towards the end of the month.
Haverfoodfest is organised by a collection of local businesses and takes place in Haverfordwest with food stalls lining the streets offering freshly cooked meals and a variety of local produce including chutneys, brownies and even paella in previous years. The Really Wild Food Festival has been held in various venues in the St Davids area, including Oriel Y Parc and St Davids Bishop’s Palace. Here you’ll find any number of delicacies such as locally made Welsh cakes, biscuits made with bugs from The Grub Kitchen and more.
Happy Birthday Pembrokeshire Coast Path!
On the 16th May 1970, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path was officially opened marking it as the first National Trail in Wales. Starting in St Dogmaels, the Coast Path runs for a remarkable 186 miles all the way to Amroth, or vice versa as some prefer to say.
Today, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path is part of the wider Wales Coast Path which totals 870 miles and has become a part of the internationally recognised Appalachian Trail, a worldwide network of walking trails.
If you’re ever walked a stretch of the Coast Path in this part of West Wales, you’ll understand that it’s pretty difficult to fully explain how extraordinary this footpath is. Strap on your walking boots, grab your reusable water bottle (and a packet of Jelly Babies if you’re anything like us) and venture out onto the walk for scenic views second to none.
You’ll follow the rugged cliffsides along lesser-known beaches such as Caerfai Bay and Abermawr Beach, past Wales must-visit landmarks like The Green Bridge of Wales and through tranquil coves like Porthclais and Pwllgwaelod.
If you’re a little nervous about exploring alone, want a little company or fancy an in-depth wildlife walk or an informative history session; why not think about booking a Guided Walk Experience? Our guide is a local expert bursting with knowledge about the local land.
Dylan Day
In the middle of May, the international literary community bow their heads in honour of the late-author Dylan Thomas who brought us famous pieces of work including the radio play for voices, Under Milk Wood and the festive favourite, A Child’s Christmas in Wales
To celebrate, pay a visit to Laugharne, the very village which inspired his make-believe village for Under Milk Wood or pay homage by reading the play in either of the two destinations used as filming locations for the film adaptations – Solva and Fishguard.
The Boathouse where Thomas lived with his wife is open as a visitor attraction where you can learn more about the well-known author or take a picture of the iconic Writing Shed situated nearby, where he wrote his most beloved play.
The Dylan Thomas Sound Project performing at the Boathouse in Laugharne
