Things to Do in Pembrokeshire for Free
Plan a budget-friendly holiday in Wales
Easily keep to a budget with our top tips and recommendations on free things to do in Pembrokeshire during your next staycation.
There’s a common myth that holidays can be expensive things and whilst we appreciate that you will naturally incur some costs along the way, that’s not to say that you can’t save a few pennies if you’re willing to be a little savvy with your planning. To give you a helping hand on how to keep your holiday spending at bay, we’ve put together this useful guide on free things to do in Pembrokeshire. And before we start, let us say this - there are so many fantastic things to do without spending a penny!
Free Pembrokeshire Activity #1: Have a Beach Day
First up is exploring the coastline. Being a National Park, this is the most obvious choice and quite frankly, this is our top recommendation whether you’re looking to spend or keep to a budget. It’s a must!
There’s just so much to be seen that you could easily waste away seven days (or longer!) journeying across the varied landscape of this seaside county without even seeing a fraction of everything on offer. The beaches are one of the main attractions in Pembrokeshire as the bays are made up of soft white sands and clear blue shores. Some beaches have high pebble banks to climb over, like Newgale Beach, whilst others are backed by intricate networks of grassy sand dunes, like Freshwater West. Beaches like Saundersfoot are set alongside bustling villages and towns whilst others such as Traeth Llyfn Beach are so far off the beaten track that there are no facilities nearby.
Leave the purse at home for a day at the beach where your time can be filled with leisurely swims and sunbathing with a book. Bring a cricket set for beach game afternoons or pack your surfboard if you’re a watersports enthusiast. Some larger bays have shops and hire centres if you do feel like treating yourself to a new rounders set or need to hire a wetsuit.
Free Pembrokeshire Activity #2: Walk the Coast Path
Stick with the coast for walking adventures and head out on the Wales Coast Path; there are 186 miles of it in Pembrokeshire so there's plenty to explore. You can pick the route up from pretty much anywhere along the coastline, at the beaches or seaside towns and harbours. The best thing is that it runs in both directions so you can head left one day and right another.
If you look at a map of the area, you’ll find the county’s outline is rather rugged resulting in various headlands jutting out into the sea. More often than not, these very headlands provide unspoiled circular walks to discover so you can check out views of the oceans and countryside. Our favourites include Dinas Island (spoiler, not an island), St Davids Head and the Stackpole Estate.
Whether you’re visiting the beach or heading out for a coastline hike, you might want to take note of the local buses as they may be cheaper/easier than parking.
Free Pembrokeshire Activity #3: Go Sightseeing
A vast selection of Pembrokeshire’s best-loved monuments and attractions are all free to visit so of course, they deserve a mention. The only thing you’ll be paying out for here is transport if you aren’t staying nearby or if you want to try and visit them all. But once you get there, all are free with the option for spending via donations, gift shops, cafes and guided tours if you want to. We can even help you put together your own sightseeing trail, just ask our Concierge team.
So where will you go first? St Davids Cathedral in the UK’s smallest city is certainly one to tick off the bucket list, as is St Govans Chapel built into the cliffs near Bosherston. Pentre Ifan is a burial chamber nestled in the Preseli Hills whilst Fishguard Fort played a significant role in the last invasion of Britain. Strumble Head Lighthouse is a mecca for photographers whilst Dobby’s Grave at Freshwater West is where the Potterheads go. Tenby Lifeboat Station is also a popular destination in the heart of the resort where you can go to see the lifeboat up close (unless it’s out on call) and learn more about the awe-inspiring work of the RNLI.
Free Pembrokeshire Activity #4: Attend a Free Event
As well as sightseeing places, you might also wish to sightsee some of the best events hosted by the district depending on when you’re visiting. The streets and shores of Pembrokeshire erupt with activity and there are events to suit everyone’s interests. Music lovers will appreciate the free Blues Trail during November’s Tenby Blues Fest and Aberjazz Fringe performances in August in Fishguard. Sports fans will want to join the crowds supporting Ironman athletes in September and Long Course Weekend participants in July (both Tenby) whilst culture vultures may want to take to the streets of Cardigan for a parade of horses and vintage vehicles in April’s Barley Saturday.
Free Pembrokeshire Activity #5: Head to a Free-Entry Attraction
As for other affordable attractions to take note of, you might want to schedule a day at the Welsh Wildlife Centre and Teifi Marshes in Cardigan. In terms of nature, this facility is a haven with resident kingfishers, otters and wading birds to name but a few. Open five days a week, you can take a leisurely wander through the grounds learning all about the natural habitats along the nature trails. Take in the display rooms for interactive and film exhibits before letting the kids run wild at the play area as you set up the picnic. Note, parking here does cost £4 (all day) unless you are a local or a member though you can walk on foot across from Cardigan.
Llys Y Fran in the Preseli Hills is another firm favourite for a freebie day out with an incredible expanse of over 350 acres of land to explore. The walking trails on offer here are some of the best inland paths around, taking you right the way around the reservoir with fantastic views of the working dam. Mountain bikers will be in their element with over 9 miles of trails; you can bring your own or hire bikes if you need to plus there’s a repair centre in case you need assistance.
You may struggle to tear the little ones away from the adventure playground where there are swings, climbing frames and even a mini zip wire to try out. There’s even a free dog agility course with a seesaw, weave posts and catwalk. Llys Y Fran really is great fun for all the family! Picnic sites can be found across the park though there is a cafe onsite if you want to pick up hot/cold refreshments.
Top Tips:
Book accommodation nearby to a beach or right on the Coast Path and you needn’t even pay for travel to reach them. Give us a shout if you need recommendations.
Making use of public transport can eliminate parking costs, particularly if you have a free bus pass!
Check out the local library to pick up your beach reads for free.
Pack your own reusable water bottle as lots of places now have free refill stations.
Packing a picnic can be a much more affordable option than eating out, though we do say to make sure to carry change for a warming coffee or refreshing ice cream depending on the season.
