Tenby Visit

[Rutland23]

Planning a trip to Tenby, South Wales in mid May.

We are travelling there by train, and intend to use Tenby as a base, using public transport to get around.

Any suggestions welcomed, rail related or otherwise.

As I am accompanied by the Boss, some non rail outings would be diplomatic.

Regards

Ian

 

[davews]

I had a trip down there in 2021 which may give you some ideas:

Tenby

Not sure how possible they are by public transport but the trips to Laugharne Castle and especially St Davids were highlights.

 

[Gloster]

There is a council site which you can find by googling Pembrokeshire buses. Laugharne is in Carmarthenshire, so you will have to do another search for it.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

For a short trip you have Saundersfoot and Manorbier (Castle) - in the traditional manner the stations are nowhere near the settlements so best to use the bus!

For a circular trip, train to Pembroke, bus over the Cleddau Bridge to Milford Haven, then train back to Tenby via Whitland (or v.v.).

If you are into walking you can dip into the Pembrokeshire Coast Path at various points using the bus or train - magnificent beaches and cliffs.

Boat trips to Caldey Island from Tenby Harbour.

 

[Dai Corner]

The TfW Explore West Wales ticket is £15/day (less any Railcard discount) and valid at Carmarthen and all stations west. Also on buses in the area.

Explore West Wales | Transport for Wales

Transport for Wales | Buy Cheap Train Tickets and Check Train Times

tfw.wales

 

[Rutland23]

Thanks, all.

Walking any sort of major distance is out, due to the Boss not being as mobile as she would like.

I have been googling away, as you do.

Pendine, with the Speed Museum, looks interesting.


Caldey Island is a must do, for the Boss.

Otherwise, I am still open to suggestions.

Regards

Ian

 

[trentside]

The castles at Pembroke, Manobeir and Carew are worth a visit. Laugharne is accessible by bus but you’d have to do the 351 up to Pendine and change there for (I think) the 222. Both are operated by Taf Valley as far as I’m aware.

Saundersfoot is lovely and well worth a visit. Easier done by bus. The Boathouse has always been a nice spot for lunch there, a nice menu and friendly service.

If you like your beer Harbwr Brewery in Tenby is worth a visit.

 

[Bayum]

Tenby station is a fair walk away from Tenby proper and hilly from what I can recall.

Saundersfoot itself is beautiful as is Tenby beach and I’d recommend half a day at either.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Laugherne is a splendid place - reccomend a stay at Browns Hotel , with luck you can get a seat in the bay window where Dylan Thomas supped a few modest pints while gathering information for his writings and poems.

Ditto Llanstephan for the castle and a fine obseravation on passing trains across the estuary at Ferryside. There is occassionally a ferry in summer (not sure now though)

 

[trentside]

Tenby station is a fair walk away from Tenby proper and hilly from what I can recall.

Saundersfoot itself is beautiful as is Tenby beach and I’d recommend half a day at either.

If you walk via Warren Street it’s a bit of an incline but not the worst. Brings you out by the town walls. It will depend on where OPs accommodation is as to how many hills they’ll have to traverse!

 

[Russel]

Following this thread with interest as Tenby is somewhere I'm looking at visiting this year.

 

[bspahh]

The Pembroke Dock Hertiage Centre is worth visiting. Its closed until March 30th. It has stuff on Short Sunderland flying boats, an HMS Erebus exhibition (from June 8th) and the Millennium Falcon.

My wife liked it and didn't have any specific interest beforehand.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Following this thread with interest as Tenby is somewhere I'm looking at visiting this year.

I refer the honourable gentleman to a post of mine from 2018 regarding accommodation in Tenby:

( Ignore the irrelevant text in the preview window - that's because the forum software can only show the first post on the page; thew actual link does take you to the correct post ).

Accommodation suggestions and reviews

Has anyone stayed at the Station Hotel at Hucknall? I'm staying there next month, any info would be great. Thanks.

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Flandrian]

I'm following this thread with interest, as I've been holidaying in the area (Saundersfoot, usually) for over 50 years. Saundersfoot is indeed a lovely spot. Picking up on the mobility issue, I think it worth mentioning that Saundersfoot station is quite some distance from the village, along narrow and busy lanes with no pavement. As Trentside mentioned, it is (far, far) easier to reach Saundersfoot from Tenby by bus.

Saundersfoot also provides access to what must be the flattest stretch of the Pembrokeshire coastal path. From the harbour (built to serve the local coal and iron industries) the course of the old narrow-guage railway runs along The Strand, through some tunnels, hugging the coast to Wiseman's Bridge, where it turns inland towards the foundry at Kilgetty (plenty of industrial archaeology to see). The path has a good, hard surface from Saundersfoot to WB, and is still good, but unpaved and a little uneven, towards Kilgetty.

Llansteffan Castle, as mentioned above, has excellent views but is quite a stiff walk up from the village car park.

 

[Russel]

I refer the honourable gentleman to a post of mine from 2018 regarding accommodation in Tenby:

( Ignore the irrelevant text in the preview window - that's because the forum software can only show the first post on the page; thew actual link does take you to the correct post ).

Accommodation suggestions and reviews

Has anyone stayed at the Station Hotel at Hucknall? I'm staying there next month, any info would be great. Thanks.

www.railforums.co.uk

Thanks, but unfortunately I'll probably only be making a day trip.

 

[Topological]

Tenby is an excellent place to visit, though I always drive there.

The town itself is nice and compact, which makes getting around easy. The fact that you go from the North Beach to the South Beach so easily is also a nice feature, especially given they are such different beaches. The only issue is that to get along the South Beach requires the tide to be partially out, at high tide the sea cuts off the level route and you need to go over the cliff tops.

Although the road goes close, I never went into Saundersfoot. Plenty of good reviews for the place though.

 

[Bald Rick]

Tenby station is a fair walk away from Tenby proper and hilly from what I can recall.

It’s 400 metres from the station to the High Street and the seafront.

Tenby is wonderful. Noting your partner’s mobility issues, the coast path is out really. However you might want to visit the Bosherston Lily ponds, which are usually spectacular in May. Up until the May half term there is essentially one bus a day for the return trip, Thursdays / Saturdays only. Out mid morning, back mid afternoon, gives plenty of time in Bosherston to (slowly) take in the place and a late lunch at the St Govans Inn. Well timed connections from/to the train at Pembroke Dock. Quite a long journey though by public transport though- it’s less than half an hour by car from Tenby.

 

[pdq]

As a proud born and bred Tenby lad, though an exile since 1991, it's heart-warming to read the love for my town. I honestly didn't fully appreciate its charm until taking my children there. In particular, I was swimming on the north beach, the tide was coming in and the sun was glinting off the sea. I looked over towards the harbour and just thought 'wow'. Only at that point did I start to see what thousands of tourists had been appreciating at for ages.

Back to the question... I'd recommend a trip to Narberth (3 stops east from Tenby on the train). It's a lovely market town with lots of independent shops and galleries. You'll only need a couple of hours so ideal if it's a bit damp one day. I'll also especially second Caldey Island, Manorbier Castle, Carew Castle, and Bosherston.

The main problem with relying on public transport is the low frequency of most buses (and trains are every 2 hrs). This does make stopping off in a little village for a look round (I recommend Penally and St Florence) a bit impractical as you'll be waiting a long time to carry on with your trip. I'm assuming you're retired (apols if not) so be aware that your English bus pass will not be valid in Wales.

 

[Bald Rick]

I recommend Penally and St Florence)

Seconded for those two (I have stayed in the former and have family in the latter). Fortunately both are close to Tenby so taxi-fare reasonable.

 

[Rutland23]

Thanks for all the above suggestions.

The Boss is mobile, but long walks are out.

As to being retired, she is but I am not. However, I am in a job which is the next best thing to it, Crossing Keeper!

As I work for Network Rail, train travel is much cheaper than driving all the way from Lincolnshire, hence the use of public transport when we get there.

Looking forward to the trip, and having had a fairly brief visit there last year, it whetted my appetite.

One again, many thanks for the suggestions

Regards

Ian

 

[Anonymous10]

Planning a trip to Tenby, South Wales in mid May.

We are travelling there by train, and intend to use Tenby as a base, using public transport to get around.

Any suggestions welcomed, rail related or otherwise.

As I am accompanied by the Boss, some non rail outings would be diplomatic.

Regards

Ian

If you want to learn about the area a trip to the museum on the hill is worth while. Theres artworks by augustus and gwen john, among other local artists. Displays on the local railway, archeaology, geology, rnli station and the towns history.

 

[Anonymous10]

Thanks for all the above suggestions.

The Boss is mobile, but long walks are out.

As to being retired, she is but I am not. However, I am in a job which is the next best thing to it, Crossing Keeper!

As I work for Network Rail, train travel is much cheaper than driving all the way from Lincolnshire, hence the use of public transport when we get there.

Looking forward to the trip, and having had a fairly brief visit there last year, it whetted my appetite.

One again, many thanks for the suggestions

Regards

Ian

Train travel in county is limited.

2 hourly train service, with the connections to milford and fishguard not being great in whitland.

Whilst buses may cost a little theyre not too expensive. If you have a concessionary pass they should be valid, otherwise its a max of £3 / single £5.60 / return and £6 for a day ticket on first buses - they run the below buses.


349 tenby - haverfordwest via pembroke

381 tenby - haverfordwest via narberth (i recommend a stop here)

AS well as the 302, 322, 356

There is also a ocassional service by taf valley to pendine (a lovely museum there too) this being the 351.


A ranger ticket for all the county used to be £10 - dont think thats changed.

 

[Bald Rick]

Thanks for all the above suggestions.

The Boss is mobile, but long walks are out.

As to being retired, she is but I am not. However, I am in a job which is the next best thing to it, Crossing Keeper!

As I work for Network Rail, train travel is much cheaper than driving all the way from Lincolnshire, hence the use of public transport when we get there.

Looking forward to the trip, and having had a fairly brief visit there last year, it whetted my appetite.

One again, many thanks for the suggestions

Regards

Ian

Happy to help. I have travelled a lot, and in my experience this is the most beautiful part of the country, and right up there around the world. And you are going at the best time of year - likely good weather, and relatively few tourists.

Forgot to say, The Hope & Anchor is the best pub in Tenby, with both the breweries in a dead heat for the silver medal.

 

[Anonymous10]

Happy to help. I have travelled a lot, and in my experience this is the most beautiful part of the country, and right up there around the world. And you are going at the best time of year - likely good weather, and relatively few tourists.

Forgot to say, The Hope & Anchor is the best pub in Tenby, with both the breweries in a dead heat for the silver medal.

Ill have to recommend the harbwr brewery tap room , the smell of the hops really makes the atmosphere.

 

[Bald Rick]

Ill have to recommend the harbwr brewery tap room , the smell of the hops really makes the atmosphere.

Sea Bass is a great Ale.

The Tenby Brewing Co. round the corner is also great.

 

[trentside]

Definitely partial to a pint of Sea Bass!

My wife enjoyed the Rocky Bottom lager last time we visited as she’s not an ale drinker.