Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in Wales, United Kingdom - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-24. Check linked official notices before travel.

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park protects coastal landscapes and communities in southwest Wales, United Kingdom. A visit can center on a short cliff walk, a beach, or several days on the Coast Path. Plan around tides and military-range restrictions: an apparently continuous coastal route is not always passable when you arrive.

Highlights of the Pembrokeshire Coast

• The Coast Path: choose a short section or a circular walk rather than committing to the full 186-mile National Trail.
• Seal watching: watch from the path with binoculars, especially during the late-summer and autumn pupping season.
• Oriel y Parc: start in St Davids with visitor information and exhibitions before exploring the surrounding coast.

Plan a coastal visit

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

The authority’s parking guidance explains payment options. On-site machines take coins; PayByPhone provides a cashless alternative.

Cliff edges, tides, and firing ranges

Stay back from cliff edges, which can crumble. Wear footwear with grip and carry waterproof clothing, drinking water, food, and a map. Keep dogs on a leash near cliffs and livestock. For an emergency on the Coast Path or beaches, call 999 and ask for Coastguard.

Check tide tables before walking near Dale: Sandy Haven and the Gann have tidal crossings that can require substantial road detours. Check current firing notices for Castlemartin and Penally before planning those sections. Obey red flags, guards, and signed diversions. Never touch objects on military land.

Give seals and coastal habitats space

Keep off beaches occupied by seal pups. Keep dogs away from seals and reduce noise. Move back if an animal reacts to you. A lone pup may have a mother feeding offshore, so do not approach it or try to return it to the sea.

Book overnight stays with a campsite

The Coast Path crosses mostly private land. Camping outside an established campsite needs the landowner’s permission. Book campsites early for summer or bank holiday stays. Sleeping overnight in a vehicle is not permitted in National Park Authority car parks; a parking ticket is not permission to camp.

Maps, location, and coastal access

Choose the part of the coast you want to visit before selecting parking or accommodation. Oriel y Parc in St Davids is a visitor information base, not a single entrance to the whole national park. The Coast Path follows the coast between St Dogmaels and Amroth, with inland alternatives where necessary.

At Amroth, the authority currently lists a cliff-path closure following a landslide. Follow the signed road alternative while the route awaits realignment. Check Trail News before walking this section.

Use the official Coast Path planning guidance to check tides, range access, and route choices. Acorn waymarks identify the National Trail. Check the return bus timetable before starting a one-way walk; summer and winter services differ.

Nearby protected landscapes by road

Gower National Landscape, beyond Swansea, is a coastal option when driving east from Pembrokeshire. Bannau Brycheiniog National Park offers an inland mountain alternative farther east. Both require a separate drive; choose based on your next destination rather than treating them as adjacent sections of this park.

Walk a section, watch seals, or explore St Davids

A short out-and-back walk avoids dependence on a return bus. For a longer linear route, arrange transport first and leave enough time for climbs and detours. The full Coast Path is a multiday undertaking, not a level promenade.

For wildlife viewing, choose a safe place on the path rather than descending to a pupping beach. Atlantic gray seals occur around the coast throughout the year. White-coated pups may be visible on undisturbed beaches from August through November.

Information centers and services

Oriel y Parc has visitor information, a shop, exhibition spaces, and a gallery. Services along the Coast Path are unevenly spaced. Carry water for your planned section rather than expecting a refill point at every beach or headland.

About Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

Protected since 1952

The national park was designated in 1952. The current National Park Authority was established in 1996. Its purposes combine landscape, wildlife, and cultural conservation with public understanding and enjoyment. The designation covers a lived-in landscape, not land owned entirely by the authority.

Atlantic gray seals

The coast provides breeding and resting places for seals as well as waters where they feed. View them from a distance and let them move freely between beach and sea. Wildlife viewing should not interrupt resting or nursing animals.

Visitor information in St Davids

Oriel y Parc National Park Discovery Centre, St Davids, Pembrokeshire SA62 6NW. Phone: +44 1437 720392. Email: [email protected]. Contact the center for help choosing a coastal walk or local information.