North or South Pembrokeshire: Choosing Your Base
The county splits into two distinct characters, and the right base depends on what you want the days to look like. North Pembrokeshire, from Fishguard and Newport down through the Preseli Hills to Crymych and Boncath, is quieter, darker at night, and better for walking, wildlife, and genuine remoteness. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs through it, the Preseli Hills offer inland walks with Iron Age forts and open moorland, and the small towns have enough pubs and shops without any tourist congestion. Most of the farm stays and barn conversions on this page sit in the north.
South Pembrokeshire, around Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Solva, and Pembroke Dock, is more accessible. Haverfordwest is the county town with supermarkets, restaurants, and the A40 running through it. Solva has a harbour, independent cafes, and the coast path within walking distance. Milford Haven and Herbrandston put you close to Sandy Haven Beach and the boat trips to Skomer Island for puffins. If you want to combine a hot tub break with St Davids, the beaches, and eating out, the south is the easier base.
Where to Go on a Pembrokeshire Hot Tub Break
Pembrokeshire roads are mostly single carriageway, so a 20-mile drive can take 40 minutes. From the northern properties, Poppit Sands and Newport Sands are closest, with Whitesands near St Davids a short drive west. From the south, Barafundle Bay and Marloes Sands are the standout beaches, and the boat to Skomer Island leaves from Martin's Haven near Marloes between April and September. St Davids and the Pembrokeshire Coast Path are reachable from either base, with the sections around Stackpole and St Non's Bay good starting points if you have not walked the path before.
The season changes what you get. Puffins on Skomer peak between May and July, seal pups appear on the beaches around Marloes and Ramsey from September through November, and Cardigan Bay dolphins are most visible in summer. Winter is quieter and cheaper, with darker skies that suit the stargazing properties on this page and fewer crowds on the coast path. The hot tub earns its keep in the colder months, when the contrast between a wet coastal walk and a warm soak is the whole point of the trip.