The West Coast Beano

Sandy beaches, fishing villages, rugged cliffs, rolling country lanes, ancient standing stones, the cathedral city of St David’s, and even a small rainforest!

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park runs along the far west coast of Wales. As we cycle along quiet lanes we get tantalising glimpses of the sea: picturesque fishing harbours, towering cliffs pounded by Atlantic breakers and broad, sandy beaches. Inland from the coast is an ancient and powerful landscape dotted with prehistoric standing stones and steeped in Celtic and Arthurian legend.

Our rides visit the surfing beaches of Whitesands and Newgale, Carreg Samson pre-historic cromlech, the medieval cathedral of St. David’s (Britain’s smallest city), the harbours of Porthgain and Abercastle, numerous coastal villages and the isolated lighthouse at Strumble Head.

Inland we travel through green countryside, discovering working mills and even cycling down the runway of an old airfield. On one day we head to the dramatic Mynydd Preseli, the Preseli Mountains, and discover ancient standing stones, spectacular views and the site of a forgotten (and short-lived) Victorian spa town.

The terrain is varied: there are rolling hills and some long flatter stretches inland, while our many coastal visits sometimes involve a short, steep descent into a cove or a fishing village and a short climb out again. Our day in the Preselis involves a few more challenging climbs but they’re definitely worth the effort.

Wednesday is an optional cycle-free day: you could take a boat trip around the RSPB wildlife reserve of Ramsey Island, walk along part of the dramatic Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, visit some castles, or take a short ride down to Newgale and spend the day on the beach. Or we can give you the route for an optional longer ride.

As always on a Bicycle Beano, the rides are designed to give a number of options for distance, with suggested detours and short cuts to suit a range of abilities.