Situated in West Wales, Pembroke or Pembrokeshire is one of those tourist areas that charm through the calm and tranquility of the historic atmosphere felt here. A relatively small town with an impressive array of tourist sights, Pembroke is most famous for its medieval castle where king Henry VII was born.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The Pembrokeshire Coast Park is the UK’s only National coastal park and includes the areas of Fishguard, Haverfordwest, St. David’s and Tenby. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a famous breed of dog from the area and the Welsh Corgi League was set up in 1938 to promote best practises in relation to breeding and training of the dogs. The Welsh corgi league has a worldwide membership and is the largest of it’s kind.
The entire settlement at Pembroke is related to the early development of the Christian Church in the area, and the two cannot be separated. All you have to do is enter the amazing Cathedral in St. Davids, officially Britains smallest city to see at once how true this is. Pembroke’s popularity in the region can be traced to the presence of the purple-colored sandstone Cathedral. At the time when it was built, the founders were intent upon it not standing out, given the fact the south of Wales was prone to invasion raids.
One other great advantage of Pembroke is that it offers tourists full access to the sea, with plenty of watersports activities available for most of the year. Pembrokeshire is reknowned for its seabirds and it also boasts acres of golden sand, pretty coves and villages. Tenby is another historic seaside resort within the Pembroke area whose 13th century mediaeval walls are mostly stll intact. This is a very popular local holiday destination.
Another sight you cannot miss is within walking distance on the Coastal Path is the chapel at St. Govan’s. There are quite a few legends about this place, that delight tourists, such as the fact that the number of steps 52 in all is not the same when going down and up again. Built by St Govan, apparently after he found refuge here when allegedly chased by pirates. The surrounding area of St. Govan’s chapel is a great place for climbing, if you feel confident.
The Impressive Pembroke Castle
Next sight on our visiting tour is Cefn-y-Dre, one of the historic homes in Pembroke, dating back to 1512. It is now a B&B country house accommodation, located on a hill above Fishguard. At the beginning of the 20th century around 1910 the house is said to have had strong links with the family of Lloyd George.
Throughout the year you’ll find plenty of festivals to enjoy in Pembroke, there’s no time for getting bored. Some of the festivals follow the traditional line, some others are quite new. The ancient game of Cnapan used to be played by up to 2000 people, virtually the whole community, according to the local tradition. Another event is the 5 mile Rebecca Race, known locally as “Ras Beca” that is held every year in August, commemorating the riots in the 1840s.
As for local cuisine, you’ll find Pembroke a real treat. The local sausages and pies wear the Pembrokeshire Produce mark. You must definitely try the speckled fruit bread of Wales and the yeast cakes traditional on New Years Eve. Furthermore, since it is one of the finest fishing areas in Britain, Pembroke offers local delicacies such as oysters, that used to be farmed on the Cleddau estuary ever since the Tudor times. You may also choose from various fish dishes of salmon, trout and sea trout also called sewin. Bon appetit!