A winter weekend guide to Tenby

Every year during the winter we head off to Tenby for no other reason than to slow down, enjoy the moment and step away from things like social media for a few days and just enjoy the simple pleasures that are abundant in this beautiful West Wales costal town. We purposely go off peak because this small village becomes incredibly busy during the summer months but in stark contrast can be the perfect slow and mindful weekend staycation at other times of the year, which is why we keep going back.

If you are not familiar with Tenby it's a pretty harbour town on the Pembrokeshire Coast and is famous for it's colourful houses that line the shore as well as the boats that sail from the harbour to Caldey Island which houses a working Monastery. Tenby is also steeped in history with the earliest recording of a settlement there from the 9th century with various remains from past years left behind such as stone-wall fortification on Castle Hill, 13th century medieval town walls and 15th century Tudor Merchants house.

As we have visited a few times during the off peak period I thought I would share my ideal relaxing weekend break to this wonderful part of Wales and simple ways to reconnect and slow yourself
down.

What to see

Explore South Beach and Castle Beach

Every year we take a stroll through Tenby, pick up a pastry along the way and head down to South Beach to explore some of the little caves and inlets as well as find pretty sea shells, we usually spend a good two hours just enjoying the fresh sea breeze, building sand castles and taking it all in before getting some ice-cream (yes even in winter). At low tide you can also get really close to St Catherines Fort which apparent is back open at various times to the public.

Take in the view from Castle Hill

Stairs run all the way down to Castle beach so after you have enjoy some time in the sand take a gentle stroll up to the top of Castle Hill which is a fantastic vantage point not only of the coastline but also pretty much the whole of Tenby as it gives you a 360 degree view. There is also a small tower which is the remains of Tenby Castle a long with one or two large cannons which the kids of course love climbing on top of.

Tenby Museum and Art Gallery

Discover what makes Tenby the place is is today at this small but perfectly formed museum and gallery space which a variety of exhibitions and family friendly features and is also free for children under 16. This is also to be the oldest independent museum in Wales having been established in 1878 and happens to be on top of Castle Hill

Visit the RNLI Lifeboat Station

This fairly new and modern Lifeboat station is can be found between the North and South beaches and is an easy walk with beautiful views. The station is classes as an "explore" lifeboat station and encourages visitors to come and see the work they do. When boats are not on call their is free access in the summer months and a public view gallery open on weekends plus you can do a pre-booked tour in the winters.

Discover Pembroke Castle

Not technically in Tenby but as it's less than 20mins drive away I highly recommend this family friendly historical attraction as it's a fantastic example of a Medieval Castle and is the largest privately-owned castle in Wales. You can climb one of the many round towers for breathtaking views or head down the 55-step spiral stairwell to the large limestone cave below the castle known as Wogan Cavern. You can easily spend 2-3hrs here discovering every nook and cranny and their is also a nice cafe on-site

Places to Eat

Tenby has a real array of places to eat from low-key cafes to fine dining and you are really spoilt for choice but here are my favourite places to grab a bite to eat in this cute coastal town.

Start the day at Loafley

The past two times we have visited Tenby we have made sure to stop into Loafley for some pastries and freshly baked bread to take home. This family owned bakery and delicatessens has an array of wonderful local treats as well as in-house baked cakes and loaves. They now also have a sister cafe called The Mooring.

Ice-creams and smoothies from The Dennis Cafe

The Dennis Cafe is located right on Castle Beach and we always make sure to stop by there are a few hours on the beach. Depending on the weather we will just grab a cone of local Ice-cream and sit on the beach, although if the weather is not that favourable they have the best view from their seats where you can enjoy one of their legendary doorstop toasties or delicious smoothies.

Hipster food on the go - Indie Burger

Indie burger offers up American street style burgers where they don't hold back on the extras, saying that they also have plenty of veggie and vegan options and has a young and fun atmosphere using Welsh produce and on a mission to serve up the best burgers in town! A nice little instagrammable spot that also delivers and is great for those who want casual and quick dining.

The Qube Restaurant - Elegant Family Dining

Qube was 2018 Food Awards Regional Winner and I can see why with it's stylish but welcoming interior, well thought out menu using local produce, knowledgable staff who are more than happy to accommodate families, in fact kids eat free from 5-6pm daily. We enjoyed a lunch at Qube and enjoyed their Mezze board and warming soup with some fresh salad, the perfect stop off point for a busy day.

Comforting Pub Grub at The Lifeboat Tavern 

We have gone to The Lifeboat Tavern for three years in a row and have never been disappointed. The atmosphere is always friendly and on cold days they have the log burner going and the bar is made out of an actual wooden lifeboat. I usually opt for the massive greek salad which comes with an abundance of olives and feta and the food is always pretty large proportions but doesn't scrimp on quality ingredients and if your feeling brave they also have a burger challenge or epic proportions! They are also very family friendly and often have live music on in the early evenings.

Big Greek Salad at The Lightboat Tavern 

Where to stay

There are plenty of places to stay in and around Tenby and it all depends on budget and what you are looking for but here are a few places we have either stayed or are looking at staying at soon.

Perfect Location - Premier Inn Tenby

You may think it's a bit of a boring choice but as most of Tenby offers B&B's or older stay hotels this fairly new Premier Inn is a great spot for families and those on a budget who want somewhere really central as this hotel has the perfect location less than a minute away from restaurants, shops and the coastline. As this hotel is less than 5yrs old its very clean with a modern interior and restaurant on-site and has parking right next door so is perfect for those who want a great base where they can walk to everything.

Stay First Class in The Jet Star Plane 

The Jet Star is around a 10 minute drive from Tenby town centre and is unique to say the least and I mean how many people can say they slept in a plane from the seventies? There is even a lit up bar area and the cockpit has an xbox with some flight games. The great thing about the Jet Star is it's suitable for a family and even though it's technically "glamping" it's powered by mains electricity and has heating, making it a fun place to stay all year round.

Direct Beach access at Sunnycove Apartment

If your staying for a long weekend and want to have a space to make your own then 1Sunnycove could be the perfect spot as it's situated right on North Beach with a beautiful balcony overlooking the sandy beach where you can enjoy a cup of coffee. Nearly every window in this apartment has sea views and there are steps that lead down directly onto North Beach below.

Chill out at Bluestone Resort

Again not technically in Tenby but in the neighbouring town of Narberth lies the every popular family resort of Bluestone. We have visited Bluestone twice and have always had a fantastic time as it encourages getting outdoors and enjoying what is on your doorstep as much as possible and with it being only a 20min drive from Tenby Town centre it's a great option for families especially if your planning longer than a weekend away. There is also a fantastic pool and leisure centre on-site as well as a Spa and various places to eat and drink - you can read a review of our last stay here.

I hope this mini guide to Tenby has inspired you to jump in the car (or train) and head to explore more of this West Wales costal town, you won't be disappointed.

I have no affiliation with any brands mentioned within this post and paid for our trip in full. This is not an AD