How difficult is the Pembrokeshire Coast Path?

The first 1.2 km are flat at about 24 m along Amroth. The climb then gains 53 m to 77 m at km 1.8, and the ground holds 48 to 75 m to km 2.5 before dropping to Wiseman's Bridge at km 2.8. From km 3.2 to km 4.1 the path is flat at sea level between Wiseman's Bridge and Coppet Hall. Saundersfoot has a Spar at km 4.9 and a Tesco Express at km 5.1, both within 40 m. After the Cliff Restaurant at St Brides Hotel at km 5.3 there is no food within reach of the path for 5.3 km, until Teife Cafe at km 10.6; the nearest shop is New Hedges, 750 m inland at km 9.3. Beyond Saundersfoot the walking is wooded cliff with repeated pulls, rising to 75 m behind Trevayne at km 7.6. The last climb tops out at 86 m at Allen's View, km 10.0, the section's highest ground, then loses 68 m in a kilometre into Tenby.

Navigation: Rock falls after Storm Ciaran closed the path between Wiseman's Bridge and Coppet Hall; Pembrokeshire County Council's notice of 5 December 2023 reported it shut, and it reopened in August 2024. A further slip between the Coppet Hall and Wiseman's Bridge tunnels closed the lower path again: the council's notice of 16 January 2025 kept the top path open and shut the lower path to Coppet Hall beach, so as of that notice the beach was not the way round. Check the council's current position before relying on either line. Monkstone Point is a spur; the line stays behind the headland.

In poor weather: This stretch faces east and south east across Carmarthen Bay, so the prevailing south westerly arrives over the land rather than off the water, and from Saundersfoot onward the climbs are through woodland. The one genuinely exposed ground is between km 1.9 and km 2.5, held between 48 and 75 m; the high point at km 10.0 is at Allen's View.

Escape options: Kilgetty station is 2.2 km inland from km 3.2 and Saundersfoot station 1.7 km inland from km 4.3, both on the West Wales branch line to Whitland, where it joins the South Wales main line. Tenby station is 347 m off the path at km 11.0, on the same line.

Out of Tenby the path runs behind South Beach and The Burrows, km 12.3, to Penally, then climbs onto Giltar Point, km 14.5, with Caldey and St Margaret's Island offshore. Past Proud Giltar, km 17.0, and Lydstep Haven, km 18.2, it reaches Skrinkle Haven, km 20.2, and a shoulder of 68.1 m at km 21.1, then bends inland around Old Castle Head, km 21.4, which is not the headland of the same name at the St Dogmaels end, km 285.3. Past Presipe it drops to the beach under Manorbier Castle, km 23.6. From Freshwater East, km 29.0, the line reaches 70.3 m at km 32.7, the section's high point, and loses all of it into Stackpole Quay, 1.8 m at km 33.7. Beyond it a limestone shelf runs past Barafundle Bay, Stackpole Head, km 35.7, and Broad Haven South, km 38.1, the beach and not the village at km 153.3. From St Govan's Head, km 40.4, the line runs above Huntsman's Leap, Bullslaughter Bay and the Green Bridge of Wales, then turns inland at Stack Rocks, km 45.6, for the road past Merrion to Warren, km 48.7.

Navigation: From St Govan's, km 40.4, to Stack Rocks, km 45.6, the Coast Path crosses Castlemartin Range East. The range is not always open, so check the current firing notice before you rely on it; firing times are on 01646 662367. When it is shut you leave the coast and walk east on the inland road line. Range West, west of Stack Rocks, is never open to the general public except on guided walks, so the turn inland at Stack Rocks is the route and not a diversion.

In poor weather: The two high points are modest, 68.1 m at km 21.1 above Skrinkle Haven and 70.3 m at km 32.7, so the edge matters more than the height. The southern limestone gives vertical cliffs of 30 to 40 m, weathered into caves, blowholes and arches. Huntsman's Leap, km 41.2, is the Castlemartin one, not the St Bride's cleft at km 142.8.

Escape options: Penally station, 441 m off the path at km 13.7, is the easiest exit. Manorbier station is 2 km inland at km 23.7 and Lamphey 2.4 km from Freshwater East, km 29.0, all three on the Whitland to Pembroke Dock branch. The Coastal Cruiser 387/388 runs roughly Pembroke to Freshwater East; in winter it is Thursdays and Saturdays only, 1 October 2026 to 28 May 2027. Bosherston lies 1.2 km inland at km 38.5. The Manorbier youth hostel is at Skrinkle Haven, km 20.0, not at Manorbier.

From Warren, just outside the boundary at km 48.7, the Coast Path follows the official inland line through Castlemartin at km 50.6, 32 m off, because Range West, the army ground, carries no coast path and no public right of way. The section high point is 63.5 m at km 49.1, and the line is near 49 m by km 53.2, then drops to 8.5 m at km 54.0 and 3.1 m by km 54.3, running behind Freshwater West, a National Trust beach 245 m off the path, with Dobby's Grave at km 54.5, 43 m off. It stays flat at 3.7 m to km 55.2, then climbs back to the coast, and the steepest step of the section, about 1:5, comes between km 59.6 and 59.7. Past West Angle Bay at km 63, Thorne Island at 63.7 and Chapel Bay Fort at 64.7, the path reaches Angle at km 67.5, 295 m off, then Fort Popton at km 73.3, Bullwell Bay at 74.4 and Pwllcrochan at 77.1.

Navigation: Range West is not normally accessible to the public and has no public right of way. The Ministry of Defence gives unexploded ordnance as the reason and says access is only through guided walks organised by the National Park Authority. No firing programme changes that, which is why the inland line through Castlemartin is the Coast Path here.

In poor weather: Exposure is concentrated between km 55.3 and 61.4, where the path returns to the open coast after the low ground behind Freshwater West and carries the section's steepest step, about 1:5 between km 59.6 and 59.7. From km 54.3 to 55.2 the line runs at 3.1 to 3.7 m behind the beach, low and open. Range West is shut whatever the weather, so bad conditions open no shortcut.

Escape options: There is no food between km 33.7 and 62.8 and no shop between km 21.1 and 84.6. Toilets at km 54.2. Wavecrest at km 62.8, 23 m off. Angle at 67.5 has the Hibernia Inn, 327 m off, open from 16:30 Monday to Friday. Hundleton at 81.8 has the Highgate Inn, 457 m off. The 387/388 Coastal Cruiser round the Angle peninsula runs Thursdays and Saturdays in winter, 1 October 2026 to 28 May 2027.

Pavement out of Monkton, past Pembroke Castle and the head of the Mill Pond, then farmland rising from 7.9 m at km 86.0 to 52 m at km 88.8, the section high point, matched again at km 100.9. The Defensible Barracks stands 249 m off at km 89.1. On the Pembroke Dock waterfront the Northern Martello Gun Tower is 74 m off at km 89.7; then the dockyard town, its station and supermarkets, and the crossing of the Cleddau Bridge. North of the water: Brunel monument at Neyland, the seafront at Hazelbeach, then higher ground above the waterway. Milford Haven comes in along its dock and marina front, with its museum. West of it, Hakin Point, Hubberston Fort 236 m off, Gelliswick Bay, South Hook Fort, Stack Rock Fort offshore, and the shore at Kilroom to the section end above Sandy Haven.

Navigation: Street walking is the norm from Pembroke through Pembroke Dock and again through Milford Haven, so carry the map. The Sandy Haven crossing lies just past this section, at km 111.1, and is passable roughly 2.5 hours either side of low tide; there is a high-tide bypass route for when it is not.

In poor weather: The mandatory low-tide crossing at Sandy Haven, immediately ahead, is the year-round constraint on these kilometres, and short winter daylight leaves less margin if you misjudge it. Otherwise this is low ground, nothing above 52 m, and much of it street, quay and woodland rather than the open clifftop that carries the storm-force gusts elsewhere on this trail. Rain tells on the farmland between Pembroke and Pembroke Dock, which is often grazed and sometimes muddy.

Escape options: Stations: Pembroke at km 85.4, 1,086 m off; Pembroke Dock at km 90.4, 265 m off; Milford Haven at km 104.3, 188 m off, all on the West Wales branches to Whitland. Irish Ferries runs Pembroke Dock to Rosslare year-round, around two sailings a day, roughly 3h45m to 4h, from the terminal 407 m off at km 89.6. Bus stops sit on the path at the Cleddau Bridge tolls, km 91.3. Fflecsi on-demand minibuses serve the Dale Peninsula, Milford Haven and Haverfordwest zone, Monday to Saturday, 07:30 to 18:30.

Two tidal inlets bracket the first eight kilometres. Sandy Haven at km 111.1 and the Gann at km 119.4, below Dale, are both low-water crossings with no bridge. Between them the path follows the sheltered north shore of the Milford Haven waterway past Monk's Haven at km 116.7, the industrial waterfront in view across the water. From Dale at km 120.4 the trail rounds the peninsula, past Mill Bay at km 124.8 to the St Ann's Head corner at km 126.0, then turns north into open Atlantic exposure. The Marloes plateau beyond is mainly level clifftop cut by steep stepped valleys. The easiest going is the approach to the Gann, 21 m of climbing in two and a half kilometres. Km 145 to 150 holds the steepest climbing of the section, 202 m in five kilometres, in and out of Mill Haven at km 146.2 and over Borough Head at km 149.3 above Goultrop Roads, where the section ends. Little Haven is 2.3 km on at km 152.3.

Navigation: The National Park gives different windows for the two: Sandy Haven can be crossed for sure two and a half hours each side of low water, and the Gann three and a half hours each side. The gap between them is 8.3 km, about two hours' walking, so cross Sandy Haven early in its window rather than at the end of it, to clear both on one tide. Miss either and the choice is to wait or to take the National Park's high-tide bypass inland. At Martin's Haven, km 136.5, the circuit out to Wooltack Point is off the waymarked line and extra.

In poor weather: As far as the St Ann's Head corner at km 126.0 the path is inside the Milford Haven waterway, out of the Atlantic wind and swell, so rain matters more than wind. Beyond it the clifftop is treeless and takes the full westerly, so a forecast of strong onshore wind is a decision to take at Dale rather than out on the peninsula. Low cloud removes Skomer, Skokholm, Grassholm and the far side of St Brides Bay. Wet ground slows the stepped descents into Mill Haven at km 146.2.

Escape options: Dale at km 120.4 has the Griffin Inn and the Boathouse Cafe, but no shop. Marloes at km 139.8 is 765 m inland and has the Lobster Pot Inn. Both are in the Fflecsi on-demand zone: year-round, Monday to Saturday, 07:30 to 18:30, pre-booked on 0300 234 0300. From 23 May to 27 September 2026 the Puffin Shuttle runs daily via Martin's Haven at km 136.5, Marloes, St Brides and Little Haven.

Opens above Goultrop Roads at km 150.0, 50 m, dropping into Little Haven at 152.3, then Broad Haven at 153.3, with shop, hostel and bus. A sawtoothing cliff top of roughly 40 to 70 m runs to Druidston Haven at 157.4, then lower ground to Nolton Haven at 159.4 and 65 m at 160.8. From 162.5 the profile holds under 15 m for 1.6 km behind Newgale. Beyond Newgale the cliffs rise again, reaching just under 79 m near 168.5 past Dinas Fach at 167.5, into Solva at 172.0. West of Solva the ground falls past Caerbwdy at 176.6 and Caerfai at 178.3 and stays under 35 m round the peninsula: St Non's at 179.2, Porthclais at 181.0 with its lime kiln ruins, Treginnis, carrying the trail's oldest rock at about 600 million years, and St Justinian at 188.2. Past Whitesands at 191.8 the path rounds St David's Head at 193.5, with its hillfort and Coetan Arthur dolmen, and climbs to 61 m at 194.1. The last three kilometres run at 10 to 40 m to 198.0. About 1000 m of ascent.

Navigation: From km 162.5 the trail is the roadside behind Newgale for 1.6 km. At Solva the path turns inland up the east side of the harbour, reaches the head about half a kilometre in near km 171.3, then comes back down the west side before climbing out past the village at 172.0. St Davids is off the path too, a kilometre inland at 179.1, so the city is a deliberate detour rather than somewhere you walk through.

In poor weather: Little Haven to Newgale is the east shore of St Brides Bay and faces west. Newgale to Porthclais is the bay's north shore and faces south. From about km 185 round Treginnis to Whitesands the path is outside the bay facing west, and past St David's Head at 193.5 the closing kilometres face north. Newgale has no height in hand, under 15 m from km 162.5 to 164.1, at beach level.

Escape options: Newgale at km 164.1, Broad Haven at 153.3 and Little Haven at 152.3 are on the Puffin Shuttle, daily 23 May to 27 September only. The Celtic Coaster runs daily 28 March to 27 September, calling at Caerfai, Porthclais at 181.0, St Justinian at 188.2 and Whitesands at 191.8, St Non's at 179.2 by request.

From 9 m at km 198.1 the path gains about 83 m in half a kilometre below Penberry, whose 167 m summit stands 74 m above the line. That is the only sustained climb: from km 199.2 the ground stays below 55 m for the rest of the section, and the rest of the ascent over these 24 km comes as short pulls in and out of coves. The slate pit at Abereiddy was deliberately breached to let the sea in, making the Blue Lagoon (km 204.1). A tramway carried slate over the hillside to Porthgain (km 206.9); the path takes the cliff line between the two. At Porthgain the red brick hoppers stand over the harbour. The Ship Inn and Caffi Y Ragna, about 300 m off the line at km 209.7 below Trefin, are the last food in this section. Beyond Abercastle (km 213.9) the ground stays low past the shingle at Abermawr (km 218.5) and Aberbach (km 219.2) to the climb out at km 222.3.

Navigation: The path does not enter Trefin. The village sits at km 210.9, 426 m off the line, though its pub and cafe stand closer to it, at km 209.7 by the ruined Melin Trefin Mill (km 209.8). Mathry, which names this section, lies 2.2 km inland at km 216.0 and is never passed. Traeth Llyfn (km 205.2) and Carreg Samson (km 213.5) are off the route, 147 m and 305 m from the line, with a second Carreg Samson at km 234.2.

In poor weather: Shelter inside the 24 km is at Porthgain (km 206.9), where the Sloop Inn, The Shed Bistro and free public toilets all sit within 100 m of the path. There are toilets at Abereiddy (km 203.8) and Abercastle (km 213.8), both within 60 m of it.

Escape options: The 404 Strumble Shuttle, St Davids to Fishguard via Abereiddy, Porthgain and Strumble Head, runs daily from 23 May to 27 September 2026, with no winter or shoulder service. It stops at Abereiddy car park (km 203.7, 24 m off the path) and Porthgain (km 206.9, 81 m). Croes-goch (km 209.2) and Mathry (km 216.0) are each over 2 km inland.

The path climbs from 35 m at km 222 to 118 m at km 223, onto the cliff line above Pwll Deri, where YHA Pwll Deri sits 47 m off the path at km 224.7. The section's high point, 123 m, is here at km 224.6. Strumble Head lighthouse stands off the point on Ynys Meicel, about 230 m off the path at km 228.8. The path then tops 100 m above Harbour Village at km 237.9 before the drop to Goodwick at km 239.1. Fishguard Fort follows at km 243.0. From 11 m at Pwllgwaelod at km 250.4 the path gains about 110 m to 121 m at km 252.3, then falls to Cwm-yr-Eglwys at km 254.3. Aberfforest Beach follows at km 255.9, with the path under 35 m from there into Parrog at km 259.6 and Newport at km 260.7.

Navigation: At Pwllgwaelod, km 250.4, the Coast Path turns round Dinas Head, 3.9 km to Cwm-yr-Eglwys at km 254.3. Past Parrog at km 259.6, Newport is a detour: the town sits about 469 m off the path at km 260.7. Newport Sands follows at km 262.4.

In poor weather: Pwll Deri at km 224.6 is the section's west face and its highest ground. Strumble Head at km 228.8 faces north and north-west, so on a south-westerly the land behind it is upwind of the path. The second exposure is the climb from Pwllgwaelod at km 250.4, gained in under two kilometres.

Escape options: Fishguard and Goodwick station is 134 m off the path at km 239.1. Fishguard Harbour station is 305 m off at km 237.9 and the Fishguard Ferry Terminal 319 m off, with the path 100 m up at Harbour Village. Strumble Head has only the 404 Strumble Shuttle, 23 May to 27 September 2026; otherwise the pre-booked Fflecsi minibus, Monday to Saturday, no Sunday.

For the first two kilometres from km 264 the profile saws between 1.6 m and 68.3 m. The sustained climb starts near km 266 and reaches 130.9 m at km 267.4, then holds above 108 m all the way to km 270.0, 2.6 km with its high point of 143.4 m at km 268.6, before the drop to 28.7 m by km 270.4. Castell Treruffydd stands 43 m off the path at km 271.7, 400 m short of Pwll y Wrach, the Witch's Cauldron, at km 272.1. Ceibwr Bay at km 273.3 is the low point of the section at 1.4 m, and its cliffs put the folds and faults of this coast on open display. The path climbs and drops again past Pen Castell promontory fort at km 274.1 and below Foel Hendre, a 113 m top 105 m off the line, down to 10.9 m near km 277 and back up to 122.9 m by km 278.

Navigation: Trewyddel / Moylgrove is not on the path. It is mapped about 1.3 km off the line near km 273.6, measured straight across, so the walk in is longer than that. Two names here look alike and are not the same place: Castell Treruffydd, 43 m off the path at km 271.7, and Pen Castell promontory fort at km 274.1. Ceibwr is likewise two mapped points, the bay at km 273.3 and the beach at km 273.5.

In poor weather: Exposure is concentrated in the 2.6 km held above 108 m between km 267.4 and km 270.0, topping out at 143.4 m at km 268.6. The steep ground, 108.3 m at km 270.0 down to 28.7 m at km 270.4, and 10.9 m near km 277 back up to 122.9 m by km 278, is where wet ground costs time.

Escape options: Trewyddel / Moylgrove sits about 1.3 km off the line near km 273.6. It has no mapped bus stop, and its 17 mapped places to stay are all unverified. A cafe is mapped 700 m off the path at km 273.7. Behind the section at km 262.7, Newport Sands car park has a bus stop, cafe and toilets. The Fflecsi on-demand minibus covers north-west Pembrokeshire year-round, Monday to Saturday 07:30 to 18:30, no Sunday, booked on 0300 234 0300.

The section opens at about 123 m and tops out at 158 m by km 278.4, the highest ground on the whole Coast Path. Grey seals pup on the beaches below, and white pups can be seen from August to November, with Cemaes Head, km 279.7, among the best places on the trail to look down on them. Alltycoed farm and campsite stands at gate one of the coast path at km 280.4. The route loses 111 m in the 1.8 km from km 281.0 down to Poppit Sands. The last 2.5 km are estuary walking past the Teifi Waterside Hotel at km 283.6 and on by road to the finish at St Dogmaels.

Navigation: The path passes 316 m inland of the point of Cemaes Head, so the cape is a detour. The finish marker stands by The Moorings at km 285.0 while the route runs on to km 285.31; from the marker it is about 780 m to the Premier shop, 840 m to the White Hart Inn and 950 m to Abaty Llandudoch, straight-line and longer by road.

In poor weather: The high ground at km 278.3 to 278.7 faces north-west, so westerly gales arrive unbroken. From km 278.8 to 281.4 the path holds the cliff line between 85 m and 117 m. From km 282.8 the route stays at or below 30 m on lane and road.

Escape options: The first 2.4 km carry no services. Alltycoed farm and campsite is at km 280.4 with drinking water, wifi and toilets. YHA Poppit Sands is on the path at km 281.8. km 282.7 to 282.8 has free toilets, the Crwst cafe and a bus stop. Fflecsi Pembrokeshire, the on-demand minibus that replaced the fixed-route 405 Poppit Rocket, covers this end of the trail year-round, Monday to Saturday 07:30 to 18:30. Book a pickup window by app or on 0300 234 0300.