The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is 186 miles of the best coastal walking in the UK. Cliffs drop into turquoise water, beaches rival the Caribbean on a sunny day, and the path passes through some of Wales' most dramatic landscapes. For van lifers, the challenge is that the trail does not form a loop — it runs from Amroth in the south to St Dogmaels in the north, 186 miles of linear walking with your van parked somewhere along it.
This guide covers how to explore the Pembrokeshire Coast Path with a campervan: where to park, where to walk, when to go, and how to manage the logistics of a linear trail with a van base.
The Route Overview
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is one of three National Trails in Wales. It follows the entire coastline of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park — the only coastal national park in the UK.
Key sections from south to north:
| Section | Distance | Difficulty | Highlights | Van Parking Base |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amroth to Tenby | 8 miles | Easy | Sandy beaches, Tenby town | Saundersfoot or Tenby |
| Tenby to Pembroke | 14 miles | Moderate | Stackpole Estate, Barafundle Bay | Pembroke or Bosherston |
| Pembroke to Milford Haven | 16 miles | Moderate | Angle Peninsula, Dale | Pembroke Dock or Dale |
| Milford Haven to Broad Haven | 12 miles | Easy | Marloes Sands, Skomer views | Marloes or Broad Haven |
| Broad Haven to St Davids | 15 miles | Moderate | Newgale beach, St Davids | St Davids or Whitesands |
| St Davids to Fishguard | 22 miles | Challenging | Strumble Head, sea cliffs | St Davids or Goodwick |
| Fishguard to Newport | 10 miles | Moderate | Dinas Head, Newport Sands | Newport |
| Newport to St Dogmaels | 14 miles | Challenging | Poppit Sands, estuary views | St Dogmaels or Cardigan |
Van Logistics
The linear nature of the path means you cannot walk from your van for the entire trail. The standard approach: park the van, walk a section, return via bus or taxi, drive to the next section, repeat.
Parking Overnight
Coastal car parks in Pembrokeshire are managed by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, National Trust, and local councils. Policies vary.
National Park car parks — most allow overnight parking for campervans. A few have height barriers (2.1m). Standard fee applies (pay and display, £4–£8 per day). The honesty box system works overnight — pay on arrival and display your ticket. Notable spots:
- Whitesands Bay (St Davids): large car park, overnight allowed, toilets, seasonal cafe
- Newgale: large car park behind the beach, overnight allowed, toilets
- Broad Haven (south): National Trust car park, overnight allowed
- Marloes: National Trust car park, overnight allowed, limited spaces
- Poppit Sands: large car park, overnight allowed
National Trust car parks — some allow overnight parking, some do not. Check signage carefully. The NT has a campervan policy that permits overnight stays in designated car parks for a fee (£10–£15 via the PayByPhone app). The money goes to maintenance, which is a fair exchange.
Commercial campsites — Pembrokeshire has a high density of campsites (£15–£30/night). In summer, book ahead. In spring and autumn, you can usually find a pitch on the day.
Wild camping — not legal in Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The coastal strip is intensively farmed and the cliffs are unstable. Do not attempt to overnight on the coastal path itself.
Getting Between Sections
The Pembrokeshire Bus network serves most coastal towns. The key routes for coast path walkers:
- T5: St Davids to Fishguard (hourly, £4)
- 387: Tenby to Pembroke (every 2 hours, £3)
- 405: Broad Haven to St Davids (limited service)
- 412: Fishguard to Newport to Cardigan (limited service)
Bus services on the north coast (St Davids northwards) are less frequent, especially outside summer. Check the Pembrokeshire County Council transport page before relying on them.
Taxis between sections: St Davids to Whitesands (£8), St Davids to Newgale (£15), Tenby to Saundersfoot (£10). Local taxi numbers are posted on village notice boards.
If you have a folding bike, carrying it in the van solves the transport problem completely. Park the van at the start of a section, cycle to the end, walk back to the van along the path, then drive to the next section.
Best Sections for Van Lifers
Barafundle Bay (via Bosherston)
One of the UK's most beautiful beaches. The walk from the Bosherston car park is 1 mile each way, easy terrain. The car park is large and allows overnight stays. Stackpole Court and the lily ponds are nearby. The beach has no facilities — carry water and food.
Parking: Bosherston National Trust car park (pay and display, overnight allowed). The car park fills by 10am in summer.
Marloes Sands to Martins Haven
A 4-mile section that includes the most dramatic coastal scenery in southern Pembrokeshire. Marloes Sands at low tide is spectacular. Martins Haven is the departure point for Skomer Island (puffins from April to July — book boat tickets in advance).
Parking: Marloes National Trust car park (overnight allowed, but small — arrive before 9am in summer).
St Davids Peninsula (Whitesands to St Justinian)
A 6-mile out-and-back or a 1.5-mile walk to St Justinian lifeboat station. Whitesands is the best base for exploring St Davids. The cathedral city (Britain's smallest city) has shops, pubs, and the essential St Davids Gin distillery.
Parking: Whitesands Bay car park (overnight allowed, large).
Strumble Head to Fishguard
The most dramatic section on the north coast. Sea cliffs, seals, choughs, and the Strumble Head lighthouse. The path is narrow and close to the cliff edge — not for those with a fear of heights. The Fishguard Bay Hotel car park allows overnight campervan parking.
When to Go
- May–June: Best weather window. Lower rainfall than July–August, moderate temperatures (15–20°C), wildflowers on the cliffs, fewer crowds. The path is busy but not crowded.
- July–August: Peak season. School holidays, full campsites, traffic on the narrow coastal roads. The weather is at its warmest but Atlantic fronts can still arrive. Book campsites and car parks in advance.
- September–October: The sweet spot. Still warm (12–18°C), lower tourist density, empty beaches. The bus services reduce frequency from September 30.
- November–February: Not recommended for the full path. Short days, frequent storms, sections of the path can be closed due to cliff erosion. Some car parks close.
- March–April: Early season. Green, quiet, unpredictable weather. The path is at its most atmospheric in the low spring light.
What to Pack
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is well-graded but the weather is Atlantic. Carry:
- Waterproof jacket with a hood (the wind carries rain horizontally)
- Waterproof trousers (for walking through wet grass and bracken on cliff tops)
- Walking boots or sturdy approach shoes (the path has exposed rock sections and mud after rain)
- Sunscreen (the reflection off the sea on a bright day burns faster than expected)
- Binoculars (seabirds, seals, and the islands of Skomer, Skokholm, and Grassholm)
- Packed lunch and 1L water (the path passes few shops or cafes)
- Phone battery pack (signal is patchy on the north coast sections)
Safety
- The cliff edges are unstable in places. Stay on the path. Do not approach the edge for photos.
- Tides cut off some beach sections — check tide times before walking below the cliff line.
- The path crosses MOD land at the Castlemartin Range (between Bosherston and Freshwater West). Red flags mean live firing. The path is closed. Check the MOD firing times noticeboard at the car park.
- Seals on beaches: keep 50m distance. Mother seals abandon pups if disturbed.
- Adders are present on the cliff tops. They sunbathe on the path in warm weather. Step over and leave them alone.
