Trailblazer Guide Books

Trailblazer Guides are produced by people who know exactly what information is needed - not just to get from A to B but to be entertaining as well as informative.
 - The Great Outdoors

I must go down to the sea again, for the call of the running tide,
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
... And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the seagulls crying.

I must go down to the sea again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
... And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.
John Masefield (1878-1967) – Sea Fever (selected lines, post-1902 version)

The Pembrokeshire coast is not generally well known, yet in its obscurity it is outstanding. More and more people, however, are discovering this magnificent coastline on the extreme western point of Wales. What better way to explore it than to pull on your boots and walk the cliff tops and beaches of this superb 186-mile (299km) route.
    The Pembrokeshire Coast Path begins in the seaside village of Amroth and takes you across the contorted sandstone cliffs of south Pembrokeshire past the colourful houses set above Tenby Harbour and on to the dramatic limestone cliffs at Stackpole. Around every corner the cliffs surprise you with blowholes, sea caves and spectacular natural arches such as the famous Green Bridge of Wales (see p100).
    Then it’s on across the immaculate sands of Freshwater West and through the patchwork fields around the lazy waters of the Daugleddau estuary to the town of Pembroke with its Norman castle and ancient town walls. North of the estuary everything changes. The scenery is wilder and the walking tougher. The path leaves the Norman south and enters true Welsh country crossing spectacular beaches at Broad Haven and Newgale to reach the beautiful village of Solva, its busy little harbour tucked in a fold in the cliffs.
    Next is St David’s, the smallest city in Britain, where you can hear the bells of the cathedral echoing across the wooded valley while paying homage to the patron saint of Wales. Leading towards the most westerly point at St David’s Head the path takes you past Ramsey Island, a haven for dolphins and seals, and up the rugged heathery coastline to the curious little fishing village of Porthgain. At Fishguard you can learn about the Last Invasion of Britain, or you can catch a ferry over to Ireland from Goodwick.
    The final stretch takes you beneath the shadow of the Preseli Hills, bluestone country, the source of some of the raw material for Stonehenge. Continuing over the highest, most spectacular cliffs in West Wales brings you to the end of the path at St Dogmaels, near Cardigan. The Pembrokeshire coast has everything – from endless, sandy beaches and rugged cliffs festooned with wild flowers to lonely hills and sleepy waterways; a beautiful blend of sand, sea and scents.

About this book
This guidebook contains all the information you need. The hard work has been done for you so you can plan your trip from home without the usual pile of books, maps, guides and tourist brochures. It includes:

• All standards of accommodation from campsites to luxurious guesthouses

• Walking companies if you want an organised tour

• Suggested itineraries for all types of walkers

• Answers to all your questions: when to go, degree of difficulty, what to pack and how much will the whole walking holiday cost me?

When you’re all packed and ready to go, there’s comprehensive information to get you to and from the coast path and 96 detailed maps (1:20,000) and town plans to help you find your way along it. The route guide section includes:

• Walking times in both directions

• Reviews of campsites, bunkhouses, hostels, B&Bs and guesthouses

• Cafés, pubs, tea shops, takeaways, restaurants and shops for buying supplies

• Rail, bus and taxi information for all the villages and towns along the coast path

• Street maps of the main towns and villages: Kilgetty, Amroth, Saundersfoot, Tenby, Penally, Manorbier, Pembroke, Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven, Broad Haven & Little Haven, Lower Solva, St David’s, Goodwick, Fishguard, Newport and Cardigan

• Historical, cultural and geographical background information

Minimum impact for maximum insight
Everybody needs a break; climb a mountain or jump in a lake.
Christy Moore, Lisdoonvarna

Why is walking in wild and solitary places so satisfying? Partly it is the sheer physical pleasure: sometimes pitting one’s strength against the elements, sometimes relaxing on the springy turf or sand. The beauty and wonder of the natural world restore our sense of proportion, freeing us from the stresses and strains of everyday life.
    All this the countryside gives us and the least we can do is to safeguard it by supporting rural economies, local businesses and environmentally sensitive forms of transport, and low-impact methods of farming and land use. In this book there is a detailed and illustrated chapter on the wildlife and conservation of Pembrokeshire and a chapter on minimum impact walking with ideas on how to tread lightly in this fragile environment. By following these principles we can help to preserve our natural heritage for future generations.