Tenby

A walled town with pastel coloured Victorian buildings, three sandy beaches and a pleasant harbour. Laidback Tenby is one of my absolute favourite places in Wales.

The town walls were constructed by the Earls of Pembroke in the 13th century to fortify the town against the rebellious Welsh. Tenby became a centre for trade with South West England, Spain and Portugal and by the late 15th century it was one of the busiest ports in Wales. You can get a glimpse into what life was like at that time by visiting the Tudor Merchant’s House, a restored three story museum building furnished as it would have been in 1500.

After a siege by Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War in 1648 and an outbreak of plague in 1650 that killed around 500, more than half of the town’s population, shattered Tenby fell into economic decline. Then, in the early 1800s, businessman and politician Sir William Paxton began investing into the town with the aim of turning it into a fashionable bathing resort. His endeavours were a success and Tenby became popular among tourists in the late Georgian and Victorian eras.

Much of Tenby’s Victorian charm remains. A number of hotels sit along The Esplanade overlooking South Beach (pictured) and St Catherine’s Island. Some have little gardens for guests to sit in and enjoy a drink with a view.

Entering through one of the gateway arches into the old town you’ll find a lively mix of traditional and modern shops, cafes and pubs as well as quieter residential areas with quaint pastel-coloured homes. Work your way down the hill and you’ll find yourself at the harbour where a number of boat trips including seal spotting and mackerel fishing can be booked. From there you can head up towards the Castle, Museum and Art Gallery or through another gateway arch and down onto Castle Beach. From the beach you get a close up view of St Catherine’s Island, dominated by its imposing fort. One of a chain of coastal fortifications built around the UK in the 19th century, the fort has since served as a house and a zoo! At times, the Island and Fort are open to visitors.

Like most places this good, Tenby can get a little busy during the peak summer season. My favourite times to visit are May/June or September when the weather is still good but the streets and beaches are a little quieter.

Tenby has lots of independently run hotels, guesthouses and rental accommodation available via the main booking websites. It’s also worth noting that there is also a fairly well located Premier Inn that doesn’t usually show up on those sites.