Planning Family Caravan Holidays in Pembrokeshire

Why Pembrokeshire Works So Well for Caravan Families

Pembrokeshire is the only coastal national park in Britain, and that single fact explains a lot. Within an hour's drive you can be paddling on a sheltered sandy beach in the morning, walking a clifftop path after lunch and eating chips in a harbour town by teatime. The county is small enough that you rarely spend more than 40 minutes in the car, which matters enormously when you have small children and a caravan to tow.

For families touring with a caravan, the appeal goes further than scenery. The road network is manageable, the beaches are sandy rather than shingly, and there is a long tradition of holiday parks here that genuinely cater for children, with play areas, shallow pools and pitches that are level and easy to reverse onto. Add castles, rock pools and a coastline that changes dramatically twice a day, and you have a destination that keeps young children busy without much planning.

Beaches That Are Safe and Easy With Young Children

Pembrokeshire has more than 50 beaches, but they are not all equal when you are supervising a toddler. Look for beaches with lifeguard cover in summer, gently shelving sand and easy parking or a short, flattish walk from the car park.

• Tenby North Beach and Castle Beach — sheltered, sandy and close to toilets, cafés and the town. Castle Beach has lifeguard cover in season and is ideal for a quick paddle.
• Saundersfoot — a wide, gently sloping beach with a harbour, shops and a flat promenade behind it. Easy to retreat from when the weather turns.
• Broad Haven — a big sandy bay with lifeguards in summer and a car park right behind the sand. Excellent for building castles and digging holes.
• Manorbier — sand, a stream for damming and a castle on the hill behind. Lifeguarded in season and rarely as crowded as Tenby.
• Poppit Sands — vast at low tide, with a flat path from the car park. Good for kite flying and long, slow walks with a pushchair.

Be aware that some famous Pembrokeshire beaches are best left for older children. Freshwater West has powerful rip currents and is a surfer's beach, Barafundle is reached by a long flight of steps, and the Blue Lagoon at Abereiddy is deep water. Save those for another year.

The tides here are among the largest in the UK, with a range that can exceed seven metres. A beach that stretches for half a mile at low water can be almost gone by late afternoon. Buy a local tide table, or check one on your phone each morning, and treat the turning tide as your cue to move back up the sand.

Coastal Path Walks That Work With Little Legs

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs for 186 miles, but you do not need to tackle anything ambitious. Short, well-surfaced sections are perfect for a morning out.

• Tenby to Saundersfoot — around 2.5 miles along a fairly level path, with a lit tunnel through the headland. Pushchair-friendly in dry weather and there is a bus back if energy runs out.
• Broad Haven to Little Haven — a short, scenic link between two sandy bays, taking about 20 minutes at toddler pace.
• Bosherston Lily Ponds — flat, pushchair-friendly paths around the lakes, with herons, swans and a chance of spotting an otter. Finish at Broad Haven South for a picnic.
• St Davids to Porthclais — a manageable stretch if you carry little ones in a sling, with dramatic views and a small harbour at the end.

Always pack waterproofs even on a bright morning. Sea mist and sudden showers are part of the deal, and exposed clifftop sections are windy in almost any month.

Choosing a Caravan Site With the Right Facilities

Small details make a big difference over a week. Before you book, check the site's own description rather than relying on a photograph of a sunset.

• A play area visible from your pitch — being able to watch children from your awning while you cook is worth more than any entertainment programme.
• An indoor pool or games room — your insurance policy for a wet Tuesday.
• A family shower block with a bath — invaluable for washing sandy children quickly.
• Hardstanding pitches with electric hook-up — firmer ground after rain, and easier to level the van.
• Buckets, spades and everyday groceries on site — one less trip into town.

School holiday weeks sell out early, often by January or February, and most larger sites impose a minimum stay of three to seven nights in peak season. Late May half term and the first week of September are quieter, cheaper and often warmer than you would expect. If you are new to towing, ask about a pitch that is easy to access and avoid arriving after dark.

Practical Kit and Daily Timing

Pack for wind as much as for sun. A windbreak, warm layers, sun hats and a wetsuit each will keep children in the water far longer than swimsuits alone.

• Wetsuits and rash vests for everyone, even in August
• Sun cream for overcast days — UV gets through cloud
• Buckets, nets and a small crab line for rock pooling
• Waterproof jackets and wellies for the coastal path
• Coins or a phone app for car parks; many fill by 10am in summer
• A spare carrier bag of dry clothes left in the car

Structure the day around the tide and the weather. Beaches are at their emptiest before 11am, which suits young children's energy levels. Come back to the caravan for lunch and a rest, then head out again for rock pooling as the tide drops in the afternoon.

If the Weather Turns

Rain in Pembrokeshire is usually short-lived, but it is worth having a plan. Pembroke Castle is largely under cover and has a hands-on exhibition children enjoy. Carew Castle and its tidal mill make a good half-day, and St Davids Cathedral is impressive even to a five-year-old. Alternatively, spend the afternoon in a leisure pool, then head back to the caravan for board games and hot chocolate while the front passes through. In this part of Wales, the weather rarely ruins a day — it just changes what you do with it.