TENBY - PEMBROKESHIRE - WALES - UNITED KINGDOM

TENBY

A few miles offshore from Tenby - home to Cistercian monks

Caldey Island

Three miles offshore from Tenby lies the holy Caldey Island, cradled in the Pembrokeshire coastline. First occupied back in the sixth century by Celtic Monks, Caldey Island is famous for its Cistercian monks who continue a tradition which began there in Norman times and devote their lives to the service of god. Monks of one sort or another have lived and worked on Caldey for about 1500 years. The Island can be reached by boat from Tenby, and leave Tenby Harbour. A twenty minute journey which will take you to Caldey's jetty, from where a short walk through a wooded area will take to the main town.

The island hosts a popular teashop and a perfume shop from where you can sample the fragrances distilled by the monks.

Abandoned in the 1500's and respectably restored in more recent times, the centrepiece of the old priory is St Illtud's church which has a rather unusual blunt steeple.

Views from the white island lighthouse, built in 1828 are super. There are also splendid views of seal colonies from the hill.

A popular seaside town with Georgian houses overlooking the fine harbour

Tenby

Tenby is everything a seaside resort should be. Situated between two sweeping beaches. From the medieval centre, the many narrow streets lead down to the harbour. Best visited in May or late September, avoiding the many holidaymakers that flock here during the summer months, Tenby is a delightful place, providing plenty of stunning views of the dockside arches and the quaint and colourful hotels and houses strung along the clifftops. If planning to take your vehicle for your visit, you are advised that, following a successful trial in 2002, motorists are not allowed into Tenby in high summer.

The old centre is triangular in shape, two sides formed by the coast meeting at Castle Hill and the third by the remaining town walls. Five Arches is the only town gate still standing from the fortification of the town when Tenby was considered to be a target for the Spanish Armada in the 1580s.

Quay Hill running down towards the harbour, passes some of Tenby's oldest dwellings including a Tudor Merchant's House, a three- storey property built in the 15th century, which is open to the public.

There are no shortage of hotels and guesthouses in Tenby, and although more pricey than in other parts of West Wales, you should have no difficulty is finding reasonable accommodation outside of the main tourist season. Similarly in high season, places to eat are plentiful , although bar meals in the local pubs are seen as better value than many of the restaurants located in the town centre.

Caravan and camping sites are plentiful especially around the village of New Hedges about a mile and a half north of Tenby.

Travelling to Tenby is straightforward with a train station at the bottom of Warren Street in the town centre. There are also regular and direct coach services that will take you straight into the centre. You can get help in planning your stay from the tourist information office which is located on The Croft, From here you will be able to obtain details of local bus tours to St David's and the west Pembrokeshire coast.

The more energetic are recommended to try a 'Marion Davies' guided town walk. Although you are advised to book in advance, the walks are an excellent way of spending an hour and a half exploring the history of the town.