Pembrokeshire with kids – 3 days out in Wales
If you head west in Wales, tracing the south coast through centuries of mining history, weathered fortresses and lush lush green countryside, eventually you come to Pembrokeshire, the country’s westernmost point – perfect for families, we discovered it’s not hard to fill three days in Pembrokeshire with kids.
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Home to surf beaches and film locations, to picturesque seaside towns and harbours, to some great family-friendly accommodation, not to mention the UK’s smallest city, it’s also one of my favourite parts of Wales.
In summer you could spend days simply lounging by the water or walking the coast; in chilly February, for the last couple of days of our half-term trip, that wasn’t on the cards. But we did have chance to check out a few great spots for a family day out, including these three fun days out in Pembrokeshire with kids.
Day 1: Castell Henllys Iron Age village
It didn’t take long for the Celtic warrior spirit to rise up in my daughter.
After passing under the antler-topped archway into the recreated Iron Age village of Castell Henllys, it only took some swirls of blue face paint (washable rather than woad, thankfully), a makeshift cape and the foam sword we’d acquired earlier in the trip on the Gower, and she was uttering ferocious roars and blood curdling yells to terrify any marauding hordes.
Fortunately it seemed practically appropriate in the peace of this historic spot, where the remains of a burner wicker man can sometimes be seen.
We trundled heavy stone querns around to make flour, discovered the animal skin blankets and tightly packed reed roofs of the roundhouses, eyed up some basket weaving and blacksmithing tools and generally transported ourselves back two thousand years.
There’s a self-guided trail, which also takes you past a barefoot walk – even the brief blue skies couldn’t persuade me to take my boots off – and carvings in the woods as you wander up to the village, reconstructed on the site of an original settlement.
And during school holidays, look out for extra activities to entertain kids.
Don’t miss the little exhibition at the start, with a short video and a few interactive games including ‘match the implement to the person’ which involved a brief introduction to druids, slavery and what shoes Iron Age children might have worn.
There’s also an app to download, with extra information and challenges. Make sure you do it before you visit as there’s not a lot of data/signal in this part of the countryside.
Entry to Castell Henllys costs from £6 for kids and £8 for adults, with family tickets available.Â
It’s open year-round, from 11am to 3pm Monday to Friday in winter, and from 10am to 5pm in summer. For more details, check out the opening hours and tickets page. There’s also a small cafe on site (with kids’ lunch boxes and very good chocolate brownies).
If you’re looking for places to stay near Castell Henllys, check out my review of Clydey Cottages, one of the best places to stay in Pembrokeshire with kids
Day 2: Manor House Wildlife Park, near Tenby
Animals are usually a sure-fire winner with my daughter – and I know she’s far from unique when it comes to loving small fluffy things (and big fluffy things). But getting to feed wallabies? That was new.
Manor House Wildlife Park, set in 52 acres of Pembrokeshire countryside, has everything from the small – meerkat and rabbits (albeit pretty big ones) – to the much bigger, including rhinos, tigers and zebra, plus some seriously fuzzy camels.
In between are a whole variety of other creatures, including gibbons and lemurs, not to mention talks and feeding times to watch as well as various play areas.
It’s no surprise that the lemurs were my favourite: five different species, all sauntering around their grassy home, the ring-tailed ones snuggled up under a sun lamp, a family of brown lemurs cuddled up so closely that I had to count tails to work out just how many there were.
And as with the wallabies, you can walk through the enclosure, although there are areas which are for the animals only, so they never feel threatened.
When we wandered into the wallaby walk, only one shy example bounded solemnly away; the rest were very happy to come and investigate us… and the wallaby food which we’d been given. Watching one snuffle it up from my daughter’s palm was fabulous.
Best of all, it’s a place that focuses on conservation. Run by Anna Ryder Richardson, the welfare of the endangered species is top of the list and the environment is designed to be as natural as possible: one gibbon (Steve) has been taken from his former cage and returned to the trees with his family.
Rescued macaws currently occupy his old home – with plenty of room for the much smaller birds, it’s an instant illustation of just what cramped conditions he had had to endure.
As a bonus there was proper ice cream (even in February) and really good thin crust pizza in the cafe. There are picnic tables as well (keep an eye on the peacocks who were casting greedy glances at our margherita). Almost a week on, my daughter is still drawing tigers as a highlight of the day.
Entry costs £21.95 for adults, £19.95 for children aged two to 16. It’s open year round, except two days at Christmas, from 10am to 5pm, and 10-6pm at weekends.
Day 3: Tenby Museum and Art Gallery
In summer, you could spend all day on the beaches of this ridiculously picturesque town – and plenty do, it’s one of the most popular places to visit in Pembrokeshire with kids.
In February, we didn’t have quite as many crowds lining the twisting streets of Tenby, so I could snap away at the candy coloured buildings and the Victorian St Catherine’s Fort to my heart’s content (since reopened to the public).
But it’s worth dragging yourself away from the sand to check out the Museum and art gallery as a really fun place to entertain kids (and not just on a rainy day).
There are two different trails to follow around the museum, one spotting dinosaur pictures, the other based on pirates, eventually spelling out a word – my newly reading daughter was immensely proud of being able to work it out.
And that’s not the only interactive element. You can also dress up in a variety of costumes to match the exhibits – Roman warrior, pirate and explorer, complete with pith helmet were my daughter’s favourites from the day. Some of them all at the same time.
Then as well as objects in glass cases, there are replicas which you can pick up and touch before trying to spot them in the display, far more entertaining than just looking.
Other sections had hidden boxes for the brave to put their hand in and feel – even reindeer skin made me jump when I felt something unexpectedly furry, far more than the whale sick. Minnie loved it.
Some of the ‘History Detective’ displays upstairs were ideal for older children too, with information on the Second World War in one, but there’s such an eclectic treasure trove – a suit of armour and medieval doctor’s plague mask to name a few – that you’re sure to discover something.
Afterwards, wander back across town along the Esplanade and finish your day as we did – watching the sun set over the waves, before drinks and dinner at the South Beach Bar & Grill.
There’s a kids’ menu which kept my four-year-old and her new best friend at the adjoining table very happy, a great family-friendly atmosphere, and some delicious food – crab tortelli with a view across the sand for me.
My only regret: not being able to check out the wine list personally thanks to the post-dinner drive back, although the mum of another four-year-old at a next-door table (I told you it was family-friendly), seemed to be enjoying hers.
Entry to the museum costs £6 for adults, £3 for children. Opening hours vary throughout the year, but are 10am to 4pm in the winter, 10-5pm in summer, closed Mondays and on Tuesdays in winter.
PIN FOR LATER: THREE DAYS IN PEMBROKESHIRE WITH KIDS
Disclosure: My entry to all three attractions and dinner at South Beach Bar & Grill was free for the purposes of review, as part of my trip to South and West Wales. All opinions on where to visit in Pembrokeshire with kids, ongoing lemur obsession and fearsome four-year-old are my own. This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission
Images copyright MummyTravels
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It looks like you had a lovely few days in Pembrokeshire – a variety of activities on offer also.
Really lovely – it’s one of my favourite parts of Wales, and loads to do.
Looks like a fun 3 days! I love the wildlife park photos, wallabies are so cute! #citytripping
Thanks! They were adorable.
Tenby looks lovely! and the iron age museum is fascinating! #farawayfiles
Such a pretty town – and I loved Castell Henllys too, brilliant to bring that period of history to life.
These look like great days out. Must bookmark for a later visit 🙂
Thanks! Hope you get there
What a lovely winter’s trip. I really would love to see Tenby and those gorgeous beaches and work up an appetite for dinner at the South Beach Bar and Grill. Thanks for joining us on #FarawayFiles
Tenby was so pretty – I can imagine how popular it gets in summer, lovely to wander around.
I love Pembrokeshire. Used to go to Tenby a lot as a child, but have only been back once since. We went to Castell Henllys when our children were a similar age to your daughter. They loved it. Probably get away with another visit, now they are much older. It sounds like you had a wonderful three days. #CountryKids
I think it would be great for slightly older kids too, as they could properly appreciate more of the detail – a very fun place for families though.
It looks like you manged to pack a whole lot of exciting adventures into your three days in Pembrokeshire. The Iron Age Village sounds fascinating, it’s great that it really ignite imagination and helps you learn all about how they would’ve lived. I love that Minnie threw herself into the roll of Celtic Warrior and dressed the part too. It looks like there’s some fab museums in Tenby to explore when you’re not on the beach. Manor House Wildlife Park looks perfect for a stop with littlies that love animals too, they have so many to see!
Thanks for linking up with me on #CountryKids.
There’s so much to do in the area, we could easily have spent double the time. The Iron Age Village was great, I had wondered what Minnie would think but she tapped into her inner warrior (not buried too deep, I suspect) and was very reluctant to let me wash the blue face paint off…
Tenby looks like such a pretty place! It’s easy to just think of beaches, so good to see other attractions too which look so great. #countrykids
Very pretty – the coloured buildings were lovely, and definitely lots to entertain even apart from the beaches.
It’s a part of the world I’ve not been to in about 45 years! I’d love to explore with my son and make some new memories. Pinned or the future #CountryKids
Thanks! Definitely somewhere to go back to – I think I need to retrace my own childhood holidays in north Wales with my daughter before too long as well.
This looks like a really fun few days, the wildlife park looks great – how amazing to be able to feed the wallabies!
Very fun, and that was a definite highlight. They were so cute.
We are visiting Pembrokeshire in May and now I have seen your photos, I am just a little bit excited. It looks wonderful! My Lil_E would absolutely love the wildlife park. Thanks so much for sharing and giving me some fabulous ideas for our visit. #CountryKids
Ooh what good timing – have a fabulous time, it’s such a lovely place and wallaby feeding especially is always good with kids.
I’m a huge fan of Pembrokeshire – we go there every other year or so and are just contemplating another visit. I’ve never stayed in Tenby itself but have enjoyed day trips there, it always seems to be sunny when we visit!
It was one of our sunniest days too – definitely somewhere I’d love to return to.
What a beautiful huge beach! Looks a great place for a trip away #countrykidsfun
It was – Wales has some fabulous beaches (and not too many people to share them with in February!)
It sounds as though your daughter had the most marvellous time in Wales, Cathy. What a great selection of fun things to see and do there seem to be! I’d love to visit this part of Wales – it always looks so beautiful.. Thanks for sharing with us on #farawayfiles
There was so much to do in Pembrokeshire alone – I think we could have spent the whole week there, but had three more counties to discover (so more to come…)
I love Pembrokeshire. We really enjoyed Castell Henllys and Tenby too, as well as Folly Farm and the beaches. Would like to go back.
It’s such a beautiful part of Wales – I still haven’t made it to Folly Farm yet, so I have a good excuse to go back (if I needed one!)
What a great three days in Wales. You definitely need to speak to someone about this lemur thing. Minnie in the suit of armour/explorer hat outfit made me laugh #countrykids
It was great – she pounced on the dressing up box and tried to wear it all at once. And you don’t think I’m getting enough lemurs? Let me see what I can do…
What a great trip! I love the photos of the dressing up. #countrykids
Thanks! She does love dressing up 🙂
All three look amazing! I love a bit of history so love the idea of the Iron Age village, although I know that my little boy would love the animals at Manor House. We visited Wales last year and loved it so much, I’m keen to go back and explore more #CountryKids
It’s such a lovely country – so much to keep discovering!
Looks like it was a fun trip and very educational. #CountryKids
Very much so – always good to sneak the education in under the fun.
Interactive history is always fun! Plus lemurs? Win AND win. I personally love the pastel colored houses. Thanks for sharing with #FarawayFiles, Erin
Absolutely. Two of my favourite things in one place plus some nice bright instagrammable seaside. 🙂
Checking out all of your Pembrokeshire articles Cathy! Trying to get prepared for our visit in a couple of months to Bluestone. So much to do and so little time. I think we may have to extend our stay;)
Thanks! I love Pembrokeshire – and Bluestone is gorgeous too. There is SO much to do, you definitely need to stay longer. Or go back. Or both!
Pembrokeshire is such a great place for families – there’s so much to do. We went to Tenby Museum last summer – my children loved the pirate area the best. x
It is so beautiful isn’t it – and the pirate area at the museum was fun. I have a few more photos of my daughter wearing that hat plus eye patch!