Tenby

Three magnificent beaches stretch out like golden crescents beneath pastel-painted Georgian houses. Tenby isn't just another Welsh seaside town - it's a proper medieval fortress that happens to have some of the finest sand in Pembrokeshire.

Castle Beach draws the families. North Beach gets busier but offers rock pools when the tide's out. South Beach? That's where locals walk their dogs early morning, before the day trippers arrive. The town walls still stand proud after 700 years, creating that postcard-perfect backdrop every Instagram shot needs.

Wander the cobbled streets and you'll find independent shops tucked between the usual seaside tat. The harbour area comes alive at high tide when fishing boats bob alongside pleasure craft. Low tide reveals a causeway to St Catherine's Island - bit of a scramble but the ruins are well worth it.

From here, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path stretches in both directions. Saundersfoot lies just three miles east - a gentler alternative with a Blue Flag beach. Westward, the path leads to Caldey Island, where monks still make perfume and shortbread.

Getting here couldn't be easier. The A478 drops you right into the town centre, though parking gets proper expensive in summer. Nearest train station is actually in Saundersfoot, with buses connecting every half hour.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense for exploring this coastline. You're close enough to nip into town for fish and chips, far enough out to avoid the crowds that descend on sunny weekends. Several parks offer glamping if tent life isn't your thing.