Pembrokeshire Coast National Park (Welsh: Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro) is a national park located along the Pembrokeshire coast in west Wales. It was created as a national park in 1952. It is one of three national parks in Wales, with the other two being Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) and Snowdonia (Eryri). It is the only national park in the United Kingdom that is mostly made up of coastal landscapes.

Landscape

The National Park has a variety of landscapes, including rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, wooded estuaries, wild inland hills, the moorland of the Preseli Hills, and the wooded Gwaun valley. The total area is 629 square kilometers (243 square miles). The park is divided into four sections, in clockwise order: the south Pembrokeshire coast, including Caldey Island; the Daugleddau estuary; the St Bride's Bay coast, including the coastal islands; and the Preseli Hills.

The area’s geology is of special interest, with many places where rocks are visible both inland and along the coast. These areas show a range of rock types and features such as natural arches, stacks, folded rock layers, and sea caves. A notable stack is Elegug Stacks (Creigiau Elegug), two large limestone pillars that provide nesting sites for razorbills and guillemots during the spring. In the north, the rocks of Carn Llidi, Pen Beri, and Garn Fawr, along with the moorland of Mynydd Carningli and Mynydd Preseli, create a mountainous landscape, with wooded valleys of the Gwaun and Nevern cutting through it. In the west, the park is shaped by the wide expanse of St Bride's Bay, bordered by Ramsey Island at its northern end near St David's peninsula and Skomer at its southern end. The southern coast contrasts with the limestone plateau and cliffs of the Castlemartin peninsula, the steep-sided wooded valleys inland from Amroth, the Bosherston lakes (now managed by the National Trust), and the tourist areas of Tenby and Saundersfoot. Between the western and southern parts of the park lies the Milford Haven waterway, where the calm Daugleddau estuary flows into one of the world’s finest natural deep-water harbors.

The park includes many historic and archaeological sites, such as Pentre Ifan, and areas of national or international conservation importance, including 7 Special Areas of Conservation, a Marine Nature Reserve, 6 national nature reserves, and 75 Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

In 2011, National Geographic Traveler magazine ranked Pembrokeshire as the second-best coastal destination in the world for sustainable tourism.

In January 2016, the Authority began the "Changing Coasts" project to record how the coastline has changed due to recent winter storms. The project asks visitors to submit photographs taken from specific locations at any time of day. A pilot study will be conducted at Abereiddy.

Pembrokeshire Coast Path

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is an officially recognized National Trail. It was created in 1970 and is 186 miles (299 km) long. Much of the path runs along the top of cliffs, with a total climb and drop of 35,000 feet (11,000 meters).

The southern end of the path is at Amroth. The northern end was originally at Poppit Sands near St. Dogmaels, where a plaque was placed. However, the path now extends to St. Dogmaels, where a new marker was added in July 2009. This connects to the Ceredigion Coast Path, which is part of the Wales Coast Path. The Wales Coast Path is an 870-mile (1,400 km) route that goes along the entire coast of Wales, starting at Chepstow and ending at Queensferry. It was officially opened in 2012.

Administration

The Park is managed by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, which has about 150 employees and a committee of 18 members. The Authority's goals are to protect and improve the National Park and help people enjoy and learn about it. To achieve these goals, the Authority must support the social and economic needs of the communities living within its area. Its offices are located in Pembroke Dock, and the Chief Executive is Tegryn Jones.

The Authority also manages the entire route of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, a 186-mile (299 km) national trail that is mostly within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Because other Welsh national parks were renamed, the Authority announced in April 2023 that it plans to keep both its English and Welsh names.

Beaches

In recent years, Pembrokeshire's beaches, which are all located within the National Park, have received many International Blue Flag Awards (10 in 2014), 47 Green Coast Awards (15 in 2011), and 106 Seaside Awards (31 in 2011). In 2011, 39 beaches were also recommended by the Marine Conservation Society.

Beaches in the park include: