Location: South West Wales.
Length:: 299km (186 miles).
Average number of days to complete:: 10 - 15.
Users:: 100% for walkers; 3% off roads available for cyclists and horse riders too.
Highest point:: Pen yr afr - 175m (574 ft) (Total rise and fall over entire Trail - approx 11,600 metres (35,000 feet). (155 stiles to cross).
Start point: The slipway north of St Dogmaels, Cardigan.
Finish point: The bridge east of Amroth Castle, near Tenby.
Landscape:: Spectacular coast, rugged cliffs, sweeping beaches, just about every type of coastal landform. Over 50% of the Trail is within designated conservation sites. 85% of the Trail is within the National Park, the National Park’s dedicated Coast Path team manages 100%.
Highlights: Over 70 quality bathing beaches. Over 40 Iron Age promontory forts. Norman/ medieval castles/ towns (notably Tenby, Manorbier & Pembroke). Chain of Napoleonic and later forts. Scores of lime kilns and other industrial archaeological remains. Series (over 15) of picturesque ports (eg Tenby, Solva, Porthgain). Innumerable secret coves. Bosherston Lily Ponds, Landsker Line, razorbills and chough.
Famous Associations: Hubba (Norse warrior defeated by King Alfred), Gerald Cambrensis (who wrote a guide to Wales in the middle ages and lived in Manorbier Castle), Henry VII (born in Pembroke), Black Bart (pirate), Last invasion of UK (1797), Admiral Nelson (built Milford Haven military harbour), Gordon of Khartoum, Isambard Kingdom Brunel (built Goodwich Transatlantic Port), naturalist RM Lockley, Lindsway Bay was the site of the first footfall of Prince Charles on Welsh sand in 1955, singer David Grey.
Trail Officer's favourite part: 'The sea, beaches and cliffs all the way round but if I have to pick one place it would be the cliffs of Stackpole and Pencamaes and the beaches of St Brides Bay'.
Nearest Towns: Saundersfoot, Tenby, Pembroke, Pembroke Dock, Neyland Milford Haven, Broad Haven, Solva, Goodwick, Fishguard & Newport Pembs are all on the Trail. City of St David's 1.6km (1mile), Haverfordwest 9km (6miles), Cardigan 3km (2 miles), Carmarthen 48km (30 miles), Swansea 80km (50 miles), Cardiff 144km (90 miles).
Access: Cardiff is 2 hours from London Paddington by train and 45 minutes from Bristol by train. Cardiff to Carmarthen is 2 hours by train (Cardiff to Tenby is 2.5 hours,change at Tenby for a bus back to Amroth (40 mins)). Trains also go to Haverfordwest, Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven and Fishguard Harbour. Bus Carmarthen to Amroth via Pendine -1 hour. Bus Carmathen to Cardigan is 90 minutes. There are more buses to parts of the Trail from Haverfordwest (15 minutes away).
Information available: National Trail Guide by Brian John - Aurum Press ISBN 1-85410-975-8 . Video, Tide timetable, local accommodation, and circular walks packs from Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Education Department (0845 345 7275) Details on public transport from website or Pembrokeshire County Council enquiry line 01437 764551. Timetable and Transport information is at www.pembrokeshiregreenways.co.uk www.visitpembrokeshire.com has a comprehensive list of accommodation in Pembrokeshire
Contact for all information and advice: Write to National Trail Officer, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Llanion Park, Pembroke Dock. SA72 6DY Telephone 0845 345 7275 Email pcp@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk For walker information ask for Education Department, for route care information and reports ask for Recreation Department.