The First Long Wander begins

 After a long, looong trip of planes and airports and buses and way too much sitting we finally arrived in Tenby in south Wales. We stayed for four nights. Beautiful. Love the colours.

Fishermen's chapel down in the harbour.

The old stone walls of the original walled town still exist in the middle of the town up on the cliff top.

Our first day was a jetlag recovery day, so we took a local bus and a walk to Colby Gardens for a healthy delicious lunch.

Back in Tenby, we chanced upon a free evening performance of a community choir and chamber orchestra in the parish church of St Mary.

DAY 1

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path begins at Amroth, a short bus ride and a 12km walk back to Tenby. We began in a heavy  shower of Welsh rain. Only a few light showers for the rest of the day. This is me at the start sign.

There was a combination of road and esplanade walking through the small seaside towns of Amroth, Wisemans Bridge (a stop for hot chips outside the pub) and Saundersfoot (coffee and cake). Part of the walk was along a high sea wall at the base of a cliff once mined for coal, following the route of a tram-way through three tunnels.

The track became more serious as it rollercoasted through oak forests with sea views and crossed fields where we lost and found the trail. 

A welcome rest on a very long incline that oddly, was paved and had several small 'inspection' manholes for a pipe of some kind.

At Tenby we descended a very long steep flight of steps to walk along the beach at low tide.

DAY 2

A stroll along Tenby's other beach, followed by high headlands and cliffs with a stiff headwind and occasional showers. And a short detour for scones at Bubbleton Farm shop. 

Signs of past industry.

Looking out to Caldey Island and St Margarets Island.

There are a lot of these static caravan holiday  parks in the UK. This was one of the nicer ones and we had to walk through the middle of it.

Steps down to see Church Door. (There are twice as many steps when you go back up)

The Church Door.

More drama. More rain.

Kings Quoit. (Old burial chamber)

When in Wales, castles are inevitable. This one, Manorbrier Castle,  is over 1,000 years old and has royal connections back to Henry I.

One of the round rooms in the towers. Fit for a princess. I think I'll have this one.

Sea views, to see your ships come in, or your enemies.

Mind the steps! 

The chapel. A wedding venue. Beautiful.

Every castle must have a dungeon.

Last day in Tenby

We checked out of The Sleepy Puffin Guesthouse where Debbie had been cooking us the most amazing breakfasts.

Each day we had tried to take the very weather dependent ferry ride to Caldey Island, but it wasn't running, hence our walking and garden visits instead. Our patience was rewarded on our last day at Tenby.

A 20 minute small ferry ride from Tenby, Caldey is an island of sandy beaches, woodland, open fields, cliffs and a Cistercian monastry. 

Tourists are not permitted in the big building and we saw no monks, but apparently they make money from the ferry, a tea room and making chocolate and lavender products. We did visit three churches, all very different.

I found a horse to talk to when we walked to the lighthouse.

After our day on Caldey Island we caught a bus to Manorbier where we stayed overnight to continue our walk the next day. We had an excellent dinner in the pub across the road, the only pub in the village.