Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

{{Infobox protected area

| name = Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

| iucn_category = V

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| photo = Area around Porth Coch Mawr and Porth y Ffynnon, W of Porthclais, Sir Benfro - Pembrokeshire, Wales 09.jpg

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Area of Porth Coch Mawr and Porth y Ffynnon, near Porthclais

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| map_image =Pembrokeshire Coast National Park UK location map.svg

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| map_caption =Location of the national park in Pembrokeshire, Wales

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| location = Pembrokeshire, Wales, United Kingdom

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| established = 1952

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|alt_name={{native name|cy|Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro}}}}

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park ({{langx|cy|Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro}}) is a national park along the Pembrokeshire coast in west Wales.

It was established as a National Park in 1952. It is one of the three National parks of Wales, the others being the Brecon Beacons ({{lang|cy|Bannau Brycheiniog}}) and Snowdonia ({{lang|cy|Eryri}}). It is the only national park in the United Kingdom to consist largely of coastal landscapes.{{cite web|title=Welsh Government: Visit Wales|url=https://www.visitwales.com/destinations/west-wales/pembrokeshire/exploring-pembrokeshire-coast-national-park|access-date=3 July 2020}}{{cite magazine|magazine=National Geographic|title=Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel-and-adventure/2017/11/pembrokeshire-coast-national-park-wales|date=2 November 2017|access-date=3 July 2020}}

Landscape

File:St Govans' chapel - geograph.org.uk - 876068.jpg]]

The National Park has a varied landscape of rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, wooded estuaries, wild inland hills, the moorland of the Preseli Hills and the wooded {{lang|cy|Gwaun|italic=no}} valley. The total area is {{convert|629|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}. There are four distinct sections: clockwise these are the south Pembrokeshire coast, including Caldey Island; the {{lang|cy|Daugleddau|italic=no}} estuary; the St Bride's Bay coast, including the coastal islands; and the Preseli Hills.

The geology of the area is of particular interest with many good exposures both inland and along the coast, exhibiting a variety of rock types and structural features such as natural arches, stacks, rock folding and sea caves. A stack of note is Elegug Stacks ({{lang|cy|Creigiau Elegug}}), two large detached pillars of limestone which in the spring provide valued nesting sites for razorbills and guillemots.{{cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/nature/thingstodo/walks/allwalks/stack_rocks_st_govans.shtml | title=Stack Rocks/St Govan's | work=BBC Wales | access-date=5 February 2011}} In the north, the rocks of {{lang|cy|Carn Llidi|italic=no}}, {{lang|cy|Pen Beri|italic=no}} and {{lang|cy|Garn Fawr|italic=no}}, together with the extensive moorland on {{lang|cy|Mynydd Carningli|italic=no}} and {{lang|cy|Mynydd Preseli|italic=no}}, give an exposed and mountainous feel to the landscape, cut through by the wooded valleys of the {{lang|cy|Gwaun|italic=no}} and Nevern. In the west, the National Park is dominated by the broad sweep of St Bride's Bay, bounded at its northern end by Ramsey Island, near St David's peninsula, and at its southern end by Skomer. The southern coast is another contrast, with the limestone plateau and cliffs of the Castlemartin peninsula, the steep-sided wooded valleys inland from Amroth; the Bosherston lakes — now, like much of the coastal strip, in the care of the National Trust — and the tourist resorts of Tenby and Saundersfoot. Between the western and southern areas of the National Park lies the Milford Haven waterway, where the tranquil {{lang|cy|Daugleddau|italic=no}} estuary feeds into one of the finest natural deep water harbours in the world.{{cite web|title=Pembrokeshire Coast National Park|url=https://www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/|access-date=3 July 2020}}

File:Pentre Ifan burial chamber - geograph.org.uk - 384085.jpg]]

The National Park includes many sites (such as {{lang|cy|Pentre Ifan|italic=no}}) of historic and archaeological importance and areas which are of national or international nature conservation significance in their own right, 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 voted Pembrokeshire the second best coastal destination in the world for sustainable tourism.[http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/article.asp?PageId=3&ArticleId=606 www.NationalTrails.co.uk - news article] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628171903/http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/article.asp?PageId=3&ArticleId=606 |date=2011-06-28 }}{{Cite web |title=Welsh Wonders: Uncovering Hidden Gems – Europe Guidebook |url=https://europeguidebook.com/wales |access-date=2023-04-03 |language=en-US}}[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/need-to-read/2011/08/10/pembrokeshire-coast-path-walks-off-with-accolade-of-being-one-of-world-s-top-trails-91466-29209191/2/ www.WalesOnline.co.uk - Accolade of being one of world's top trails]

In January 2016 the Authority launched the "Changing Coasts" project to document the way the coastline has changed as a result of recent winter storms; the project invites visitors to submit photographs taken (at any time of day) from fixed points; a pilot study will be carried out at {{lang|cy|Abereiddy|italic=no}}.{{cite news|publisher=BBC|date=31 January 2016|title=Pembrokeshire Changing Coasts photography project launched|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-35440757|access-date=1 February 2016}}

Pembrokeshire Coast Path

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is a designated National Trail.{{cite web |url=http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/trail.asp?PageId=33 |title=Pembrokeshire Coast Path |publisher=National Trails |access-date=14 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817224247/http://nationaltrail.co.uk/trail.asp?PageId=33 |archive-date=17 August 2013 |url-status=dead }} It was established in 1970, and is {{convert|186|mi}} long, much of it at cliff-top level, with a total of {{convert|35,000|ft}} of ascent and descent.

The southern end of the path is at Amroth. The northern end was regarded as being at Poppit Sands, near St. Dogmaels, where the official plaque was sited;{{cite web|title=Coast Path Marker|url=http://www.pemcoastphotos.com/photo_7626422.html|publisher=Pembrokeshire Coastal Photography|access-date=29 May 2014}} however, the path now continues to St. Dogmaels,{{cite book| title=Pembrokeshire Coast Path |first=Brian |last=John |publisher=Aurum Press |year=2012 |isbn=978-1845137823}}{{cite web |url=http://www.visitpembrokeshire.com/content.asp?nav=9,25&parent_directory_id=1 |title=Pembrokeshire Coast Path: Newport to St Dogmaels |publisher=visitpembrokeshire.com |access-date=14 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618072606/http://www.visitpembrokeshire.com/content.asp?nav=9%2C25&parent_directory_id=1 |archive-date=18 June 2013 }} where a new marker was unveiled in July 2009,{{cite web |url=http://nt.pcnpa.org.uk/website/sitefiles/nat_trail.asp |title=St Dogmaels to Newport (Town) 16 miles, (25.7 Kilometres)| work=Planning a Trip |publisher=National Trails |access-date=14 August 2013}} and links with the Ceredigion Coast Path to continue northwards{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-12521787 |title=All-Wales coast path moves a step closer at St Dogmaels |publisher=BBC News South West Wales |date=21 February 2011 |access-date=14 August 2013}} as part of the Wales Coast Path, the {{convert|870|mi|adj=on}} long-distance walking route around the whole coast of Wales from Chepstow to Queensferry, which was officially opened in 2012.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-15283462 |title=All-Wales coast path nears completion |publisher=BBC News Wales |date=17 October 2011 |access-date=14 August 2013}}

Administration

The Park is managed by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, which has around 150 staff and a committee of 18 members. The Authority's purposes are to conserve and enhance the National Park, and encourage the public to enjoy and understand it. In pursuing these purposes, the authority has a duty to foster the social and economic well-being of the communities within its boundaries. Its offices are in Pembroke Dock.{{cite web |title=About the National Park Authority |url=https://www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/about-the-national-park-authority/ |accessdate=2021-08-07 |publisher=Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority}} The Chief Executive is Tegryn Jones.{{Cite news |date=2020-08-07 |title=Pembrokeshire crackdown on 'wild camping' in car parks |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-53681747 |access-date=2021-08-07}}

The Authority also manages the entire length of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, a {{convert|186|mi|adj=on}} national trail which lies almost entirely within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

In light of renaming of the other two Welsh national parks, the authority stated it plans to retains both its English and Welsh name in April 2023.{{Cite news |date=2023-04-17 |title=Brecon Beacons: Park to use Welsh name Bannau Brycheiniog |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-65274952 |access-date=2023-04-17}}

Beaches

File:Barafundle Bay beach (May 2009).jpg]]

Over the years Pembrokeshire's beaches, all of which lie in the National Park, have been awarded many International Blue Flag Awards (10 in 2014{{cite news|publisher=Western Telegraph|title=Blue flags fly over Pembrokeshire beaches|url=http://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/11277545.Blue_flags_fly_over_Pembrokeshire_beaches/?ref=var_0|date=13 June 2014|access-date=14 June 2014}}), 47 Green Coast Awards (15 in 2011) and 106 Seaside Awards (31 in 2011).[http://www.visitwales.co.uk/regions-of-wales/coast-wales-coastline-beaches-and-islands/ VisitWales.co.uk - Pembrokeshire beaches] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106160918/http://www.visitwales.co.uk/regions-of-wales/coast-wales-coastline-beaches-and-islands/ |date=2012-01-06 }} Retrieved 19 December 2011Pembrokeshire (Annual Guide), Pembrokeshire Tourism, 2011 In 2011 it also had 39 beaches recommended by the Marine Conservation Society.

Beaches in the park include: