Pembroke
At a point 51km (32 miles) southwest of Carmarthen and 405km (252 miles) west of London, the ancient borough of Pembroke is the most English town in South Wales. It was never really a typical Welsh town, because the Normans and the English had such a strong hold on it. It was settled by English and Flemish people, and its first language was always English. It is visited for two reasons today -- to see Pembroke Castle, one of the most impressive in South Wales, and to use it as a base for exploring the national park.
Pembroke received its charter about 1090 from King Henry I and was built around Pembroke Castle, a great fortress set on a rocky spur above the town. The town walls formed the castle's outer ward, and the entire complex, a 14-mile-wide medieval defense system, can still be viewed as a fortified town, with the castle as its hub.
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
This national park is the smallest of Britain's national parks. It's unique in that it extends over cliff and beaches whereas most parks encompass mountains or hill country. The coastline takes in 180 miles (290km) of sheer rugged beauty, with towering cliffs and turbulent waters. Tenby is the chief resort for exploring the park, but the town of Pembroke itself and St. Davids also make worthy stopovers.
