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When it comes to planning a holiday, Wales is a hidden gem offering a plethora of breath-taking landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture that make it an ideal holiday destination. From its majestic mountains to its stunning coastline, Wales has something to offer every type of traveller. And if you're dreaming of a family holiday in a stunning coastal location without breaking the bank? Look no further than Pembrokeshire, a breath-taking region in Wales with picturesque beaches, charming villages, and a wealth of affordable activities to keep the whole family entertained, with budget-friendly ideas for creating unforgettable memories on your family adventure.  1. Stay With Us:
Since we arrived at Trenewydd Farm just over three years ago, we've been constantly working towards creating a holiday destination where you can be entertained, and relax. So... you don't need to go anywhere! Have a swim in our heated outdoor pool; relax in a hot tub; play a few rounds of FootGolf; have a ball games in our games field; play outdoor Chess, Connect4, or Swingball; enjoy the kids' playframe; have a BBQ; borrow a board game or some cards; have a scalextric tournament; or simply relax on one of the outdoor benches and watch the trains go round on the garden railway. While we're here, remember that if you book directly with us, you'll get the best price for your stay.. 2. Picnic in Paradise: Embrace the beauty of Pembrokeshire's natural landscapes by packing a picnic for a day at the beach or a hike along the coast. Local markets and supermarkets provide a great selection of fresh, local produce to create delicious and cost-effective meals for the whole family. 3. Free Beach Fun: Pembrokeshire is famous for its stunning beaches, and the best part is that many of them are free to enjoy! Spend a day building sandcastles, playing beach games, and paddling in the clear waters without spending a penny. 4. Coastal Walks: Explore Pembrokeshire's picturesque coastal paths without breaking your budget. Many walking trails offer stunning views of the coastline and wildlife encounters, making it a memorable experience for the whole family. 5. Wildlife Watching: Discover the diverse wildlife that inhabits Pembrokeshire's nature reserves and coastal areas. From seals and seabirds to dolphins and porpoises, there are plenty of opportunities for free wildlife watching. 6. Visit Free Attractions: Take advantage of the many free attractions in Pembrokeshire, such as historical sites, local museums, and cultural festivals. Check local event listings to see what's happening during your stay.. 7. National Trust and RSPB Properties: Consider purchasing a family pass to the National Trust or RSPB properties in Pembrokeshire. These memberships offer free access to stunning gardens, historic houses, and wildlife reserves throughout the region. 8. Explore Quaint Cities, Towns, and Villages: Stroll through charming places like Cardigan, Tenby, St. Davids, Narberth, and Newport, where you can soak up the local culture, architecture, and picturesque surroundings without spending a fortune. 9. Rockpooling Adventures: For a fun and educational family activity, head to the shores during low tide and explore the rock pools for fascinating marine life. All you need is a bucket and a curious spirit! 10. Family Bike Rides: Bring your bikes with you and head to one of the traffic free places nearby for a family bike ride, such as the Welsh Wildlife Centre, or Llys-y-Fran reservoir. A family holiday in Pembrokeshire on a tight budget is not only possible but also immensely rewarding. With its stunning landscapes, free attractions, and affordable activities, Pembrokeshire guarantees an unforgettable experience for all. By planning ahead and seeking out budget-friendly options, you can create cherished memories with your loved ones without compromising on fun and adventure. So, pack your bags, bring your enthusiasm, and get ready for an amazing getaway! Firstly, of course, one of our main objectives here at Trenewydd Farm is to create a fun place for children to spend time so that you can just relax. As we start heading into the warmer months, the swimming pool and FootGolf course become very popular. Plus there's the games field for a kick about, the play frame, the garden railway, the outdoor chess set, giant Connect4 and Jenga, the Scalextric shack, and 10 acres of grounds for just running about. But if you want to take them out for the day, what's nearby?  Five places within 20 minutes of Trenewydd Farm.
1. Cardigan Island Coastal Farm Park Overlooking the Teifi estuary and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, this coastal park is located on a picturesque headland looking over Cardigan Bay and Cardigan island. There are farm animals to meet and feed, and a fenced clifftop walk to the headland from where you can look out for seals and dolphins. There's a visitor's centre with gift shop and café, as well as indoor and outdoor play areas. Full details 2. Welsh Wildlife Centre The Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve is a fabulous day out for anyone who enjoys nature, or just exploring outdoors. Either head to the Centre itself, or park up in Cardigan and take an easy stroll over the boardwalk, looking out for kingfishers, otters, red deer, wading birds, and water buffalo. The Teifi marshes holds some of the most wonderful flora and fauna in the UK, the BBC's Autumnwatch was filmed here last year. If you want to keep walking, head on into the Teifi Gorge and look out for the walls of Cilgerran Castle. There's visitor information and scrummy food to be found at the Glasshouse Café while you're there. Full details 3. Castell Henllys This is a fabulous day out, especially on a sunshiney day. A walk through woodland and a unique sensory Barefoot Trail winds round up to the Iron Age structures, which are set on the footings of an actual village so as to be as close to reality as possible. The buildings are filled with artefacts that have been found in the area, as well as items made as they would have been in that era. There are knowledgeable guides to talk to, the kids can make bread, and you can have a go at a sling shot. There's a shop and café too, for those who've worked up an appetite. Full details 4. The Loft activity centre If the weather isn't really accommodating for an outdoor day, the Loft in Cardigan is a fantastic option. It's right by the Quay Street car park in town, so it's very easy to access. There are two brilliant escape rooms, a fab crazy golf course, a climbing wall, kurling, air hockey... and you can grab a coffee while you're there too. Check out the website and book up the activities. Full details 5. Penrallt Garden Centre For something a little more lowkey, to keep the kids busy for a bit, why not head to the garden centre - just over five minutes away. A bonus as you drive there is the spectacular views over towards Dinas Head. The cafe there serves lovely food and snacks, and has thick shakes for the kids. Take it outside, and there's a fabulous fort play structure to keep them busy for a while. If you want to do something a bit more energetic, take the footpath through the fields and down to Ceibwr Bay - keep on going up to the Witches Cauldron if it's going well. Just remember, it's uphill on the way back! You may find these other websites helpful: - Visit Cardigan - Cardigan Bay - Visit Pembrokeshire You may have noticed that trains feature heavily chez Trenewydd, and really, you can't beat a nostalgic steam engine chuffing its way through the gorgeous Welsh countryside.  1. Vale of Rheidol Railway
This is a full day out, for sure, and a fantastic one. First, it's a drive up the beautiful coastline to Aberystwyth which is a wonder in itself. There, you'll head through the charming station to pick up the narrow gauge steam train and settle in for the ride. The journey from there to Devil's Bridge is spectacular as it winds through some truly lovely scenery: fields, streams, ancient woodland, and mountains. Once you arrive, it's a short walk to the famous Mynach Falls and Devil's Punchbowl. You have a choice of walking routes around the falls depending on how long you want to take; we picked the longest one and it was certainly worth the effort. There are plenty of places to rest along the way, either to catch your breath or just take in the scenery. Be warned though, it's not suitable for a buggy or wheelchair. When you emerge from the end of the walk, handily, the Hafod restaurant is right there for some well deserved refreshments before you head back to the station for the return journey. Full details 2. Teifi Valley Railway This narrow gauge railway runs along the original GWR track and has a chequered history to say the least, but since 2014 work has continued in earnest to improve and extend the line and it's a lovely day out. As well as the journey itself, you'll find a very sweet café for refreshments; a cute Pixie Line for the young and young at heart to enjoy (look out for Pixie villages, camp sites and secrets in the trees); and a fantastic museum set up in the old signal box. Full details 3. Gwili Steam Railway What's special about this lovely experience is that you can book a dining train! How fabulous; you can choose either a scrumptious dinner or a vintage cream tea to enjoy while you watch the scenery passing by. Both sound amazing; perfect for a birthday or anniversary treat. Or if you just want something a little more exclusive, then why not book a compartment for you and your travelling companions? Full details Our goal here at Trenewydd Farm is simple; we aim to make your stay with us as enjoyable, relaxing, and fun as possible. We have various activities on site: our swimming pool, FootGolf course, Slot Car Shack, games field, table tennis, and giant outdoor chess, jenga and connect4.... However, we understand that you still might like to explore the area! Of course, there are the gorgeous sandy beaches, stunning walks, quirky towns, boat trips, and all the activities on offer from companies such as Cardigan Bay Active, or Adventure Beyond. But if you don't have much time with us, or you want a relaxed day, you might want to go for one of the very nearest attractions.  1. Castell Henllys (11 minutes)
Our guests always rave about a visit to this Iron Age Village. The fort was reconstructed on its original foundations, and is a fascinating look at how life would have been. There's also plenty of wildlife to look out for, walks though woodland and alongside the river, and also a Barefoot Trail. Website 2. Cardigan Island Coastal Farm Park (15 minutes) A great opportunity to take a stroll along the cliff top overlooking Cardigan Island and enjoy those stunning coastal views. Look carefully out to sea, and you may be lucky enough to see Atlantic grey seals, or bottlenose dolphins. There are plenty of farm animals which you can wander around and see, and even feed them if you want to, including sheep, goats, pigs, donkeys, rabbits, and also alpacas. There's a play area and café too, so you can relax before and after your cliff top walk. Website 3. The Welsh Wildlife Centre (14 minutes) A wonderful place to visit, either to walking or cycle, with tidal mudbanks and reedbeds, and you'll find pasture, woodland, and freshwater marsh. This is one of the best wetland sites in Wales, where'll you see all kinds of wildlife such as kingfishers, marsh harriers, mallards, sika deer, and even water buffalo. If you want to venture further, why not take a walk along the boardwalk into Cardigan town. Or pick up some refreshments from the Glasshouse Café and sit and enjoy the view across the Teifi Estuary. Website 4. Heritage Canoes (14 minutes) A lovely, safe, and easy way to take to the water, suitable for all ages and abilities. Canoeing in the Teifi gorge is a wonderful adventure, and a chance to see plenty of native wildlife, even an otter or two. Website You may find these other websites helpful: - Things to do in Cardigan - Visit Cardigan - Visit Pembrokeshire Well the short answer is, yes, do bring them. There are plenty of options for bike lovers, from adults looking for a serious cycling workout to toddlers wanting to toodle along traffic-free paths; and you can keep your bikes safely locked up here when you're not using them. Trenewydd Farm sits on sustrans cycle route 82, a 131 mile journey from Bangor to Fishguard, so you can cycle directly from your cottage should you choose. This is road cycling though, however quiet, and also pretty challenging in terms of hills so it's best suited to adults. We are also only about 15 minutes from the Preseli Hills, where you'll find some of the best mountain biking around, includes routes such as the Stones Trail which is 12 miles of stunning views.  Family Friendly Bike Routes
One of our favourite things to do on a family holiday is bring the bikes and get out and enjoy the countryside. Add in the bonus that it helps to burn off all that excited holiday energy and it's definitely something to work into your itinerary. If you don't have your own bikes to bring, then Bike Bike Bike in Cardigan may be able to help. There are so many trails you can take in Pembrokeshire or neighbouring Ceredigion, on quiet and beautiful roads - see the links at the bottom for more options. However, if you are looking for extra safe, traffic-free routes then choose one of these: 1. Cardigan to the Welsh Wildlife Centre - the 'Cardi Bach' (1.3 miles each way) This gorgeous route goes from just outside Cardigan along the peaceful Teifi marshes to the Wildlife Centre in Cilgerran - one of the best wetland reserves in Wales - is well worth a visit. It's the nearest traffic-free route to Trenewydd, only about ten minutes away. Handily, as well as looking out for wildlife on the way there, it means you can look around the Centre too, and stop for refreshments at the Glasshouse Café. There is an outdoor playground and head a little further to see the old slate quarry in the gorge. Further still takes you into Cilgerran itself, with its lovely shops and ancient castle. If you wanted to venture even further, the Meeting of the Waters Trail goes on to cover over 17 miles. 2. Llys-y-Frân Lake (various routes) Llys-y-Frân is a fantastic option for plenty of outdoor activities on land and water, and cycling is one of them. It has recently reopened after a £4 million renovation to its visitor centre and recreational facilities, as well as a new outdoor activity centre. There are four options to choose from of varying length and difficulty within the nine miles on offer, including mountain bike trails and a family friendly trail. If you haven't brought bikes with you, they can be hired on-site. There are plenty of water based activities too, and an adventure playground, so you can 3. Pantmaenog Forest (various) Pantmaenog is a privately owned forest, and has 12km of signposted forest tracks and bridleways to roam so you can choose how far you want to go. It's perfect for cyclists of all ages and abilities to have a go at mountain biking. The forest is open to horse riding too, and they cleverly send you in opposite directions so that you can pass each other safely. Not forgetting of course the panoramic views of Pembrokeshire to enjoy. 4. The Tramway, Saundersfoot (4 miles) A little further afield is this disused railway line from the old Ironworks, a very popular and flat trail with wonderful sea views, as well a colliery and mineral railway. There is the added fun of heading into a tunnel, too! There is a short section on a quiet road. You could combine this trip with a visit to ever-popular town of Tenby to make it a full day out. Visit these websites for more ideas: Cycle Pembrokeshire Cardigan Bay Cycle Maps & Routes Wales Coast Path - other cycling routes near the path Cycling in Ceredigion Ok, yes it's true - Wales can be wet. It's not always wall to wall glorious sunshine and stunning blue skies, although there's nothing more beautiful than West Wales on those perfect summer days. But if there's one thing we can't guarantee here, it's good weather. So if it does happen to rain, to some extent it's a case of just getting on with it... as Alfred Wainwright famously said in his 1973 book Coast to Coast, "There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing." As adults, there is a wealth of museums, galleries, castles, cathedrals and shopping on offer, or you could try some of the myriad water-based activities nearby that will get you wet anyway. If you have children, however, and you don't want them to get all soggy, then you'll need some suggestions.  7 Indoor Options
1. Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo Located near Tenby, about 40 minutes from us is Folly Farm which has a wealth of outdoor fun: plenty of animal enclosures to walk around and some outdoor rides. If it's chucking it down, this is a great option as there is a huge under cover vintage fair - apparently the largest in Europe - with rides, dodgems, and even a ghost train. You can spend plenty of time indoors keeping dry, and then venture out if the sun does happen to peek through. Full details 2. The Creative Cafe Pottery Painting Unleash the artist within and do some pottery painting or make clay hand and footprints. Open 7 days a week, this is is a great choice, and there are two Cafes nearby in Narberth or Haverfordwest. Full details 3. Felinwynt Playbarn The nearest indoor play place to us is Felinwynt, which is just the other side of Cardigan. There's soft play for children up to the age of 10, with a café adjacent to watch over the little ones. Full details 4. Hangar 5 Trampoline Park This is a great option for having the kids wear off some energy while you supervise from the cafe with a hot drink and food. If the kids are a little small for trampolining, there's a soft play area too. Full details 5. Heatherton World of Activities Also near Tenby, Heatherton has plenty of activities that you can do under cover, including a soft play area, escape rooms, and an indoor racing track, Pembrokeshire Raceway which is a 1/24 scale slot car track. Full details 6. The Dinosaur Park We always have great reviews from our guests who go to the Dinosaur Park, and on a rainy day there is an indoor playground, with soft play for the younger ones and a separate area for older children. Full details 7. West Wales Karting If you're after a little more adrenaline for ages 8 and upwards, then how about some indoor karting? They have a 300 metre indoor track, with five hairpins and a 70 metre straight so it caters for all abilities. Full details |