Pembrokeshire voted top UK coastal path
Published: Friday 9th Apr 2010
Written by: Gareth Mahoney
Best of Wales customers have long since recognised the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. In fact Best of Wales currently has 8 luxury Holiday Cottages that are all only yards away from the Pembrokeshire Coast Path that has just been voted the best coastal walkway in the UK by readers of a magazine.
Readers of Coast voted the 186-mile route in west Wales, which is celebrating its 40th year, as their favourite long-distance path.
The walk is almost entirely inside the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, and was the first National Trail in Wales.
Charles Mathieson, head of recreation and tourism for the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, collected the award and said: “The Coast Path is one of the key foundations of tourism in Pembrokeshire and makes a significant contribution to the county’s economy.
“This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the path and it’s wonderful to have national recognition for this fabulous resource and to know that it is still valued 40 years on.”
To see a selction of our cottages that are all within walking distance of the coastal path click here.
Stile-free
Mr Mathieson said the authority was working to ensure the path was accessible to everyone. More than 100,000 people use the Coast Path each year.
“A number of stretches are now stile-free, including 42 miles between Pembroke Dock and Nolton Haven and 23 miles from Newgale to Penberi.
“In fact, we’ve removed over 400 stiles from the path in the past 10 years.”
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is one of 16 National Trails in England and Wales. It beat off competition at the award ceremony from the South West Coast Path, in Somerset and Dorset, and Fife Coast Path, on the east coast of Scotland, which were also shortlisted by readers.
Coast magazine is a spin-off of the BBC Two programme.
Browns Chip Shop in Pembroke, run by the late Connie Brown, was highly commended in the unsung coastal hero category.
Mrs Brown, who was still working aged 102 at the fish and chip shop she opened with her late husband more than 80 years earlier, died in January this year.
For more information on walking holidays visit www.bestofwales.co.uk
