| Tenby in Pembrokeshire,Wales |
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This delightful town with its medieval town walls and charming winding streets has more than four kilometres of golden sandy beaches and can also boast a welcoming charm, a brewery, fabulous seafood and a host of eateries and pubs. Make your move to Tenby – one of the sunniest places in Wales.
Tenby is one of the prettiest seaside towns in Wales with its gaily painted Georgian townhouses overlooking the harbour, its medieval walls and atmospheric ruined castle. It’s a town of some 5,000 people, yet has an impressive cache of 372 listed buildings. When you add to that its acres of sandy beaches, plethora of eating houses, and friendly, buzzy vibe it’s no wonder it’s a hugely desirable place to live.
Tenby’s Welsh name is Dinbych-y-pysgod, literally fortlet of the fish. The town’s history stretches back through the ages. With its strategic position on the far west coast of Britain, its sheltered harbour, protected from both the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea, it was a natural settlement point.
The old town is cradled by splendid medieval walls, which are some of the best-preserved and most historically important in the UK. Grade I listed, these walls encompass a maze of narrow, winding streets housing interesting shops and cafes.
Another testament to Tenby’s strategic importance through the ages is the ‘Palmerston Fort’ located on the tidal St Catherine’s Island. During the Napoleonic Wars a chain of forts was built around the UK at the behest of then Prime Minister Lord Palmerston. Tenby’s fort was completed in 1870. However, the forts were also known as Palmerston’s follies as scepticism abounded as to their usefulness should a French invasion take place.
For walkers and strollers, the spectacular 186-mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path passes through Tenby, and the town makes an appealing stopover on this popular long-distance trail. If you feel like proving your mettle, the annual Ironman event should suffice. Start off with a sunrise swim on North Beach, followed by a vigorous cycle along the coastal path, culminating in a run through the town centre. For those who like a more sedentary lifestyle, it’s a great spectator sport. And there’s ample opportunity to cheer on the competitors from the safety of the town’s watering holes.
