Christmas is coming!

With the unveiling of the Christmas adverts hitting our screens, it’s safe to say that the run up to all the Christmas festivities has truly begun.

Pembrokeshire is best known for its beautiful golden sandy beaches and idyllic coastline for Summer holiday fun in the sun.  However, the Winter months are jam packed with Christmas markets, Santa runs and cold sea plunges!

With over 600 castles in Wales, there is a healthy sprinkling of castles and ancient monuments within Pembrokeshire, some of which host fabulous Christmas markets within great surroundings.  At Pembroke Castle, there is an exciting Christmas market extravaganza within the castle walls from 24th to 26th November. There are many stalls to buy locally produced foods, drinks, and crafts.  Santa makes a big arrival on the Friday evening and is resident in his grotto throughout the weekend at set times.  He hands out gifts but only to the well-behaved children and accepts Christmas lists to take back to Lapland.  The castle is illuminated to add to this festive atmosphere and there is a very good chance of a bit of snow!

Saundersfoot harbour welcomes the ‘Festival by the Sea’ which kicks off on the 1st – 3rd December with a fun fair, stalls, live music, kitchen demo’s and a Santa’s grotto.  There is a lantern parade, the turning on of the Christmas tree lights and local school children singing carols.

On the 7th December the Christmas market gets into full swing at another Pembrokeshire landmark – Carew Castle, with the mince pies being sold, stalls to browse and of course Santa makes another appearance, he is very busy at this time of year!

For all those of you who need to get energised then meander down to the pretty village of Broad Haven for the Christmas pudding run, fancy dress is optional, however you do have to complete the 10K course to receive your free Christmas pudding – which makes a nice change from a medal?

Alternatively dressing up for the Tenby Santa dash is compulsory, whether it’s the full red suit with black wellington boots or just a Santa hat.  Whatever you choose you need to be outside St Mary’s church at 12 midday for the start.

Christmas just isn’t Christmas without a pantomime and this year sees Cinderella at the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven, book your tickets online.  This production opens 20th December and runs through to 3rd January – you shall go to the ball…...

If you enjoy midnight mass on Christmas Eve there is nowhere better than St David’s cathedral. With breathtaking architecture and the heavenly sounds of the choir singing, it really is a wonderful night, to soak up the true spirit of Christmas.

The annual Tenby Boxing day swim is a great excuse to wrap up warm and venture into Tenby either to be one of the 600 fancy dress dippers or a bemused spectator.  To watch this spectacle, you need to grab your position overlooking Tenby’s North Beach before the start at 11.30am.  After this it’s wise to have a pre-booked table at one of the many lovely cafes, pubs, and restaurants in the town for a hearty lunch afterwards.

We have a super selection of Christmas cottages available for a week or a short break to tie in with the many events happening within the county.