These are unusual times, and the state of affairs can change quickly. Please check the latest travel guidance before making your journey. Our writers visited these hotels pre-pandemic.
With expansive sea views, hidden coves battered by wind and wave, and a coastal path rambling up and over cliff, stile and kissing gate, Pembrokeshire is an instant heart-stealer. Dive headfirst into this gorgeous swathe of Wales’ southwest coast with a stay at one of its most romantic hotels. Whether it’s to be a chic revamped Norman castle, with dreamy views across St Brides Bay, an intimate Victorian mansion, or a Georgian manor on estuary shores, with soothing views over woods and water, we’ve got you covered. Here’s our pick of the most romantic hotels in Pembrokeshire.
Penrhiw Hotel
St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Above a wooded valley on the fringes of St Davids, Penrhiw (which means ‘top of the hill’) is surrounded by neat gardens, a wildflower meadow and lots of trees. The setting complements the gabled, stone mansion (formerly a vicarage in the 1880s and a priory for a period of time after) which serves as a luxurious b&b complete with grandly proportioned rooms, imposing marble fireplaces, velvet sofas, abstract modern art and good Welsh breakfasts. Couples can choose from six rooms in the main house, or two in the coach house (one is very snazzy with a giant outdoor terrace).
From
£
264
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
• The best hotels in Wales
Slebech Park Estate
Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales
On the shores of the Dau Gleddau Estuary, with stirring views over woods and water, this deliciously romantic hideaway has eschewed country-cottage twee in favour of a chic-yet-understated rustic look. The exposed stone, hand-turned wood, high ceilings, huge arched windows and warm hues give the Georgian manor a near-Italianate flair, as do the olive trees on the sun terrace, which fills with wood smoke drifting from the restaurant’s open fire on crisp days. This is the setting for full-on rustic romance, with soft lamplight and excellent organic, home-grown produce. Rooms have plenty of personality, go for the light-drenched Dunluce II, with a jetted tub and a terrace.
From
£
90
per night
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Penally Abbey
Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales
This beautiful Strawberry Gothic house is run with love by the family who own it. Inside, much of the furniture has been sourced from local antique shops and French markets, floors are carpeted in warm, worn Persian rugs, the piano is topped with books, and the views are of dune and sea. It’s like a home from home, perfectly suited to couples. There is a cosy bar, a suntrap of a conservatory, sitting room with open fire, an elegant dining room with vast windows that overlook lovely gardens tumbing down towards the sea. A 30-minute walk brings you to the jolly seaside town of Tenby and local ‘secret’ beaches.
From
£
150
per night
Rates provided by
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Roch Castle Hotel
Roch, Pembrokeshire, Wales
In a very peaceful spot on the outskirts of the modern village of Roch, romantic dreams are made at this heavily restored, 800-year-old Norman castle with stirring views from most of the rooms (sunsets can be magical), a chic, designer interior with 21st-century comforts, and a fascinating history dating to the 12th century. Breakfasts champion local produce and for dinner there’s a free shuttle to sister property, Twr y Felin Hotel. For special occasions, consider splashing out on Ap Gryffydd, one of the most expensive rooms, which has big windows looking out towards the sea and is near the top of the castle.
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Grove of Narberth
Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Georgian meets Arts and Crafts interiors with a Welsh slant at what is arguably Pembrokeshire’s smartest country house hotel. Amid deep countryside, with distant views of the Preseli Hills, the hotel has 26 bedrooms across the main buildings and cottages in the grounds. Some are traditional (ornate fireplaces, gilt mirrors, floral or William Morris-style wallpaper) while others are more contemporary, but all have the softest of sheets, posh toiletries, thick towels and house-made biscotti. Suites also come with a complimentary minibar. Under experienced chef Douglas Balish, food is where the place really excels. There are two restaurants: The Fernery, a posh, dinner-only affair with tasting menus, and less formal but excellent The Artisan Rooms.
From
£
248
per night
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Priskilly Forest
Castlemorris, Wales
Drive along the steeply hedgerowed tracks wending into deepest Pembrokeshire and there, tucked down among oak woods, wildflower-stippled meadows and rolling farmland, is this idyllic-looking country manor. Evocative of a more graceful age, the house is filled with family heirlooms and antique furnishings, and perfumed with garden blooms courtesy of budding owner-florist Joy. Soft light spills in through the draped sash windows, vintage crockery dangles from Welsh dressers, chandeliers hang from high ceilings and William Morris wallcovers lend interest to the drawing room, where breakfasts are served and a log fire crackles in winter. Light suppers are served in the golf clubhouse’s Y Cabin bistro and bar.
From
£
147
per night
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Twr y Felin Hotel
Pembrokeshire, Wales
Twr y Felin’s windmill dates from 1806 and was for a time used as a GCHQ U-boat lookout in World War Two (if you want to push the boat out you can stay in its two-storey suite). The building below served as a temperance hotel for much of the 20th century, and now has a resolutely modern feel and arty look. More than a hundred big and bold pieces of specially commissioned art – some abstract, others naturalistic, most inspired by Pembrokeshire scenes – decorate the rooms and walls of the gallery-like, vaulted main lounge. Make time to dine at Blas Restaurant, which offers some of the best elaborate, upmarket dining to be found in this part of Wales.
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Trefloyne Manor
Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales
This family-run hotel near the resort of Tenby occupies a rambling, mostly Victorian stone building and outbuildings. In its two sitting rooms are wood-burning stoves, slate and boarded flooring and leather sofas. There’s a relaxing black-and-red floor-tiled bar, a lovely and light large conservatory restaurant, which has views over the golf course, plus a very attractive, small-scale spa in an old dovecote (candles are placed in niches after dark). The 12 bedrooms are all characterful but choose one in the converted coach house for more space, wooden floors, whitewashed and exposed stone walls, big beds, mirrors and fancy bathrooms. The Coach House bedroom has a slipper bath romantically placed within the room.
From
£
130
per night
Rates provided by
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Llys Meddyg
Pembrokeshire, Wales
If you’re looking for a stylishly intimate base for rambles on this glorious stretch of the Pembrokeshire coast, here you have it. The Grade II-listed Georgian coaching house sits snugly among the stone cottages lining the high street in the pretty coastal town of Newport, just a couple of miles from a broad, dune-flanked beach. The look inside is part rural Wales, part urban sophisticate, with art (including moody coastscapes by the late Peter Daniels) hanging on walls, a palette of muted greys, greens and charcoals, local slate, and lots of characterful reclaimed wood (revamped at the family sawmill). Attention to detail shows in everything from food presentation to fresh flowers gracing tables. The oldest part of the building is the low-ceilinged Cellar Bar, dating to the 1500s.
From
£
133
per night
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St Brides Spa Hotel
Pembrokeshire, Wales
From its headland perch, St Brides takes in the full sweep of Carmarthen Bay, gazing out across the harbour to the beach at Saundersfoot and cliff-backed coastline beyond. Once a traditional seaside hotel, the property has undergone a series of makeovers and expansions to become one of the most striking coastal escapes in Wales. The clean, contemporary aesthetic is like a gulp of fresh sea air, with floor-to-ceiling windows, open-plan spaces and a palette of whites and blues from aquamarine to deepest sapphire. The maritime flavour prevails in the rotating collection of local artworks, driftwood sculptures and vases filled with shells. St Brides’ spa consistently ranks as one of Wales’ best, and the Cliff Restaurant ramps up the romance after dark with soft lighting and bistro seating.
From
£
200
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
Contributions by Fred Mawer