The walk from Saundersfoot to Tenby is one of our favourite Pembrokeshire hikes and has become a family tradition when staying in Saundersfoot. This coastal walk takes you along rugged cliff top paths, open countryside, and woodland trails. It is a fairly short, but challenging walk. However, you’ll be rewarded with stunning coastal views and a chance to explore the popular seaside town of Tenby.
Our hike is 3 miles each way following the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail. The coastal path is a long-distance trail which hugs the Welsh coastline from St Dogmaels in North Pembrokeshire to Amroth in the south. It is 186 miles in total and is part of the Wales Coast Path, which stretches the full length of the Wales coastline.
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- Start point: The Glen, Saundersfoot (SA69 9NT)
- Parking: roadside or Saundersfoot Harbour car park
- Type of walk: Out and back
- Distance: 3 miles each way
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Saundersfoot
Saundersfoot is a seaside resort, with a beautiful golden beach. It is smaller than the neighbouring town of Tenby and makes a good base for visiting Pembrokeshire.
We’ve been visiting Saundersfoot for many years and the twins have done the coastal walk since they were little. On reflection, I now wonder how they ever managed it with such little legs, but I guess I must have packed lots of snacks!
The coastal path from Saundersfoot to Tenby
Our walk to Tenby starts at the top of Glen Beach to the right of Saundersfoot. We access the start point from a side road called The Glen (off the B4316). If you are travelling by car, there is some off-road parking on the street.
Alternatively, if you are walking from Saundersfoot town, proceed round the harbour to the end of Glen beach. From here you’ll find steps which lead up to the coastal path sign post. There is a pay and display car park at Saundersfoot Harbour. The postcode is SA69 9AJ.
The walk from Saundersfoot to Tenby is marked with National Trail acorn signposts and is extremely simple to follow.
It starts with an easy hill which leads up to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. From here you’ll follow a woodland path through Rhode Wood, running adjacent to the coastline.
You really can’t get lost here as there is only one path. The trail is heavily wooded, and for much of this section you can’t see the sea or cliffs below. However, at several points you’ll find an opening in the trees giving you great views back over the expansive golden sands at Saundersfoot Beach.
It is an undulating path and you’ll come across a few steep hills. The walk is not suitable for beginners or pushchairs. On the plus side if you’re going up you get to come down afterwards.
At Monkstone Point the path veers away from the coast and heads inland across open fields. This is a vastly different landscape to the previous wooded section and from here you’ll get your first glimpse of Tenby.
I always find this section a little misleading, as Tenby looks closer than it is. However, this stretch of countryside is one of the highlights of the hike for the boys, as they love to race down the big grassy hill into Lodge Valley.
Allen's View
At the top of the hill between Tenby and Waterwynch Bay, you’ll come across Allen’s View. This small commemorative garden has 2 benches and several bird carvings and is open to the public. We stopped at the viewpoint for a snack and a chance to look out over the fantastic coastal views before the last leg of the journey.
As you approach Tenby the path leads to a residential area and joins a minor road. Eventually you’ll emerge above Tenby North beach.
Now, you have a choice of descending the steps and walking along the beach or continuing along the path to the town. We have done both. It really depends on whether you want to get your shoes sandy.
Tenby
Tenby is a beautiful seaside town, best known for its coloured Georgian houses on Bridge Street. It is a medieval town dating back to the 13th Century and has some of the best-preserved city walls in the UK.
On arrival in Tenby our first stop is always lunch. Usually, we take a picnic for the beach, but there’s a good choice of pubs and cafés serving good food.
Once we are refreshed, we head off to Tenby Harbour. From here we take a circular walk around the peninsular to see Tenby castle and visit the RNLI lifeboat station.
Returning from Tenby to Saundersfoot
Obviously, you can retrace your steps and follow the coastal path from Tenby to Saundersfoot. However, we always take the easier option of the bus.
We get the line 281, which goes from near Sainsbury’s in Upper Park Road. It will take you to Saundersfoot Arcade in about 13 minutes.
Have you tried walking from Saundersfoot to Tenby? We’d love to know how you got on?
Other things to do in Pembrokeshire:-
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