On Our Doorstep
Situated in a secluded and select location in Saundersfoot, we offer the perfect location to experience what we are fortunate to find right on our doorstep. With plenty going on right here, you will not be short of things to do and places to see. Alternatively, step straight onto the stunning Pembrokeshire Coast Path and start exploring the spectacular scenery that surrounds us.
Swallow Tree Bay
As local as you can get, this beach is less than 100m from the Park, accessed by a well maintained footpath. The beach itself offers a large sand beach through most of the tide, with Saundersfoot a ten minute stroll away. With plenty of rockpools and the comfort of being so close to your holiday unit, it makes for an excellent day out for the family.
Outer Reef Pembrokeshire
Discover the thrill of adventure with Outer Reef. Nestled in the heart of Pembrokeshire's breathtaking coastline, Outer Reef offers an exhilarating range of water-based experiences for all ages and abilities. From surfing the pristine waves of Freshwater West to paddle boarding along the picturesque Saundersfoot coastline, their expert instructors ensure unforgettable moments in the water. Whether it's kayaking, coasteering, or simply enjoying equipment hire for independent exploration, Outer Reef provides the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the natural beauty and excitement of Pembrokeshire's outdoor playground. Embark on an unforgettable adventure with Outer Reef and experience the best of Pembrokeshire's coastal wonders.
Colby Woodland Gardens
Visit a hidden valley of surprises at Colby Woodland Gardens, set in a tranquil woodland with industrial heritage. This is a beautiful space to relax and feel grounded, explore and encourage your little ones imagination in natures natural playground. Meadows, gardens, streams and wild flowers galore. Bring a picnic or drop into the tea rooms for a light lunch or homemade cake.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/colby-woodland-garden
Beach BBQ
The Glen Beach BBQ – nestled between the site and Saundersfoot, the Glen is a busy and popular beach. With lots of sand and more rockpools than your children can get round in a day, it’s a fantastic place for kids. However, if you time the tide correctly then you can have a very special experience. In mid summer with a high tide of about 7 o’clock, you’ll find that by 4 most holidaymakers are heading home, and the Western part of the beach is cut off by the tide…and that’s exactly the place to be. Access is simple from the nearby car park, but you will almost always find yourselves with your own private beach, plenty of afternoon sun remaining and a perfect location to have a barbecue. Sitting in the early evening sun, relaxing and listening to the gentle lapping of the waves on the beach make for a truly memorable experience.
*Please be responsible and follow all rules, regulations and polite common sense in relation to beach fires and BBQs
Fruits of the Sea - Fishing and Coastal Foraging
The sheltered sandy seabed and big tidal range of Saundersfoot Bay create varied habitats for a wide range of marine life. And fortunately for our inner hunter gatherer a lot of these can, with a bit of effort, be harvested for a free and delicious supper!
For the fisherman there are four main spots within a stroll from Swallow Tree. Access to these points varies from easy to hair raising scramble, so be sure that you are capable and comfortable before attempting them!
- Saundersfoot harbour wall on a high tide is a popular spot and very easy to access. Good for mackerel on a line of feathers.
- ‘Sloping Rock’ is on the right side of Swallow Tree beach. There’s a bit of a cliff climb down to it when the tide is in, with a rope to help access. Fish this on the push of the tide, starting from about 2 hours before high on average. Ground bait can be used for flounder and dogfish which will be in shallow following the tide up closely. Mackerel can be had on cast feathers, usually on the bigger tides. And if you know what you’re doing, bass are a regular catch here too. Top tip – don’t cast out too far for bass. Use bait (e.g mackerel flappers, live joey mackerel ideally) right up close to the rocks.
- Perry’s Point is the small headland off to the left of Swallow Tree beach. Accessed by a small path from the coast path as you head to Saundersfoot it’s much the same as Sloping Rock, but the difficult final climb down means very few people use it and you have more chance of having it to yourself!
- Monkstone Point, right off the tip, has little underwater rock formations both sides of it. Good for spinning for bass or ground bait for…pretty much anything can turn up really! If the weather’s nice and you can make a day of it, fishing the tide up and stranding yourself on the point for the five or so hours it’s cut off can make for a great experience. Just make sure you have communications and someone knows what you are doing! Otherwise, on a falling tide get across from Monkstone beach as soon as the tide begins to reveal the causeway and try your luck!
Information on size and catch limits of fish likely to be caught in this area can be found on this link;
https://britishseafishing.co.uk/minimum-size-limits-for-shore-caught-fish/
A wide range of shellfish lives hidden in the sand, rock pools and rocky crevices between Saundersfoot and Monkstone. As a general rule, you will want to look for shellfish on a dropping tide, down to low tide. Especially in the summer and on big tides, shellfish in the sand or on the rocks can become warm and the risk of stomach upsetting bacteria increases as they sit out of water.
Easiest of all to grab a quick feed of are the cockles, found anywhere seaward from the point the hard pack beach sand turns into the rippled seabed sand. Scratch around with your fingers or use a small hand held garden rake. Nearly as easy are the mussels on Monkstone Point. These are generally bigger and better the lower the tide is. Twist them off individually so as not to damage ones you don’t intend to take. And going for ones that have few barnacles saves you a monotonous cleaning job! On big tides, otter and razor clams can be found. The former are an acquired taste! The latter are delicious if cooked well, Jamie Oliver does a good recipe!
From May to August, prawns are bountiful in the rock pools. Monkstone Point, Wisemans Bridge and Amroth are all excellent prawn hunting spots. Use a small, stout and quite deep net. Move under overhangs and through seaweed slowly, bringing the net up to the surface in contact with the rock or weed you are going through. If the net fits, try any deep dark water filled crevice, even if only a few inches high. It’s amazing how tightly they can pack into tiny rock cracks! As a general rule, individuals with eggs and little ones go back to make sure we have some for next year!
Edible crabs, spider crabs, lobster and velvet swimming crabs are all relatively common on low spring tides too. Any holes or overhangs out of or under the water are potential hidey spots for these animals. A little waterproof torch and a willingness to stick your head into rocky cracks and under boulders helps you find them. A stout stick or a long handled mini paint roller bar will help you tease them out!
Information on size and catch limits for commonly caught shellfish can be found here;
Beach combing - Mermaid's Jewels and Pirates Treasure
With over 50 beaches in Pembrokeshire there is certainly no shortage of beach combing opportunities to find treasures washed up and weathered by the ocean. Pebbly beaches with plenty of rocks are most likely to provide you with unique finds from shells and fossils to sea glass and pottery. Comb the beaches right here on our doorstep or travel a little further around ports and industrial coastlines, such as Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven and Dale.
Sea glass can be found after bottles and jars that were discarded into the sea centuries ago. Beautiful pieces worn down over time leaving unique nuggets which can be transformed into jewelry, framed artwork or simply a jar of treasure for the little ones. Sea pottery can be equally as beautiful and has gone through a similar journey of history.
Search the tide lines a couple of hours after high tide, following a storm is even better. Keep the sun behind you and look out for sparkles but remember that finished sea glass should be smooth with no sharp edges so if it's not ready then leave it alone to continue its journey. Take a bucket or a little pot for your finds but be sure to leave only your footprints behind.
With sea glass you'll find common shades of green, brown and white and if your lucky perhaps some rarer shades of pink, red and orange. If you're fortunate enough to come accross a sea marble then we would love to hear about it!!! Much of the sea pottery dates back to the 19th century but of course that's not to say it has been at sea that whole time. Look out for the makers' marks and with a bit of internet searching you may find out its history. Cracking on the glaze may also be an indicator of its age.
5 STAR HOLIDAYS IN PEMBROKESHIRE
Contact Us
Our family would love to welcome your family to SWALLOWTREE. Come and enjoy our unique location, superb indoor facilities and high-quality accommodation with delightful sea views. We look forward to seeing you soon.