Welsh language
by HORSCHECK
About a quarter of the Welsh population still speak the ancient Celtic language Welsh, which is not an English dialect. To promote the Welsh language, most roadsigns are bilingual in Wales: English and Welsh.
When visiting a foreign country, it is always nice and helpful to speak at least a few words in the local language. So here are a few useful phrases in Welsh:
Cymru = Wales
Shw mae = Hello
Bore da = Good morning
Dydd da = Good day
Hwyl = Bye
Diolch = Thanks
Pembroke
by HORSCHECK
A daytrip by train to Pembroke takes about 30 minutes. Pembroke is famous for its Norman castle, which was rebuild in the 12th century. Moreover Pembroke has some attractive Georgian and Victiorian houses and some intact parts of a medieval town wall.
Tenby Museum & Art Gallery
by Spincat
The museum is in a lovely setting on Castle Hill in part of the ruins of a C13th castle. Very well designed displays of the local geology, archaeology and social history of the area, and has activities for children.
There is also an excellent art gallery with a permanent display of works by Gwen John, David Jones and others as well as special exhibitions.
Opening hours: Winter: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday (last admission 4.30); Summer: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm every day. Will be closed over Christmas Holidays; check website for other Bank Holiday closures
Tenby : why the Riviera when there's Wales?
by Spincat
Beaches.......beaches... beaches ...
There are two looooooong beaches in Tenby. The south beach that sweeps below a Victorian esplanade poised on crags, then sweeps on and on until the town disappears and there are only wild dunes, rockpools, cliffs and caves around and above you; the footprints of other beachcombers thinning out, as you walk on.
Then there's the North Beach. It runs round to the prettiest fondant-painted harbour you can imagine. Some of the streets are on a spit of land that runs between the two strands, and that is the best place to stay because, at high tide, you are surrounded by sea. (See my accommodation tip.)
Many of the town's medieval castle walls are still standing: these were built by the Earls of Pembrokeshire Earls in C13th to fortify the town against the Welsh rebellion. This adds the air of a pretty provincial French town to Tenby.
Like so many seaside towns, Tenby became popular in the Victorian era as a health resort, and it even has its own Albert Memorial on Castle Hill.
My favourite time to visit Tenby is late in the season, when things are starting to close down, there are mists and lots of melancholy weather conditions! (See my Tenby-out-of-season travelogue pics.) I would avoid visiting late June through to end August: it just gets packed!
Virtual Tenby is a good link for accommodation information and ideas on place to eat, as well as local events in and around town. Tenby makes a superb base for exploring the Pembrokeshire countryside, and is an interesting destination in its own right.