Pembrokeshire is a delightful place to visit no matter what time of year, but it’s particularly magical around the festive season. While some prefer to visit during the summer months where you can enjoy a beach trip or two, others see the charm that Pembrokeshire has to offer in colder months.

But if you’re not convinced Pembrokeshire in winter is a good idea, then here are three compelling reasons to visit Pembrokeshire during the holiday period to (hopefully) change your mind. 

An abundance of festive activities 

From seeing Father Christmas at Picton Castle to the annual Boxing Day swim at Tenby Beach, Pembrokeshire is home to a number of exciting activities over the holidays that will truly get you in the festive spirit. For young families, there really is no better place to go. 

Picturesque winter walks 

Pembrokeshire is renowned for its exceptional scenery. So, if you enjoy long walks with stunning winter views, then Pembrokeshire is the perfect place for you. 

Whether you stay inland and enjoy the acres of greenery (or blankets of white if it snows) or you stick to the extensive coast line, there is a path for any type of walker. Plus, the colder temperatures typically offer better visibility. Just be wary of mud and ice along the way – some routes may be unsuitable in winter so always check before you go! 

Plenty of indoor options 

Snow is lovely to admire, but it can become unpleasantly cold quite quickly. If you don’t fancy braving the cold, or it’s tipping it down, there is still plenty to see and do around the county. 

Folly Farm is an ideal choice for those with young children. With an indoor barn that features an array of farm animals and an opportunity to feed the goats, as well as an indoor fairground, it’s an ideal place to escape the cold. 

Alternatively, for a more adults-only vibe, Pembrokeshire is home to some of the best pubs in the country. Indulge in a cosy pint by the fire while you enjoy a game of poker or blackjack among friends.

Visit Pembrokeshire today! 

Whether you want to get in the Christmas spirit and see Santa at Picton Castle, enjoy a scenic stroll among the cliff tops, or sip on a cosy drink in a classic Welsh pub, Pembrokeshire has a lot to offer during the festive season. So, pack your bags and head to Wales this winter! 

A POWERFUL real-world event that shocked the nation is being brought to the stage by Torch Youth Theatre in a new production inspired by the felling of the famous Sycamore Gap tree.

The iconic sycamore, which stood beside Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland and featured in the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, made international headlines in 2023 after it was illegally cut down. Believed to be one of the UK’s most recognisable trees, its destruction caused widespread anger and disbelief.

That moment now forms the starting point for Sycamore Gap, Torch Youth Theatre’s spring production, sponsored by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Set on the morning after the tree has been felled, the play centres on a group of young people from a secondary school eco-club. As questions swirl around what happened and who is responsible, tensions rise. Friendships are tested, long-held grudges emerge and the group finds itself racing against time — and the police — to uncover the truth.

As the story unfolds, the young characters wrestle with suspicion, blame and moral responsibility, all while navigating the pressures of modern teenage life. The play mixes mystery with sharp humour and wordplay, asking whether the eco-club is really getting to the root of the problem — or barking up the wrong tree.

The production follows a run of successful Torch Youth Theatre shows, including The Bangers and Chips Explosion, Ravers and The Wind in the Willows.

Tim Howe, Torch Theatre’s senior manager for youth and community, said he was excited to begin rehearsals.

“We’re really pleased to be partnering with Pembrokeshire Coast National Park on this production, and we cannot wait to bring this story to life,” he said. “Anyone who has seen Torch Youth Theatre productions will know they celebrate young people and everything they are capable of.”

He added that the new play tackles some of the biggest issues facing young people today.

“This is a fearless piece of theatre,” Tim said. “It links environmental activism with cancel culture and explores how teenagers are grappling with toxic masculinity and power structures. Our young people are already having fierce and essential conversations about these themes, and they’re eager to bring them to the stage.”

Looking ahead, Torch Youth Theatre has also announced a second major production for 2026.

“The Sycamore Gap tree isn’t the only Robin Hood connection we’ll be sharing next year,” Tim said. “In July, all of our youth theatre members will perform a brand-new version of Robin Hood, written especially for them. It promises to be an epic adventure.”

Torch Youth Theatre presents Al Smith’s Sycamore Gap this February as part of the National Theatre’s NT Connections programme.

Sycamore Gap will be performed at the Torch Theatre from Wednesday (Feb 25) to Friday (Feb 27), 2026. Tickets are priced at £10, with concessions at £8.

The Robin Hood production will run from July 20 to July 22, 2026, with tickets going on sale in the spring.

For more information, visit www.torchtheatre.co.uk or contact the box office on (01646) 695267.

Bellini’s final masterpiece receives its first new Metropolitan Opera production in nearly 50 years, featuring a world-class cast and a dramatic English Civil War setting

FOR soaring melodies, spellbinding coloratura and virtuosic vocal fireworks, I Puritani has few equals. Opera lovers in Pembrokeshire are in for a treat this January when the Metropolitan Opera’s spectacular new production is broadcast live to the Torch Theatre.

This highly anticipated performance marks the first new Met staging of Vincenzo Bellini’s final masterpiece in nearly 50 years. The production is directed by Charles Edwards, who makes his company directorial debut after many acclaimed successes as a set designer, and has already generated excitement ahead of its worldwide cinema broadcast.

Presented in three acts, I Puritani is set in England around 1650, during the turmoil of the English Civil War. The drama unfolds in Plymouth, a Puritan stronghold under threat of siege from Royalist forces. As distant voices announce the wedding day of Elvira, daughter of the fortress commander Gualtiero, political and personal tensions begin to collide.

Riccardo, Elvira’s rejected suitor, laments that the woman promised to him loves another man – Arturo, a supporter of the Stuart cause. Refusing to force his daughter into an unwanted marriage, Gualtiero leaves Riccardo heartbroken. Elvira, meanwhile, confides in her uncle Giorgio that she would rather die than marry Riccardo. Giorgio reassures her that he has persuaded her father to allow her to marry Arturo, despite his Royalist loyalties.

As wedding celebrations begin, Arturo arrives at the castle and is reunited with Elvira. He soon discovers that Queen Enrichetta, widow of King Charles, is imprisoned there and awaiting trial in London. Alone with the queen, Arturo makes a fateful decision to help her escape – even at the risk of his own life – setting in motion a dramatic chain of events driven by love, loyalty and betrayal.

The Metropolitan Opera has assembled a world-class cast for the opera’s demanding principal roles, conducted by Marco Armiliato. Soprano Lisette Oropesa stars as Elvira, alongside tenor Lawrence Brownlee as Arturo. Baritone Artur Ruciński appears as Riccardo, while bass-baritone Christian Van Horn plays Elvira’s compassionate uncle, Giorgio.

Sung in Italian with English subtitles, I Puritani, composed by Vincenzo Bellini with a libretto by Carlo Pepoli, is a thrilling blend of romance, political intrigue and bel canto brilliance.

I Puritani will be broadcast live from the Met Opera to the Torch Theatre on Saturday 10 January at 6:00pm.

Tickets: Full £20 / Concessions £18 / Under 26s £9
Booking: www.torchtheatre.co.uk
Box Office: 01646 695267