Christmas Markets and Craft Fairs

Through December almost every village hall in Pembrokeshire hosts a craft fair at some point, and the towns run markets in their squares. There is no single listing and there never has been — they appear on posters, in shop windows and on community pages a fortnight before.

What you actually find. Pottery, prints and paintings of the coast, wool and knitwear, wood turning, soap and candles, jams and chutneys, cakes, cheese, honey, gin and cider. Plenty of it is genuinely made here by people who will tell you exactly where. Plenty of it is also mass-produced tat, and you can tell the difference at a glance.

The better bets. Farm shops and food producers run their own December events, several of which include tastings. The larger heritage venues sometimes host markets in atmospheric buildings — check what is on locally. And the independent shops in Narberth, Tenby and St Davids are open through December, which for many people beats any stall.

Practical. Cash, though most stallholders now take cards. Village hall parking is a field or a verge, so boots. Fairs are typically a Saturday morning and over by mid-afternoon, so do not turn up at four.

Making a day of it. Combine a fair with a winter walk — the coast is at its best in low December light — and lunch in a pub with a fire. See the pubs guide for the ones that keep proper winter hours.