Tenby

Tenby is the image on the fudge tin — pastel houses stacked above a harbour, boats leaning on the sand at low tide — and remarkably, the reality is better. The medieval walled town packs pubs, restaurants, galleries and independent shops into a few pedestrianised streets, and it is ringed by three genuinely excellent beaches: North Beach (sheltered, harbour views), Castle Beach (small, perfect, voted among the UK's best) and the vast South Beach backed by dunes.

Boat trips leave the harbour for Caldey Island, where Cistercian monks still make chocolate and perfume; kids fish for crabs off the harbour wall; and the town keeps enough year-round life to make an off-season break work, with storm watching from the Esplanade and the walls to yourself. In July and August it is properly busy — that's the trade-off for the county's best selection of restaurants, beaches and things to do within walking distance.

Practicalities: the town is hilly and parking inside the walls is scarce, so either book a property with confirmed parking or use the town car parks and walk. Tenby's dog rules matter too — Castle Beach and the northern end of North Beach restrict dogs in season, but South Beach's southern stretch stays dog-friendly all year.

Inside the walls for atmosphere and zero-car holidays (accept the parking compromise); the Esplanade and South Cliff for sea-view Georgian townhouses above South Beach; the Narberth Road side for parking, gardens and an easy walk in. Families with buckets and spades should weight towards South Beach; couples towards the harbour end.

Direct trains from Swansea and Carmarthen on the Pembroke Dock branch; A477/A478 by road. Tenby is walkable once you arrive — many visitors barely use the car.