The West Coast Beano
4 - 11 July 2026
A week of glorious coastal scenery, prehistoric standing stones and quiet lanes in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Yes, we’re back in one of our favourite areas of Wales, the St David’s Peninsula.
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park runs along the far west coast of Wales. As we cycle along quiet lanes we get tantalising glimpses of the sea: picturesque fishing harbours, towering cliffs pounded by Atlantic breakers and broad, sandy beaches. Inland from the coast is an ancient and powerful landscape dotted with prehistoric standing stones and steeped in Celtic and Arthurian legend.
The rides
Our rides visit the surfing beaches of Whitesands and Newgale, Carreg Samson pre-historic cromlech, the medieval cathedral of St. David’s (Britain’s smallest city), the harbours of Porthgain and Abercastle, numerous coastal villages and the isolated lighthouse at Strumble Head.
Inland we travel through green countryside, discovering working mills and even cycling down the runway of an old airfield. On one day we head to the dramatic Mynydd Preseli, the Preseli Mountains, and discover ancient standing stones, spectacular views and the site of a forgotten (and short-lived) Victorian spa town.
The terrain is varied: there are rolling hills and some long flatter stretches inland, while our many coastal visits sometimes involve a short, steep descent into a cove or a fishing village and a short climb out again. Our day in the Preselis involves a few more challenging climbs but they’re definitely worth the effort.
Wednesday is an optional cycle-free day: you could take a boat trip around the RSPB wildlife reserve of Ramsey Island, walk along part of the dramatic Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, visit some castles, or take a short ride down to Newgale and spend the day on the beach. Or we can give you the route for an optional longer ride.
As always on a Bicycle Beano, the rides are designed to give a number of options for distance, with suggested detours and short cuts to suit a range of abilities.
The venue
We stay at Asheston Eco Barns, a converted stone farm building deep in the countryside, just four miles inland from the long, sandy beach at Newgale and surrounded by 22 acres of private grounds. We’ve booked out all the barns, so our group will be the only guests there.
The five barns, together in a single block, are each comfortable, unique and full of character. There are a few ensuite bedrooms; the others share bathrooms, though generally no more than two bedrooms to a bathroom. There are some ground-floor bedrooms which would suit those with mobility problems. For meals we’ll come together in the dining/living area of the largest barn. There are plenty of comfortable spaces indoors and out to chat, play games or relax and catch up on your reading.
Around 85% of the energy used by the Eco Barns is generated onsite by state-of-the-art renewable energy technologies: a wind turbine, ground source heat pumps and solar water heating systems.
Overflow accommodation
To make room for everyone, we also have a comfortable “overflow” house, an old farmhouse about a mile down the road that gives us a few extra comfortable bedrooms. Like the Eco Barns, it’s powered mainly from its own renewable energy sources (and has a hot tub with a scenic view!) We charge a bit less for staying in the overflow house.
Food
For the catering, we’re pleased to announce that we’ll be joined once again by Vanessa of Earth’s Kitchen, who has provided wonderful vegetarian meals (and mouth-watering cakes) on previous West Coast and South Downs Beanos.
When
Saturday 4 July – Saturday 11 July 2026
Arrive Saturday evening. 7 night stay; 5 (or 6) days of cycling; depart Saturday morning.
Rides
The main route each day is 30-40 miles (50-65 km) with optional detours up to 60 miles (100km) and short cuts to make it less than 30. Ride at your own pace. Some hills. Mainly on quiet country lanes with some optional easy offroad sections.
Availability
Sorry, we think we’re fully booked up for West Coast already! We’re just checking the numbers. If you’d like to go on the waiting list please email us.
Prices
Prices for main Beano site
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Single room (ensuite) £1200
Single room, ensuite or private shower/bathroom
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Sharing a twin or double room (ensuite) £1090
Twin beds or double bed, ensuite or private shower/bathroom
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Single room (shared bathroom) £1090
Single room, use of shared shower room/bathroom
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Sharing a twin or double room (shared bathroom) £990
Twin beds or large double bed, use of shared shower rooms/bathrooms
Prices for overflow accommodation
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Overflow: single room (ensuite) £1090
Single room, ensuite or private shower/bathroom, in the 'overflow' house
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Overflow: Sharing a twin or double room (ensuite) £990
Twin beds or double bed, ensuite or private shower/bathroom, in the overflow cottage
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Overflow: Single room (shared bathroom) £990
Single room, use of shared shower room/bathroom, in the overflow cottage
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Overflow: Sharing a twin or double room (shared bathroom) £890
Twin beds or large double bed, use of shared shower rooms/bathroom, in the overflow cottage
Tell us your preferences when you fill in the booking form. If we can’t provide the accommodation type you want, we’ll offer you alternative options.
What’s included
Prices are per person and include dinner, breakfast, and tea & cakes after the ride. They don’t include bike hire (most Beanoers bring their own bikes) or the cost of lunch/coffee stops during the rides.
Prepared to share? If you’re travelling solo but prepared to share a room, let us know. If we can find someone else for you to share with, we’ll charge you the shared-room rate.
Header image: Preseli Mountains (Courtesy Visit Wales, Crown copyright)
