The West Coast Beano, 29 June - 6 July 2024
A week of glorious coastal scenery, prehistoric standing stones and quiet lanes in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Yes, we’re back at in one of our favourite areas of Wales, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. We’re returning to Asheston Eco Barns, the venue for our previous visit in 2022.
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park runs along the far west coast of Wales. Tantalising glimpses of the sea are revealed as we cycle along quiet lanes to picturesque fishing harbours, towering cliffs pounded by Atlantic breakers, and 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 village of St. David’s, the harbours of Porthgain and Abercastle, numerous coastal villages and the isolated lighthouse at Strumble Head. Inland we travel through rolling green countryside, discovering working mills and even cycling down the runway of an old airfield. On one day we head to the dramatic Preseli Hills (or Mountains, as the locals prefer to call them) and discover ancient standing stones, spectacular views and the site of a forgotten (and short-lived) Victorian spa town.
Inland, Pembrokeshire is a place of farmland and gently rolling hills, 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.
As for the catering, we’re pleased to announce that we’ll be joined once again by Vanessa of Earth’s Kitchen, who provided some wonderful meals (and mouth-watering cakes) on our last visit to Pembrokeshire.
When
Saturday 29 June – Saturday 6 July 2024
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, fully booked (even the overflow accommodation). Contact us if you’d like to go on the waiting list for cancellations.
As our last West Coast Beano was so popular, we’ve managed to arrange some overflow accommodation a short distance down the road this time, so that we can offer a few more spaces. The overflow rooms will be offered at a small discount from the full price.
Prices
-
Single room (ensuite) £1100
Single room, ensuite or private shower/bathroom
-
Sharing a twin or double room (ensuite) £990
Twin beds or double bed, ensuite or private shower/bathroom
-
Single room (shared bathroom) £990
Single room, use of shared shower room/bathroom
-
Sharing a twin/double room (shared bathrooom) £890
Twin beds or large double bed, use of shared shower rooms/bathrooms
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)
