15 things to do in Dale

Where else to start but the beach? Pembrokeshire has some magnificent unspoilt ones. Marloes Sands runs for a mile, with breakers for bodyboarders and Runwayskiln Cafe for coffee (and food, if the belly is rumbling). For total seclusion, scramble to Albion Sands next door or head up the coast to rocky St Brides Haven. There is plenty of choices here, and almost every option is a winner.

The Griffin is a 300-year-old gem of a pub with a seafood-heavy menu and a widescreen view of the bay. Tuck into juicy prawns and butter-soft sea bass, or fill up on fish and chips. Nearby Martha's Vineyard on Milford Haven marina is another good shout for super-fresh seafood.

Thanks to its sheltered position, Dale Bay basks in its own microclimate and is officially the sunniest place in Wales, which means watersports are an option all year round. You can hire a paddleboard, take a surf lesson or book a boat trip with Celtic Sea Watersports. Or, you know, just do cannonballs off the pontoon.

Return to The Griffin for Welsh ales, like Cwrw Haf blonde ale, served on the sunny rooftop terrace. The Lobster Pot Inn in Marloes is another sweet spot with a sun-trap beer garden. It’s a pleasant hour-long walk between them.

Shopping is slim pickings in Dale, and it’s all the better for it. The Boathouse Cafe and Shop sells groceries and gifts by the water’s edge, Be-Gemmed does a lovely line in custom-made jewellery, and Marloes Village Store has a cracking café. There’s also a post office there because every village needs a post office. Make sure you carry actual cash – not all the shops are card-friendly.

Pick up the Pembrokeshire Coast Path and walk up to Martins Haven, where you can take a boat out to the islands of Skomer and Skokholm. They're teeming with great gaggles of nesting seabirds, including the biggest puffin colony in southern Britain. Dale Sailing runs regular trips there between April and September, but don’t forget the binoculars.

Immerse yourself in the lush Pembrokeshire countryside by spending a night beneath the stars at this rural campsite. Pointdale Farm’s pitches are on a gently sloping hill overlooking Dale bay and are handily located for jumping on the coastal path for a seaside hike. Most of the camping spots come with an electric hook-up, but if that still feels too rustic for your liking, book Tawny, the shepherd's hut. That way, you can still be at one with nature, just from the comfort of a memory foam mattress. Ideal.

Camping from £18 a night. Tawny from £220 (minimum two-night stay).