New Year’s Eve Walking Holiday - Pembrokeshire
This four-night adventure in Pembrokeshire combines guided coastal walks, stunning scenery and celebrations - creating an unforgettable start to the new year with newfound friends and wonderful memories.
Experience Type: Multi-Day Experience
Duration: 4 nights
Accommodation: Hostel
Group Size: Maximum 21
Level: Leisurely
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs
In a Nutshell:
Stunning Coastal Scenery: Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Pembrokeshire coastline from the comfort of YHA Pwll Deri, perched on cliffs offering panoramic sea views.
Guided Walks and Exploration: Join daily guided walks to discover rugged cliff tops, ancient sites, and the diverse landscapes along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
Cosy Accommodation and Warm Hospitality: Enjoy the warmth of an open fire at our cliff-top accommodation, with home-cooked meals and a welcoming atmosphere to make your stay memorable.
New Year Celebrations: Ring in the new year with a festive celebration, enjoying an evening of camaraderie among new friends.
Book today…
Start the New Year on a high with our Pembrokeshire getaway…
Kick off the new year with a refreshing escape to Pembrokeshire, where breathtaking coastal walks meet brilliant company and a celebratory atmosphere.
Our four-night stay at YHA Pwll Deri, nestled atop 400ft cliffs with panoramic views over Pwll Deri Bay, offers a unique blend of stunning scenery right from the comfort of your accommodation. With the option to join Leisurely guided walks (see how we grade our walks here) along the magnificent Pembrokeshire coastline, or you can also simply relax and enjoy the comfort of our fabulous location.
Suggested Itinerary
Here’s what we’ve got planned - of course, we may have to offer alternatives or make amendments if the weather misbehaves or other unexpected situations arise!
Day 1: Arrival and Warm Welcome
Arrive at YHA Pwll Deri after 5pm to be greeted by the fresh sea breeze and your Large Outdoors host, who will introduce you to your fellow participants over a cuppa by the open fire. Settle in, relax with a glass or two, and look forward to a home-cooked dinner at 8pm, during which we'll share the exciting plans for the coming days.
Days 2-4: Coastal Explorations and Relaxation
Each morning, after breakfast and preparing packed lunches, you have the opportunity to join our friendly guides for winter walks around the Pembrokeshire coast. Explore dramatic cliff tops, ancient sites like Garn Fawr, and enjoy the rugged beauty of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
Walking routes, covering approx. 6-10 miles (9.7-16km) each day, may include:
Strumble Head - Walking right from our hostel door, we’ll turn north and follow the coastline to the headland of Strumble Head. We’ll pass cliffs, tiny offshore rocks that break the surface of the bays, and the island of Carreg Onnen. Turning east with the coast and following the cliffs, we’ll pass Carregwasted point, where the French landed in 1797, before reaching the village of Goodwick. From here we could head inland, following tracks back to the hostel over small hills to get a great view of where we’ve just walked. We finish with a short climb up to the Iron Age hill-fort, which lies on the hill just behind the hostel.
South to Aber Mawr - Turning south out of the hostel takes us along yet more dramatic coastal path, where we can drink in the views west across St George’s Channel to Ireland. We’ll make our way to the sandy beach of Aber Mawr, where the brave can perhaps dip a toe or two in the sea and the not-so-brave can explore the sands. From here we can continue south to the hill-fort at Castell Coch and perhaps even a visit to a local pub in Trefin.
St David’s Head - Exploring a little further afield, a great location is a short drive down the coast, near St David’s. We can explore the rocky promontory of St David’s Head with its ancient settlements, walk the sands of Whitesands Bay, and gaze across at the bird sanctuary of Ramsay Island, all on a coastal walk around this jutting peninsula. We can even visit St David’s itself, Britain’s smallest city.
Evenings will be spent unwinding by the fire, enjoying home-cooked meals, and sharing stories of the day's adventures.
The view from the hostel
New Year's Eve: Festive Celebrations
On New Year's Eve, we'll return from our walk to prepare for an evening of celebrating the new year, with plenty of laughs with our newfound friends. It’s tradition for Large Outdoors to run a charity bingo game at New Year, so you’re welcome to join in with that too if you fancy it!
Day 5: Farewells and Fresh Starts
After a final breakfast together, it's time to say our goodbyes and depart with rejuvenated spirits and memories of a wonderful start to the year. This Pembrokeshire getaway promises not just a break but a rejuvenation, setting the tone for a year of adventure, friendship, and discovery.
Please note: on some days there could be a short drive to the start of the walks, we don't include transport and people normally car share.
Essential Information
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Meeting Time: from 5pm.
You can arrive any time from 5pm - the Large Outdoors host will be at the accommodation to welcome you. Dinner will be served around 8pm so if you intend to arrive later than this, please ensure you have something to eat on the way.Meeting Location:
YHA Pwll Deri
Castell Mawr
Trefasser
Goodwick
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Parking: There is limited free parking at the hostel.
Public Transport: YHA Pwll Deri is located 4.6 miles from Fishguard Train Station, with services to/from Cardiff Central and Swansea.
Please Note: On some days there could be a short drive to the start of the walks, we don't include transport and people normally car share.
Finish Time: There are no walks included on Day 5, so this trip finishes after breakfast, with check-out of the accommodation required by 10am.
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We’ll stay at YHA Pwll Deri on our New Year Walking Holiday. It’s a proper remote retreat, perched high above Pwll Deri Bay and offering spectacular sea views from floor-to-ceiling windows in the dining area. The accommodation also offers a cosy lounge area with open fire.
Bedding is provided - but please bring a towel and don’t forget your own toiletries.
Accommodation Address:
YHA Pwll Deri
Castell Mawr
Trefasser
Goodwick
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You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
Bed in a Shared Female Room
Bed in a Shared Male Room
Twin Room (bunk beds, en-suite)At this hostel there are primarily Shared Rooms, where you’ll be sharing a dorm room - with bunk beds - with other participants (room sizes vary and bathrooms are en-suite). There are also some Twin Rooms - with bunk beds - which sleep up to two participants booking together (bathrooms are en-suite).
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Included:
4 nights’ accommodation at YHA Pwll Deri.
A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you, deal with meal preparation and the logistics for your experience.
3 days (Days 2-4) of guided walks around the Pembrokeshire coast.
Home-cooked set 2-course dinners at the accommodation on all evenings, with some extra treats to enjoy on New Year’s Eve!
A DIY breakfast each morning (toast, cereals, fruit and yoghurt provided).
A DIY packed lunch (sandwich and snacks) for Days 2-4. Please ensure you bring a lunch box or dry bag - to reduce waste, we do not supply cling film or sandwich bags.
Tea (including decaf and herbal options), coffee (including decaf option), and squash at the accommodation.
Bedding - but please bring a towel and don’t forget your own toiletries.
The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.
Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.
Not included:
Travel to and from the meeting location.
Travel from the accommodation to activity start points and back, where they don’t start from the door. On some days there could be a short drive required - we don't include transport and participants normally car share.
Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.
Bottled water - tap water and squash are available at the accommodation, so please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up and take out with you.
Alcoholic drinks - please feel free to bring something with you to enjoy at the accommodation.
Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.
Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.
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Please see our Residential (Walking) Kit List.
The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should be carrying the items listed.
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What level of fitness is needed?
This trip is graded as Leisurely. Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.
Can I attend on my own?
Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.
I am currently on a specific diet / have an allergy - can you cater for me?
Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian meals, vegan meals, provide meals with gluten* free ingredients, and/or provide dairy* free meals - these options can be selected when booking. *Please see our general FAQs for more information about dietary options.What transport is provided during this experience?
We do not provide any transport for this experience. On some days there could be a short drive required to activity start points and back, where they don’t start from the accommodation - participants normally car share. Please bring some change and a card with you too, as we may be making use of the local bus and bus fares are not included.Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment/accommodation, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.
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The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is the UK’s only coastal national park. With 240 square miles of rugged, timeless natural landscapes with natural arches, stacks, rock folding and sea caves. It’s also an area of historical, archaeological, and conservation significance, with 7 Special Areas of Conservation, a Marine Nature Reserve, 6 national nature reserves and 75 Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
The nearest significant settlement to our accommodation on our trip is Fishguard, an historic and charming harbour town. We’re located right on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, a 186 mile (299km) route that hugs the coastline and boasts an impressive array of coastal flowers and bird life. The entire Pembrokeshire Coast Path takes between 10 and 15 days to complete, and we’ll cover some shorter stretches on this trip.
This map is provided for guidance regarding the general location. For detailed meeting information, please refer to the 'Meeting Time & Location' section.