These pages have been lurking in the
depths of the site for several years but unless you knew where
to look for them, would have been difficult to locate. They have
now been reformatted for inclusion here but please bear in mind
that some of the information regarding the attractions may not
now be correct.
Ilkeston Cam On Holiday 2001 - South West Wales - Part
01
Saturday & Sunday - Saundersfoot & Tenby
All the photos on this page were taken in July 2001
In 1999 and 2000 we had spent some time in the Snowdonia
area in North Wales but in July of 2001 we decided to explore
Pembrokeshire at the opposite end of the Principality and travelled
to the south west corner near the popular resort of Tenby. Our
base was to be the excellent Jalna Hotel in the village of Saundersfoot
and after booking in, unpacking and a little sustenance we walked
to the sea front to begin our explorations. An overcast sky and
a cool breeze did not promise an auspicious start to our holiday
but we were away from the normal routine and that was all that
mattered. These two views in opposite directions from almost
the same position on Saturday evening show a clearing sky approaching
from the direction of Tenby which was to be our first port of
call the next day.
 
Twenty four hours later a pleasant
evening sun shining on the boats in the harbour presented an
entirely different perspective and provided a fitting end to
a lovely day.
Click
here to see a larger version of this image of the harbour (195kb).
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Tenby is only three or four miles from Saundersfoot so we were
there bright and early on Sunday morning.
So early in fact that the town was only just waking up and many
of the shops that would be open later in the day for the tourist
trade were still closed and shuttered.
In the window of a pottery shop, a cat that had spent the night
locked in with his ornamental friends (above) was pawing the
window in a vain attempt to get out.
And this (left) is the view he would have seen from just a little
further up the road.
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A nineteenth century description of Tenby stated
"every view is picturesque in the extreme" and even
in this day and age the description holds true. The Georgian
harbour offers interesting views from many and varied vantage
points.
 
The small hill on the far side of the harbour is the site of
Tenby Castle but all that remains now are some stretches of broken
wall and foundations that probably date from 1153. On the seaward
side of the hill on a raised slipway is the lifeboat station.
The brightly painted frontages of the Georgian houses are a feature
of the harbour area and, as we found during our perambulation
around this part of Wales, colourfully painted houses can also
be seen in other towns and villages.
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Moving away from the cliff top views, we found Tenby
to be a town of narrow streets with an impressive 13th century
town wall. Fears of a Spanish invasion in the 16th century led
to the walls being strengthened and they are unique in Wales
having two tiers of arrow-slits. The impressive West Gate is
now known as Five Arches.
 
These Arches and Walls were preserved to the town by an injunction
of the Court of Chancery obtained June 23rd in the year 1873
by the late George Chater F.R.C.S.
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The Five Arches, at one time threatened with demolition, have
undergone several architectural modifications over the years,
three of the arches being made in recent times to allow the passage
of traffic.
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Passing through the Arches, the narrowness of the
streets is immediately apparent. Despite being a popular seaside
resort with all the paraphernalia that goes with it - including
shops selling buckets, spades, kites and inflatables nestling
side by side with ice cream parlours - the town has managed to
retain its historic character.
 
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It was about this time that the cloud began
to clear and the sun broke through as we made our way towards
St Mary's Church. Many of the Tenby's streets are not really
suitable for today's automobiles but this alternative that was
waiting against the Church provided a much more sedate mode of
transport around the old town.
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