Saundersfoot is a large village on the south Pembrokeshire coast, three miles north of Tenby. It is Tenby's quieter neighbour: the same sandy Carmarthen Bay, the same summer crowds in August, but on a smaller scale and with a less fussy feel. It has about 2,500 people.
The village exists because of coal. Parliament allowed the harbour to be built in 1829 to ship anthracite from the local mines, and by 1837 it had five jetties handling coal and iron ore. The tramways that brought the coal down still shape the place: one runs along the sea front, and the old line north to Wiseman's Bridge is now a stretch of the coast path that goes through three short tunnels. The trade died out early in the twentieth century, and today the harbour holds pleasure boats and fishing charters.
The main draw is the beach, which runs south from the harbour and is a Blue Flag beach, as is Coppet Hall just to the north. Inland, the National Trust's Colby Woodland Garden above Amroth is worth a spring visit. Saundersfoot is also known for its New Year's Day swim, when well over a thousand people run into the sea.
The railway station is a mile out of the village, with trains every two hours towards Pembroke Dock and Carmarthen. Buses run to Tenby, which is the obvious day out; the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park path also links the two.