I can't stop booking this £32 hotel right next to huge beach — it still has dates free for summer
With the kids already bored with the local park and the iPad, you might be thinking about squeezing in a cheeky summer trip but finding everywhere booked or expensive. Luckily, I've found a budget hotel right on a sandy beach. It costs £32 per person for a family of four for a stay on the gorgeous Welsh coastline.
Picture a vast sandy beach, crashing waves and a stylish promenade with an ice cream shop. That's what you get in Pendine, a charming seaside village in Wales with a seven-mile beach and seaside hotel, Caban.
Caban Pendine is an excellent choice if you're looking for a budget-friendly seaside getaway. Its spacious rooms start from £32 per person in the peak season (based on a family of four sharing a £130 room), and prices drop the rest of the year, too. It's modern, comfortable, and ideally situated for exploring the glorious Carmarthenshire coast without spending a fortune.
There are 14 rooms at Caban, including spacious family bedrooms (some with bunk beds), mobility accessible bedrooms and dog-friendly bedrooms. You can book the room that best suits your needs, though I definitely recommend a sea view room if you can get one.
I love this hotel for its location, ideally situated right next to Pendine Sands, making it perfect for long sunset strolls or even a bracing dip in the sea if you're an outdoor swimmer like me. I have stayed here several times, as it's my go-to when we have a warm spell of weather and the beach is calling.
On my most recent spontaneous stay, the weather had tipped over 23 degrees, so I went into immediate 'mini break' mode. I bundled a bag and my husband into the car and off we set.
The rooms at Caban
We had booked a sea view room that was fuss-free, bright and airy with splashes of coastal chic. There was a cosy double bed, an en suite bathroom, a TV, and those all-important tea and coffee facilities.
Another bonus is that after a day of exploring Pendine, it was nice to grab a drink at the hotel bar and sink into deep slumber, knowing this seaside stay wouldn't tip me into my overdraft.
To be fair, this isn't a luxury stay; it's more an elevated Premier Inn in a prime location that's comfortable, clean, and won't break the bank. If you want a five-star stay with a concierge and a swim-up bar, this is not the hotel you're looking for.
Food and drink
The relaxed restaurant serves authentic Welsh cuisine using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The reasonable prices are a bonus, and you also don't need to book.
The menu has a decent selection of mains, including the Chef's homemade chicken curry, smoked salmon salad, vegetable lasagne, and homemade smoky beef chilli. Prices range from £12.50 to £13, which is a total bargain.
Their full-cooked breakfast costs less than £7 for adults and £4 for the kids. If you love sweet treats, the pancakes drizzled with maple syrup are a steal at just £4.
Things to do in Pendine, including a unique museum
After filling up on a budget breakfast, we explored Pendine Beach and the surrounding area. While visiting Pendine Sands, it's worthwhile delving into its racing heritage.
Pendine Sands has been associated with land speed records for over a century. Its unique landscape, a natural runway of compacted sand, provided an ideal testing ground for early 20th-century speed trailblazers.
By the 1920s, Pendine had become the preferred location for land speed record attempts, where racing limits were stretched to thrilling new levels.
In 1924, Sir Malcolm Campbell, a racing icon, brought his Sunbeam 350HP car, Blue Bird, to Pendine. Using the beach as his racetrack, Campbell made history by setting a new world land speed record at 146.16 mph.
His insatiable need for speed brought him back the following year, where he shattered his record with an impressive 150.76 mph.
These achievements solidified Pendine's status as the ultimate platform for automotive triumph. Not to be outshone, Welsh engineer and driver J. G. Parry-Thomas stepped up to the plate.
In 1926, he steered his bespoke car, 'Babs', to a new record of 169.30 mph, demonstrating cutting-edge engineering and fearless driving.
Sadly, Parry-Thomas's quest for speed came to a tragic end in 1927 when he was fatally wounded trying to regain the title. His car, buried in the sands after the accident, was later unearthed and restored.
Pendine Sands' legacy fell silent for much of the 20th century until contemporary speed enthusiasts brought it back into the limelight.
In 2015, actor Idris Elba paid tribute to the sands' rich history by setting a new 'Flying Mile' record, hitting 180.361 mph in a Bentley Continental GT Speed. His accomplishment was a touching homage to the audacious pioneers who had paved the way nearly a hundred years earlier.
Today, Pendine Sands is hailed as a historic centre for motorsport and engineering excellence, and its racing heritage is now preserved in the splendid Museum of Land Speed.
We visited the Museum of Land Speed to learn more about Pendine's history. I know shockingly little about motorsports and wanted to get up to speed. Is Jenson Button still a thing? I have no idea.
The modern museum celebrates the area's illustrious history of land speed record attempts on the renowned sands of Pendine Beach, situated exactly where these historic events took place.
Overlooking the beach, the museum is brimming with artefacts, memorabilia, and tales of the incredible speed achievements made along this iconic stretch of coast.
A standout feature of the museum is its collection of vehicles that have shattered land speed records on Pendine Beach throughout the years.
We wandered around engineering wonders such as Sir Malcolm Campbell's iconic "Blue Bird" and John Godfrey Parry-Thomas's "Babs," gaining insight into the technological advancements that drove these machines to break speed barriers.
Interactive displays also offered a deep dive into the lives and legacies of these trailblazing speedsters, and I came away a little more educated and appreciative of this thrilling sport.
Things to do further afield — coastal path and more beaches
Pendine also offers more than its sandy shores. It's also the starting point for the Wales Coast Path, an 870-mile trek skirting the nation's coastline. The path near Pendine features epic clifftop vistas and wildlife.
Heading west, you'll reach the scenic cove of Amroth, while the eastward path offers expansive views of the Gower Peninsula and Carmarthen Bay. With its firm sand and dog-friendly policy during the off-season, the expansive Pendine Sands is a perfect spot for a lengthy beach stroll in Wales.
The Wales Coast Path website suggests a route starting at the Augmented Reality panel in front of the 'Tea by the Sea' cafe.
Take the steep steps up to Gillman Point following the Wales Coast Path. The breathtaking views over Morfa Bychan are worth every bit of the climb! You can choose to return the same way.
Fancy going further? Continue to the small beach at Morfa Bychan and turn right onto a signposted track that leads uphill. At the fork in the track, turn right and head towards the B4314 road back to Pendine village.
During our visit, we plodded along the seven miles of firm golden sands, tracing the shoreline with its lapping waves and then popping to Cambrian Ice Cream for a lush ice cream with a sea view. Perfection.
In recent years, the Pendine resort has seen a multi-million-pound regeneration. Completed projects include a 500m traffic-free promenade providing easy access to the beach and a beach-facing commercial centre (Parry Thomas Centre) housing businesses ranging from kayak hire and coffee shops to an Asian fusion restaurant.
I really love this part of Wales, and I think it's hugely underrated. Most people head for the popular tourist hotspots of Rhossili Bay or Tenby, but Pendine is absolutely worth a stop, especially if you're looking for a budget minibreak this summer.
Travel tips for Pendine and Carmarthenshire
Planning a trip to Pendine and Carmarthenshire? Here are some top tips to ensure your journey goes off without a hitch:
Hotel: Book your stay at Caban Pendine here. You can also check out a range of Carmarthenshire hotels, BandBs and camping on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Parking: A large car park conveniently located next to Pendine Sands provides easy access to the hotel, beach and the village. Parking tends to be more readily available during the off-peak season, but it can get busy during the height of summer.
Beach access for dogs: Dogs are allowed on most parts of Pendine Sands during the autumn and winter. However, restrictions are in place between the slipways from May to the end of September, so check the signage if you're visiting in the summer.
Wales Coast Path: The coastal trail around Pendine features breathtaking clifftop vistas and is well-marked. Wear robust footwear, particularly after rainfall, as some parts can become muddy.
Nearby facilities: Public lavatories are near the beach, and the village boasts several cafes and small shops within a short stroll. These are ideal for warming up after a brisk day outdoors.
Military firing range: Portions of Pendine Sands are occasionally utilised as a Ministry of Defence firing range, which may restrict access. Always check for any notices or limitations before setting off.
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