I stayed at one of Wales' most luxurious apartments with stunning sea views

North Wales Live

29-07-2025

There's a hidden treasure in one of Wales' most sought-after holiday spots that is so stunning, not only in its location but also in the luxury it provides, that we genuinely didn't want to leave when our stay came to an end. Mention a night away in Pembrokeshire and most people picture a quaint cottage, a hotel brimming with character, or a historic property.
However, our chosen accommodation was none of these, and in my view, it was superior. When you think of Tenby, the colourful Georgian houses lining the clifftop roads probably spring to mind.
But our temporary home was an apartment that had been transformed from outdated and dull to the most luxurious flat I've ever had the pleasure of staying in.
It boasts incredible views from all the main windows, a range of tech to keep the teenagers entertained, and clever, inspiring, and beautiful interiors that kept me captivated, reports Wales Online.
Naturally, every frontline property in Tenby offers a splendid view. But at Min Y Mor, the owners who spent years crafting this wonderful flat have maximised its position above South Beach with window seats, a Juliet balcony, and a designer chair tucked within the bay of one of the two bedrooms, offering a direct and uninterrupted view of St Catherine's Island and fort.
Before we could unlock the excitement behind the apartment's front door, we first had to locate it. Tucked away on the second floor of the Victorian Grade II-listed Gunfort Mansion, the building's entrance was subtly positioned at the side of the property.
Once inside, the climb to the second floor was entirely worth it, as Min Y Mor awaited to captivate us. Upon entering, the apartment greeted us with a contemporary, whitewashed interior design.
However, this wasn't some sterile, clinical interior – there was texture and an array of natural materials used to ensure the spaces were visually appealing, while the neutral décor perfectly framed the multiple views from the bay windows and French doors of the breathtaking blue ocean and nature's own masterpiece of wispy clouds dancing across the vast sky.
As the day was warm, we opened the French doors and the sound of the waves became the soundtrack to our stay, with the window seats all being utilised for gazing out across this iconic coastal landscape.
The apartment has a knack for helping you unwind quickly, being just a five-minute stroll from the centre of Tenby and with the steps down to South Beach directly opposite the front door. Yet, being this elevated from the hustle and bustle below and so connected to the views from each window, you feel as though you are part of the view, in the water, floating through the sky.
This remarkable flat boasts many ingenious features – the copper bath illuminated from beneath, the circular bookshelf embedded into the wall, and bunk beds concealed within a wall that includes a secret door leading to a mezzanine.
However, it was the cinema screen with access to multiple streaming channels including Disney+ and Amazon Prime that captivated the younger generation (and admittedly, myself as well).
The free wifi was also a hit with everyone.
Cleverly hidden behind a piece of wall art that gradually slides open, the screen wowed everyone. Peaky Blinders and The Mandalorian looked even more spectacular on this mini home cinema while lounging on the oversized curved sofa.
At one point, I wandered off to the second bedroom with a glass of wine and settled in the designer 'saddle' chair with footstool in the bay window, watching the tide leisurely drift up the beach and people ambling around St Catherine's Island. The welcome basket of local produce left by the owners accompanied me and proved to be a delightful companion.
When I emerged from my unexpected nap in the chair, courtesy of an afternoon glass of wine, the surround sound system had been found and Dua Lipa was serenading us from every corner while we planned to go out for a fish and chip takeaway dinner.
The kitchen is well-equipped but with only 24 hours to savour our trip to Tenby, it felt almost obligatory to sample the town's fish and chips, enjoying them at the dining table.
The kitchen diner area is another clever use of space and design. The bespoke, handmade kitchen isn't sleek and shiny but rather in tune with the flat's location.
It's crafted from wood that has been whitewashed to give it a slightly sun-kissed and weathered look, blending into the overall design while still standing out as a point of interest.
Dining chairs can consume a lot of space, so to tackle this, two seats were built into the end of the kitchen units and work surface – ingenious. It's difficult to say just how tranquil and memorable it was dining as a family with the French doors open, the sound of the waves and the view of the sea serving as a welcome extra guest at the table as daylight began to fade into night.
The shower was a Jack and Jill shower in the middle of the room, with additional light brought into the space by high-level slatted internal windows in the dividing wall with the main bedroom.
Perhaps the feature that impressed the most, other than the stunning dual-aspect views and the massive TV, was the copper bath, lit from below and the main statement piece in the main bedroom en suite.
Both bathroom facilities were intriguingly designed spaces – dark hues, a blend of practical and mood lighting, and key tactile features such as exposed brick walls, which provided a stark visual contrast to the white and contemporary living and sleeping areas.
Lighting is always crucial to successful interior design, and as evening fell, it was clear that the family had considered the ambience of the flat during the darker hours when renovating this property.
Hidden LED lights and spotlights accentuated artwork and sculptures, while statement ceiling pendants in the kitchen and bedrooms added pools of soft light. The statement overhead light in the living room was a marvel – resembling a cloud floating below the ceiling during the day, concealing bulbs within its fluffy folds, and glowing like a dusky sunset at night.
One inventive design idea that I'm certainly borrowing and taking home with me is positioning a mirrored coffee table under an expensive statement light – you then get two statement lights and don't have to look up to admire it.
So, bedtime arrived and the extremely comfortable beds, crisp white sheets, and soft pillows made drifting off to sleep an absolute dream.
The flat hasn't always been this luxurious – although it was much-loved when inherited, the apartment was a labyrinth of smaller rooms with outdated décor. The kitchen and living room have been linked via an open archway to create a broken-plan kitchen lounge diner, allowing both spaces to enjoy a triple view of the sea, sky, and beach.
The bedrooms and bathrooms are now unrecognisable, and the smart use of space has added an extra shower room and an additional bedroom with bunk beds – discover the renovation story and see the before and after transformation photos here.
The family had a vision for a high-end, carefully considered full renovation of the flat, with the sea views at the heart of the plan, to create the designer apartment of their dreams, and it's safe to say they've certainly achieved that.
It's clear that this transformation into a luxury apartment required time, thought, and a significant budget. However, creating a contemporary space (and one that is predominantly white, which was a concern at the start of our stay due to my clumsiness) and making it welcoming too is a skill, and Min Y Mor is a masterclass in remodelling and interior ideas that can inspire anyone who visits – if they can ever tear their eyes away from the stunning sea views.
Gunfort Mansion, in contrast to its vibrant neighbours, appears rather dull with its grey rendering – a stark departure from the standout shades Tenby is renowned for. However, the proprietors of Min Y Mor have revealed that the building, where their flat is leasehold, is due for an upgrade, including improvements to communal areas like stairways and corridors.
Min Y Mor can be reserved through Puffin Cottage Holidays, offering you the chance to experience it firsthand. One thing's certain – I'm eagerly anticipating my return visit and will be counting down the days until then.