May half-term — Monday 25 to Friday 29 May this year — is one of the best weeks of the year to bring the kids to Tenby. The town hasn’t yet hit the high-summer crowds, the sea has warmed up enough to make a coasteer or kayak trip feel like an adventure rather than an act of bravery, the puffins are arriving on Skomer, and the wildflowers along the Coast Path are at their best. Here’s how to spend the week, written by people who run the activities and have raised kids on this coast.
How warm is the sea, really?
Sea temperatures around Pembrokeshire start to warm up significantly during late April and early May, and by half-term they’re noticeably more inviting than you’d expect for Wales in spring. Our 5mm coasteering wetsuits, helmets and buoyancy aids mean you’ll be pretty comfortable in the water — and warming back up afterwards is half the fun. Pack waterproofs and a couple of warm layers for everyone; the British weather is the British weather. Beyond that, the kit handles the rest.
Get away from the busy town — three off-the-beaten-track options
Tenby itself is lovely in half-term, but it does get busy. Most of our sessions take you out of the town centre and onto stretches of coast where you’ll see seals, sea birds and very few other people.
Coasteering at Lydstep or beyond. Ten minutes’ drive from Tenby, Lydstep headland has a free, rarely-busy car park and a network of routes we’ve explored over the years — caves, jumps, swims, all tailored to the group on the day. Minimum age 8. Find out more about coasteering →
Sea kayak escape from the harbour. Paddle out of Tenby Harbour and within twenty minutes you’re on water the day-trippers don’t reach — quiet bays, sea caves, seal sightings possible if you’re lucky. Children 8+ in a single kayak; younger kids in tandems with a parent. Read about our kayaking trips →
Climbing on Pembrokeshire’s sea cliffs. The weather-proof option — we move to sheltered routes if it’s wet. Suitable for kids 8+ who haven’t tried it before. Climbing details →
Half-term pricing & discount
Adults £55, kids £45. Use the code HALFTERM at checkout for 5% off any session booked during May half-term. We get booked up two or three weeks in advance for school holiday weeks — worth booking before you arrive.
Building a full day around your adventure
A typical family half-term day works well as one of our sessions plus one attraction plus a beach hour. Some pairings that work:
Coasteering morning at Lydstep, beach afternoon at South Beach. South Beach is fifteen minutes’ walk from the town centre and has the long flat sand the kids actually want. The ice cream queue is part of the experience.
Caldey Island morning, sea kayak in the afternoon. The Caldey ferry runs Monday-to-Saturday during half-term with sailings every 20-30 minutes from Tenby Harbour kiosk (£20 adult, £10 child, family ticket £50; tickets on the day only, no advance booking). The monks’ chocolate shop is non-negotiable. An afternoon kayak gets you back to town for dinner.
Heatherton World of Activities for younger kids. Go-karts, the cliff drop, archery — works well for ages 4 to 12. Ten minutes’ drive from Tenby. Open daily through half-term week.
Tenby Museum and Castle Hill. Free entry day for Pembrokeshire residents. The views from Castle Hill are the best in town. A good hour between activities.
The wildlife angle — puffins, seals and wildflowers
Puffins arrive on Skomer Island in mid-April, so by late May they’re in full nesting mode. Boat trips run from Martin’s Haven (an hour’s drive from Tenby) — Dale Sailing are the only operator authorised to land on the island. Day landing tickets must be pre-booked through the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales — they sell out fast for school holiday weeks, so book the moment you’re sure of your dates. Round-island cruises (without landing) are also available and book up less aggressively.
If you don’t fancy the Skomer day-out, you’ll see plenty of seabirds and pretty much guaranteed seals on a Caldey Island ferry trip or a guided kayak with us. The wildflowers along the Coast Path between Tenby and Manorbier are at their best in late May — bluebells, thrift, sea campion — and the walk works for anyone over five who can manage a couple of miles with a snack break.
Where to eat & where to stay
Most half-term visitors stay either in town (good for walking everywhere, busiest in the evenings) or out at the country park sites and self-catering cottages near Lydstep / Manorbier (quieter, but you’ll need a car to get into Tenby). We’ve put together a places to stay list with the spots we’d recommend to family and friends, and a places to eat page with the ones we send people to when they ask “where should we go?”.
Booking your half-term adventure
Drop us a line on 07880 746892, email info@tenbyadventure.co.uk, or book through the activity pages. We’ll pick the route to suit the kids you’ve brought. If half-term week is fully booked by the time you read this, the week after is often quieter, the weather’s usually just as good, and prices haven’t yet ticked up to peak-summer rates.
See you on the coast.
Frequently asked questions
When is May half-term 2026?
Monday 25 May to Friday 29 May 2026 in Wales and most of England. Worth booking activities at least a fortnight in advance — Tenby fills up for school holiday weeks.
Are your activities suitable for kids during half-term?
Yes. Coasteering, sea kayaking, and rock climbing all run regular family bookings during school holidays. Minimum age 8 for coasteering and kayaking solo, younger kids welcome in tandem kayaks with a parent. Climbing has the most weather-proof reschedule options if you’re worried about a wet morning.
What’s the sea temperature like in late May?
Notably warmer than April. Our 5mm coasteering wetsuits, helmets and buoyancy aids keep you comfortable in the water and we’ve got plenty of warm kit on hand for the changeover afterwards.
What if the weather is bad?
We run in most conditions short of an actual storm. Rain doesn’t stop coasteering or kayaking — you’re already wet. Climbing moves to sheltered or indoor venues if it’s persistent rain. We’ll only cancel for genuine safety reasons and we’ll reschedule for free or refund.
Can you fit us in over half-term week?
We get fully booked two to three weeks ahead for school holiday weeks. The week before and the week after half-term are often quieter, with sessions easier to book and the same weather window.
What should we bring for the kids?
Old trainers or beach shoes with grip, a warm layer for after, a towel, a packed lunch or snacks. We provide everything wet-side. A waterproof case for your phone if you want photos on the water.