Beautiful interiors meet the great outdoors on a stylish break in Pembrokeshire

Newgale Beach might not have the star power of Malibu or Maui, but on a sunny spring afternoon, I can’t imagine a lovelier spot for a beginner’s surfing lesson. Given my lack of prowess (I manage to kneel a couple of times as I experience the split-second euphoria of catching a wave, but standing on the board proves to be a challenge too far), it’s a bonus that the golden sands of one of Pembrokeshire’s most beautiful beaches are almost deserted.

After a two-hour session with the wonderfully patient instructors from Outer Reef Surf School, we wrestle our way out of our wetsuits and make our way to Wildwater’s mobile sauna. Founders Scott Chalmers and Richard Lynch are local boys who discovered the restorative powers of saunas while travelling the world as filmmakers and saw a gap in the market that enabled them to build a business closer to home. A coastal car park in Wales might seem an unlikely spot to enjoy this Nordic tradition, but being enveloped by wood-fired heat as the light fades over the horizon is blissful.The hot/cold contrast is a key part of the Wildwater experience, so bliss is followed by discomfort as I descend Newgale’s pebble bank and brace myself for the shock of striding into the icy Atlantic waves.

It’s been a day of unexpected pleasures, with our small group introduced to Pembrokeshire’s hills, coastline and scenic towns by Ewan and Laura Rees of VIP Wales. Blessed by unseasonably warm weather, we’ve visited the Neolithic monument of Pentre Ifan, unencumbered by the restrictions and crowds associated with a visit to Stonehenge, and marvelled at the views on a coastal walk starting at the romantic ruins of St Brynach’s Church, a casualty of the Great Storm of 1859. It’s not hard to understand why, after spending several years working in hospitality abroad, Ewan has – like Scott and Richard – become an enthusiastic advocate for the beauty of the landscape and the variety of outdoor activities in the area of south west Wales where he grew up.

The next day, we take to the water with Tenby Boat Trips and even the steady drizzle cannot dampen our enthusiasm for the Atlantic grey seals that seem to be watching us as we watch them diving off Caldey Island. The islands around Tenby are also rich in birdlife, but we’ve been warned that, though nearby Skomer Island is known for its colony of puffins, the best time to see these diminutive birds is from May to July. So, we feel especially privileged when we spot the vibrant orange beak of a lone puffin bobbing on the waves mere metres from our boat. As if for our benefit, it takes to the air and circles around us with a flash of orange feet.