PENUM by Pegasus 2027

The PENUM 30 is a point-to-point course following Llwybr Arfordir Cymru, the Wales Coast Path, starting at Freshwater West just south of Pembroke and ending in Tenby, a historic walled seaside town famous for its pastel-coloured houses, medieval fortifications, and four sandy beaches.

The sand and dunes of Brownhill or Broomhill Burrows provides the backdrop to the start line but the coastal path soon skirts around the Castlemartin military range, giving it familiar EDDUM-like vibes. By six miles we are back overlooking the sea as the Pembrokeshire Cast Path takes us past evocative landmarks such as Flimstone Castles, Crockysdam, Moody Nose, Newton Saddle and Star Rock.

The route takes a quick loop inland at Broad Haven so that we can meander around Bosherston Lakes, three flooded limestone valleys that are covered with lilies in the summer and team with wildlife. We strike out along the cliffs again at Saddle Point for a section decorated with natural phenomena such as Raming Hole, Mowingword, Lattice Windows and Griffith Lorts Hole before crossing the picture postcard perfect sandy beach at Barafundle Bay. Keep your eye open for sea kayakers exploring the many caves and cliffs.

At St Govan's Head there's a small chapel, built into the limestone headland and hidden down a flight of 50-odd steps. It is said that the number of steps is never the same going down as going back up. It would be a cruel place to have a checkpoint, wouldn't it? We wouldn't do that, would we?

Next up is Stackpole Quay, the start of the PENUM Half. From this historic harbour nestled amongst dramatic cliffs, the route heads past beautiful, deserted bays and beaches towards Manorbier, where a 12th Century Norman castle sits right above a gorgeous sandy beach and dramatic red sandstone cliffs. Once again we will skirt around a military range.

Once we pass Lydstep Point we descend to another fantastic beach, Lydstep Haven. One more stretch of golden sand, Tenby South Beach and we have reached our destination.

With 3,225 feet of elevation, PENUM has the least elevation of any Pegasus race but the undulating terrain is mixed, including path, trail, grass, sand and the odd smattering of tarmac, so appropriate footwear is required.

👣 Opened in 1970, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path was the first official national trail in Wales.

🧙 Brownhill Burrows is the location where Dobby the house-elf was buried in the film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

🙏 In the last few miles of the route you can see Caldey Island which is home to a community of Cistercian monks who have lived there in quiet seclusion for decades.

🟰 Robert Recorde, the inventor of the equals sign, lived in Tenby.

🐟 Tenby's Welsh name is Dinbych-y-Pysgod or Little Fortress of Fishes, reflecting a long history as a fishing port.

🏃 The fastest known time for running all 870 miles of the Wales Coast Path was once held by Rhys Jenkins, founder of Pegasus Ultra Running. He completed the entire route in 20 days 10 hours, a record that stood for three years.