An Easy Escape from Ireland to Pembrokeshire 

For travellers in Ireland looking for a Welsh holiday that feels both effortless to reach and wonderfully different, Pembrokeshire is a natural choice. 

Just across the Irish Sea, West Wales shares deep Celtic roots with Ireland. You notice it in the landscapes, the language, the traditions and the warmth of the welcome. It makes Pembrokeshire a perfect destination for a last-minute getaway, a long weekend break or the starting point for a driving holiday exploring Wales and further afield in the UK. And getting here is wonderfully straightforward. 

An effortless ferry crossing to Wales 

Regular ferry crossings from Rosslare make Pembrokeshire one of the easiest places in Britain to reach by car. 

Two routes connect Ireland directly with the county: 

Rosslare to Pembroke Dock 
Rosslare to Fishguard 

From either port the journey to Grove of Narberth is an easy drive through the Pembrokeshire countryside. Pembroke Dock is around 20 minutes away, while Fishguard is roughly 45 minutes. 

Within a short time of leaving the ferry you can be turning into the quiet drive at Grove, arriving at one of Wales’ most distinctive luxury country house hotels in Pembrokeshire. Travelling with your own car also opens up the freedom to explore Pembrokeshire at your own pace. 

Exploring Pembrokeshire by car 

Pembrokeshire is the only coastal national park in Britain, and having your own transport makes it wonderfully easy to discover its many corners. 

Spend the morning walking along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, then drive inland through quiet farmland and woodland. Visit the harbour towns of Tenby and Saundersfoot, explore the dramatic cliffs of the west coast, or head north to St Davids, the smallest city in the UK. 

A little further inland you can reach the Preseli Hills, where the famous bluestones that helped form Stonehenge were first quarried thousands of years ago. 

For many visitors arriving from Ireland, Pembrokeshire becomes the perfect gateway to exploring more of Wales and even continuing further into the UK on a relaxed driving holiday. 

A remarkable food scene in West Wales 

Pembrokeshire has quietly developed one of the most exciting food scenes in Wales. 

With rich farmland, thriving fisheries and a coastline full of natural produce, the county attracts chefs and producers who care deeply about seasonality and provenance.  

At Grove of Narberth, locally inspired dining is at the heart of the experience. Guests can enjoy refined seasonal cooking in Fernery, our four AA Rosette restaurant, or relaxed dining in the Artisan Rooms Brasserie, both shaped by Executive Chef Douglas Balish and his team. 

Across the county you will also find welcoming coastal restaurants, vineyard experiences and independent producers that make exploring Pembrokeshire’s food culture a pleasure in itself. 

A luxury base for your Welsh holiday 

Hidden in the rolling hills outside Narberth, Grove of Narberth offers a peaceful base for exploring West Wales. 

Surrounded by gardens, woodland and meadowland, this luxury hotel feels quietly tucked away while remaining within easy reach of the coast. For travellers arriving by ferry from Ireland, it offers the comfort of a five star Welsh hotel combined with the freedom to explore the county by car. 

Days might be spent discovering beaches, walking the coast path or exploring nearby towns, before returning to Grove for dinner, a glass of wine and the calm of the countryside. 

A last-minute Welsh getaway worth the crossing 

Because the ferry crossings are so convenient, many guests from Ireland visit for shorter breaks throughout the year. 

A spontaneous long weekend, a celebratory escape or the beginning of a driving holiday through Wales can all begin with a single crossing of the Irish Sea. 

And once you arrive in Pembrokeshire, it often feels as though you have travelled much further.