St Mary’s Seaview, St Mary’s Court, Tenby, SA70 7HH

Looking for a Christian holiday apartment, Tenby has few places better placed than St Mary’s Seaview. This beautiful two-bedroom apartment sits inside the historic town walls, with sea views to the front and rear and a private balcony off the living area. South Beach is only 50 metres away, and the harbour, shops and cafés are a couple of minutes’ stroll. For clergy and church workers who are tired and in need of rest, it is a stunning, peaceful base by the sea.

Tenby itself is the draw. Its medieval walls date back to the 13th century, and the Five Arches gateway still stands as a reminder of the town’s fortified past. Inside them, narrow streets lead down to a colourful harbour, and from the apartment’s bedrooms you can look out towards Castle Beach and the little tidal St Catherine’s Island, where a Victorian fort was begun in 1867. Evening walks along the front, with the lamps coming on above the bay, are hard to beat.

St Mary’s Church is also only a couple of minutes’ walk away. This Grade I listed parish church is mostly 15th-century, with a 13th-century chancel whose wooden ceiling carries 75 carved bosses, among them fish, a mermaid and a Green Man. Inside you will find the tombs of the 15th-century Tenby mayors Thomas and John White, and a memorial to Robert Recorde, the Tenby-born mathematician credited with introducing the equals sign. It is a lovely place for a quiet half hour of stillness.

Just offshore lies Caldey Island, reached by a short boat trip from Tenby Harbour in spring and summer, weather permitting. A Celtic monastery was founded there in the 6th century, and Cistercian monks have lived on the island since 1929, making lavender perfume and chocolate to support their community. A day on Caldey, with its Arts and Crafts abbey and its lighthouse, makes a gentle and memorable outing.

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs through Tenby and links it with neighbouring Saundersfoot, so you can walk from one harbour to the next. Further afield in Wales, you can reach Narberth, Amroth and the cathedral city of St Davids by car. The Tudor Merchant’s House, a National Trust property in the town, is another easy visit. Tenby also has its own railway station, which is useful for guests who would rather leave the car at home.

Inside, the apartment is bright and airy. The open-plan living area has comfortable seating, a Smart TV and a round dining table, with a door onto the balcony, perfect for a morning coffee in the fresh sea air, looking across the sea to Caldey Island. The kitchen is well equipped for self-catering, with a dishwasher. Bedroom 1 is a cosy double, and Bedroom 2 is a spacious family room with a king-size bed and an additional single, so the apartment sleeps five. One parking space in the secure underground car park below is rare and welcome within the walls.

Mornings here move at a gentle pace. Breakfast on the balcony, a walk down the steps to South Beach, and the sound of the sea carrying into the evening: it is easy to slow down. With shops, restaurants and the harbour so close, you can leave the car in its space for most of your stay and simply enjoy being by the water.

The apartment is on the second floor and reached by external stairs from the car park, so it suits guests who are comfortable with steps. Whether you are a minister needing a sabbatical, a church worker between busy seasons, or a family looking for a Christian holiday apartment, Tenby makes a warm and restful setting.

Perfect for:

• Clergy and church workers seeking a restful break by the sea
• Couples and small families of up to five
• Families and couples wanting a sandy beach two minutes’ walk from the door
• Sabbaticals and longer stays outside the school holidays
• Walkers exploring the Pembrokeshire Coast Path