The Old School House Classic Cottage in Pembrokeshire, Wales

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In search of a wonderful week in Wales, in a charming cottage in the countryside?

Welcome to the Old School House in South Wales, a pleasant and peaceful Pembrokeshire retreat that is a stone’s throw (or should that be pebble) from some of the most beautiful beaches and cute coastal coves.

Located close to the pretty and picturesque fishing port of Fishguard, an Old School House holiday with Classic Cottages is the perfect way to enjoy a Great British beach break.

A sanctuary suitable for a romantic stay or family get together, it is the attention to detail and serene surroundings that make this a splendid sojourn or special staycation.

From sunset sessions to fantastic fish and chips, seaside spots to all weather activities, here is our guide to staying at The Old School House and the top things to do in the nearby pristine Pembrokeshire area:

This stay at The Old School House was gifted by Classic Cottages but all opinions are our own.

Table of Contents

First Impressions of the Old School House

The journey to The Old School House is a grand one, with our first glimpse of nearby Fishguard from the historic Fishguard Fort, which looks out over the majestic harbour (more on this later).

A short drive brings you to Letterston, a small village that has several shops and stores. It is also where The Old School House is located, our home from home for the next seven days.

When we first arrived and turned into the drive at The Old School House, the first thing we noticed was the vast green fields directly in front of the cottage – quiet and serene, all we could hear was the bleating of sheep in the next valley; nice!

As we opened the door to the cottage for the first time, we were amazed at how spacious the interiors were, particularly the large lounge that looked out towards the outdoor terrace and rolling Welsh Hills.

We knew we were going to be in for a treat for our week long stay in Pembrokeshire, staying in such a charming cottage.

See more of Classic cottage’s holiday cottages in Wales here >

Perfect for Groups and All Ages

Other than the quiet location and incredible views, one of the best things about the Old School House in Pembrokeshire is that as a temporary living space and holiday home, it works well for all ages.

As there are three bedrooms, there is ample sleeping space for up to 6 people, plus the cottage is equipped with children’s toys and board games that are discreetly hidden away in cupboards or trunks.

The Old School House overlooks a small children’s playing area that is perfect for children of all ages (and yet never gets noisy so you hardly know it is there).

For older guests, there is a bedroom located on the ground floor with a separate bathroom so stairs need not be a problem.

Best of all, the outdoor terrace is perfect for groups and socialising, with incredible sunsets over the Welsh hills in the evening.

Kitchen

One of the standout rooms in the Old School House is the kitchen, a light and airy space with white tiles, shiny chrome appliances and boutique Belfast sink (weirdly, given the view from the sink looking out towards the hills, it even made the washing up quite enjoyable).

Even though the cottage is called the Old School House, the appliances here were far from ‘Old School’ – modern additions included a wine cooler (which also fits beer cans – bonus); a coffee pod machine and a four slice toaster which we used every day.

The kitchen is chock full of all the culinary equipment you’ll need, from peelers to pizza trays, chopping boards to colanders. Plus the huge cupboards contain every type of drinking vessel you can imagine from coffee cups to champagne flutes; cheers!

If you don’t want to cook whilst staying here (you’re on holiday after all), there are lots of items to help with creating the perfect picnic like hampers or plastic glasses – and with the outdoor terrace just steps away, you may just want to enjoy a smorgasbord of snacks outside.

Additional cute touches included a notice board with menus from all the local takeaways, ice cubes ready to go in the freezer plus milk, tea and coffee boards all ready for us when we arrived, so we could have a brew straight away.

You can also bop whilst you breakfast or dance when you drink with a smart speaker mounted on the ceiling.

Lounge

The open plan lounge and seating area was where we started and finished our daily routine, so we spent most of our stay in this lush lounge area.

The views from the window of the Welsh hills are spectacular but if you fancy something more modern, the wide-screen HDTV is equipped with normal TV channels as well as Netflix (you can access Prime and Sky / NOW TV too if you have your own log-ins).

With two large sofas and a large dining table with benches, there was ample room for our party of four – the dining room table was great for our fish and chip suppers plus an ideal space for board games and jigsaws.

Several books about the local Pembrokeshire area can also be found in the bookshelf or on the side tables, plus a helpful selection of holiday hints and favourite food and drink places in the local area from the cottage owner – a really nice touch.

After the sunset each evening which could be glimpsed from the lounge (weather permitting), one feature that puts the ‘fun’ into ‘functional’ was the electronic curtain and blinds which descended the large bay windows at the touch of a button.

We also appreciated the binoculars and telescope so we could see the valleys (or sheep) up close from the comfort of indoors. We liked the cute toy moose head mounted on the wall too.

Central heating is controlled by a WIFI thermostat but for those chiller, winter months, there is also a log-burner in the lounge complete with firewood and fire-lighters. As we stayed during the summer, we opted to use the fire pit BBQ outside instead.

Bedrooms

The Old School House comfortably sleeps up to six people – there are three bedrooms to choose from. The first double bedroom is located on the ground floor across from the lounge.

Upstairs, there is a larger open plan King size bedroom plus a smaller twin bedroom ideal for children or as a spare bedroom.

We stayed in the upstairs King size bedroom which is on a mezzanine level above the lounge – this means you also benefit from the same countryside vistas as the lounge, looking out towards the park and hills.

All of the bedrooms are well equipped with adequate storage space plus the larger bedrooms have dressers and drawers. We also liked the digital radios provided and vintage suitcases.

Bathrooms

There are a couple of bathrooms in the Old School House, one on the ground floor next to the double bedroom and one upstairs (in lovely aqua / green hues).

Heated towel rails and extractor fans come as standard and fine floral shower gels and lotions are provided (plus loo rolls).

The upstairs bathroom has a bath to soak in after a long day of sightseeing (or just to escape the rest of the family for a few precious moments!).

For those who like hot / strong showers, we can confirm both the water pressure and hot water situation are excellent!

Outdoor Terrace

When we are looking for a holiday cottage or property, we always want a terrace (or at least a balcony) to get some fresh air each evening (possibly accompanied with a glass of wine of four – just us?!).

The Old School House delivers in spades when it comes to an opulent outdoor space, with a huge outdoor area that includes a picnic table with wooden decking plus several seats and coffee tables.

Cushions are available from a huge waterproof storage unit outside plus blankets too for chillier evenings.

We spent most evenings out here, enjoying alfresco cheese platters or enjoying cheeky takeaways from nearby Fishguard and Letterston – we even made use of the outdoor fire pit to make vegetable skewers and creamy marshmallows one evening.

Better still, you can enjoy the evening sunset from the outdoor terrace, with the sun setting over the valleys as the sheep loll about in distant fields.

Herb Garden

Another outdoor feature we really appreciated and made good use of is the small herb garden.

We picked fresh chives several times and garnished our breakfast bagels with them, plus blinged our Pimms juggs with fresh mint – well, it is a holiday after all!

All Weather Activities and Holidays

As we all know, the great British weather can be a little ‘hit and miss’ (that is us being polite!) and thankfully, the OId School House is well equipped for all weather types.

You can enjoy the outdoor area with its furniture and fire pit in the summer, but if the weather is cold or just rainy in Wales, there are lots of indoor activities like board games or movies to enjoy (plus enough space indoors should you need a few quiet moments alone away from other guests).

Attention to Detail at the Old School House

From the moment you walk into the Old School House, you can immediately tell a lot of TLC has been put into transforming this into a charming cottage with lots of mod cons and small but superb finishing touches.

Your warm welcome starts with a wonderful gift of Welsh treats left in the kitchen (plus a cute toy sheep to take home) and cupboards full of utensils, gadgets and gizmos.

You literally just need to bring clothes, toiletries and beach towels and money for food; the rest has been taken care of for you so it truly is a relaxing retreat.

A Peaceful Place in Pembrokeshire

If you are visiting Letterston / The Old School House from a big city or town, one of the main things you’ll notice is how quiet the cottage and surrounding area are at night – save for the occasional sheep baaing in the distant hills or occasional car, this is a very peaceful place.

The night sky is also awash with stars on cloud-free nights plus the electronic blackout blinds guarantee dark rooms in the evenings and early mornings – we literally had an ama-zzzzzzzz-ing sleep every night.

Things to Do in Pembrokeshire, Wales

If you are planning on staying at The Old School House in Letterston near Fishguard in Pembrokeshire, there are lots of beautiful coves and coastlines to explore nearby as well as some nice pretty Pembrokeshire villages and towns.

Things to do nearby in Letterston

The Old School House is located in the small parish of Letterston, approximately 7 miles drive from Fishguard and 10 miles from Haverfordwest.

There are a few locals businesses and things to do in Letterston including:

Children’s Playing Area Next Door
Immediately in front of the cottage (but far enough away not to hear noise), there is a small children’s playing area that includes swings and a flying fox.

What’s Cooking Fish and Chips
An award-winning Letterston fish and chip shop and restaurant, this is a short walk from the cottage or two mins in the car. We got a takeaway from here the first night and were not disappointed – three portions of fish and chips with mushy peas plus a sausage and chips cost just over £40 as of summer 2023.

The Harp Inn
The local pub in Letterston, the Harp Inn has a nice restaurant serving a menu that changes daily plus has a small public bar with a pool table and slot machines. The Harp Inn in Letterston is dog friendly too.

Shopping in Letterston
We recommend doing bigger shopping trips at either Co-Op in Fishguard (the nearest major supermarket to The Old School House) or at one of the many big chain supermarkets in Haverfordwest.

That said, we did lots of top-up shops and bought milk / newspapers etc from the nearby Letterston Village Store (around a three minute walk from the cottage) or from the small Spar shop at Letterston Garage.

Other things to do in Pembrokeshire / Nearby Old School House

A little further afield, these are some of the things to do in Pembrokeshire we really enjoyed visiting:

Fishguard Harbour / Lower Town

Fishguard is split into two parts, the upper town and lower town. Whilst the upper area is mainly housing, shops and bars, the lower town is home to the historic Ship Inn plus a magnificent harbour area.

Parking is free and the walk around Fishguard Harbour is quite flat so it is suitable for all ages. Paddle boards and kayaks are available for hire plus crab fishing is a popular activity with families in the harbour.

Fishguard Fort

Free to visit and a short two minute walk from the nearest car park, Fishguard Fort is a historic site that offers the BEST views of Fishguard and the surrounding coast. It is also a good place to check out the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

In February, 1797, gunners positioned at Fishguard Fort fired on a French invasion fleet to deter them and two days later, the French surrendered at nearby Goodwick. This is known as the last invasion of Britain and you can still see the large cannons today.

Fishguard Yacht Club

One of the best places to eat in Fishguard is Fishguard Yacht Club with magnificent views looking out over the harbour and fishing boats. With a simple but sublime seafood and breakfast menu, this is a popular spot open every day until 4pm.

We opted for the mackerel with roast potatoes, salad and chunky coleslaw (around £12 each) – delicious! The Fishguard Yacht Club is a popular spot for tea, coffee plus beer and wine in the afternoon sun.

Fishguard Yacht Club mackeral lunch Wales

Other things to do in Pembrokeshire near The Old School House

Porthgain

Around a 15 minute drive from Letterston and the Old School House, Porthgain is a former industrial port and mining hamlet that is now better known for its coastal walks plus excellent eateries.

Parking at Porthgain can be a nightmare (especially at weekends) so get here early, walk along the stunning coastal trails then reward yourself after in the historic Sloop pub or at The Shed.

We opted for takeaway fish and chips from The Shed and ate them on one of the picnic benches overlooking the harbour, as the fishing boats returned with their catch of the day. Sometimes the simplest pleasures in life are the finest.

Abermawr

One of the most stunning and secluded beaches in Pembrokeshire, Abermawr is around a 15 minute drive from Letterston and The Old School House.

A popular (albeit slightly chilly) swimming spot, Abermawr has a pebble / shingle beach and is around a 5 minute walk down a coastal trail from the nearest road.

Note there are no shops or food kiosks so BYOBAS (Bring Your Own Bucket and Spade).

St Davids

Britain’s smallest city (and also a great ‘Pointless’ answer), St Davids is renowned for its incredible cathedral, consecrated in the 12th century and rebuilt several times over the ensuing centuries.

A popular tourist spot, St Davids is a must visit and top thing to do in Pembrokeshire. The grounds and brook outside St Davids are also sublime and nearby you’ll find the ruins of St Davids Bishop’s Palace.

Back in the high street area of St Davids, there are a number of nice food and drink stores (ice creams and pasties are popular) plus lots of outdoor adventure clothing shops.

St Davids in Pembrokeshire is around a 30 minute drive from Letterston and The Old School House.

Tenby

One of our sightseeing highlights of the whole stay in Pembrokeshire, Tenby is one of the best known and most visited seaside towns in the whole of Wales.

From a colourful harbour to sandy beaches, hilltop walks to ocean adventures, Tenby is easily a day out in itself.

We’d recommend a few hours on the beach with ocean dips before exploring the town and Tenby Castle area high on the hill.

If you have time, take a boat out to Caldey Island to enjoy beautiful beaches and see Caldey Abbey.

Based on personal experience, also watch out for the seagulls in Tenby town centre – they divebomb looking for food and snacks (particularly outside Greggs!).

The Old School House – Summary / Final Thoughts

We had a really enjoyable stay at The Old School House in Letterston near Fishguard (and based on the comments left in the visitor book by previous guests, we weren’t the only ones).

The countryside location for this charming cottage is superb for a restful stay, and ideal for all group sizes, from couples to small families or groups of friends.

The booking process online through Classic Cottages was straightforward and the post booking communications and updates are a nice touch and very reassuring.

There are lots of nice places to visit nearby like Porthgain, Tenby, St Davids or even Fishguard Harbour itself. Above all, there is such attention to detail in the cottage from its design through to the cupboard contents – the Old School House taught us a ‘lesson’ in how to have a relaxing and stress-free vacation in South Wales.

The Old School House Pricing

A one week stay at Old School House starts from £928 (excluding deposit) when booking via Classic Cottages.

Other Classic Cottage breaks are also available all over the UK including Cornwall, Sussex, The Cotswolds and Devon.