What is Sustainable Adventure Tourism?

Sustainable adventure tourism takes full account of its current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts, while addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities.

At Preseli Venture, we believe adventure and sustainability go hand in hand. Our goal is to help people experience the breathtaking natural beauty and vibrant culture of the Pembrokeshire coast—while leaving as light a footprint as possible. For us, sustainable tourism is about exploring the wild in a way that protects the places we love.

Why Sustainable Adventure Tourism Matters

Pembrokeshire is a treasure trove of wild landscapes, rare wildlife, and rich cultural heritage. To protect it, we need to tread carefully. Sustainable tourism ensures that we enjoy the natural world without damaging it—and that the benefits of tourism support the people who live here.

We align ourselves with the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism and the World Tourism Organisation Network, putting their ideals into practice:

✅ Reduce Carbon Emissions

By minimising waste, recycling, improving energy efficiency, and harnessing renewable energy sources wherever possible.

✅ Operate with Environmental Sensitivity

Ensuring our activities have minimal impact on the local landscape, biodiversity, and natural heritage.

✅ Support the Local Economy

From hiring local people to sourcing local food and services, we aim to keep money circulating in the community and create meaningful local jobs.

✅ Work Hand-in-Hand with Communities

We collaborate closely with our partners in the adventure and hospitality communities to promote the long-term wellbeing of the area—socially, culturally, and environmentally.

✅ Encourage Low-Impact Transport

We promote community transport, lift sharing and car-free travel to reduce traffic and pressure on rural roads and small coastal villages.

✅ Create Meaningful Visitor Experiences

By offering immersive, inspiring adventures that foster a deeper connection to nature—and build awareness of sustainable practices.

✅ Commit to Continuous Improvement

We’re always learning and evolving, looking for new ways to be even more sustainable in everything we do.

✅ Become Stewards of the Earth

In the last 5 years, we’ve planted 2500 trees in the surrounding landscape and each year this number grows, creating more habitats for wildlife.

Our Pledge

Since the 1980s, Preseli Venture has developed a model of sustainable adventure tourism that works in harmony with the wild and protected landscape of Pembrokeshire—Britain’s only coastal National Park.

Much of the coastline here is a sanctuary for wildlife, home to sensitive habitats and small harbour communities with limited infrastructure. That’s why our approach is deliberately low-impact and community-focused, helping people enjoy unforgettable experiences in nature—without compromising the beauty and integrity of the place itself.

Climate-Conscious Accommodation

At Preseli Venture, we’re dedicated to providing environmentally responsible accommodation without compromising comfort. Our low-carbon ethos is evident in every aspect of our operations, from the renewable energy we use to the careful design of our buildings.

We harness the power of a ground-source heat pump, boosted by solar hot water panels, to provide all of our heating and hot water. Photovoltaic panels generate electricity, and the cottages run on green electricity from Ecotricity. Our eco-friendly design features highly insulated buildings, made from polystyrene formwork, which helps reduce energy consumption. Most of our lighting is provided by ultra-low-energy LED bulbs.

Waste reduction is a priority: we recycle everything we can, compost organic matter to nourish our gardens, and use the resulting compost to grow herbs for our kitchen. We also ensure environmentally friendly toiletries in the bathrooms, using eco hand wash, shower gel, and recycled toilet paper.

Being in the countryside and off the mains sewage system, we’ve invested in a modern bio-disc sewage treatment system that helps prevent pollution in the local valley and stream. Our commitment to the environment extends beyond our buildings, as we continually work on rewilding the landscape surrounding us.

Responsible Adventure

Preseli Venture has been at the forefront of sustainable adventure tourism for over 35 years. We’ve designed our activities to educate and encourage conservation while exploring the wild beauty of the Pembrokeshire Coast. Our partnerships with the Marine Conservation Society, National Trust, and National Parks ensure that our adventures prioritise the protection of coastal habitats and wildlife.

Our outdoor activities are conducted in accordance with the sustainability and best practice guidelines set out by the Pembrokeshire Outdoor Charter Group. These activities undergo the scrutiny of local seal, bird, and rocky shore experts. In collaboration with the National Trust, we report our usage of their coastal properties and contribute to their nature conservation efforts by reporting interesting wildlife sightings. We even offer free adventures for National Trust volunteer groups working at nearby sites.

Preseli Venture operates with the utmost sensitivity to the local wildlife and coastal communities, ensuring our activities cause minimal disturbance to the environment. We also offer two car-free holidays—an activity holiday and a walking holiday—allowing you to explore Pembrokeshire using only public transport. This promotes green travel and reduces the environmental impact of your adventures.

Whether you’re staying in our eco-friendly accommodation, participating in our adventure activities, or simply relaxing in nature, we ensure that every experience is designed with sustainability and environmental stewardship at its core.

Promoting Public Transport

At Preseli Venture, we actively encourage our guests to travel sustainably, with a strong emphasis on using public transport. We recommend arriving by train to the nearby Fishguard and Goodwick station, making it easier for guests to explore Pembrokeshire without the need for a car. Our car-free activity and walking holiday guidebooks provide an in-depth resource for exploring Pembrokeshire entirely by public transport, from start to finish.

For those hiking along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, our accommodation is conveniently located just a mile from the coast, allowing walkers to easily reach us on foot. We’re also situated along the Celtic Trail cycle route 4, so cyclists touring the area can arrive by bike. As a VisitWales accredited “walkers and cyclist friendly” accommodation, we make it simple for our guests to travel responsibly and enjoy all the beauty that Pembrokeshire has to offer without a car.

We also collaborate with a local e-mountain bike hire and tour provider, giving our guests the chance to explore Pembrokeshire’s breathtaking ancient landscapes on two wheels: a fun, low-impact way to connect with the wild beauty of the region.

Nurturing Community Resilience

We are committed to supporting the local economy by collaborating with a growing network of sustainable activity providers and sourcing produce from trusted local suppliers who prioritise the planet. Our efforts go beyond simply providing exceptional experiences; we actively foster connections between local businesses to strengthen the community and enhance its resilience. We leverage our local knowledge to guide guests in making informed choices about where to find environmentally sustainable produce.

As part of our ongoing commitment to protecting local habitats, we partner with a trusted local provider to offer Rockpool Safaris for both local families and Preseli Venture guests. These guided experiences invite participants to discover the fascinating marine life of the Pembrokeshire coastline while learning how to explore these delicate environments with care, curiosity, and respect. It’s a fun and educational way to deepen your connection with nature and become a more conscious coastal adventurer.

We also help maintain the natural beauty of our local beaches, Abermawr and Aberbach, through the Marine Conservation Society’s ‘Adopt a Beach’ scheme. We also work closely with the local community group, Transition Bro Gwaun, which supports and develops environmental initiatives in and around Fishguard. By working hand-in-hand with these local organizations, we’re not only preserving the natural environment but also empowering the local community to thrive.