Invited to West Wales for a wedding, Mark Strijbosch goes exploring and comes across some unexpected residents: an island of seals and monks!

The seaside town of Tenby just has to be one of Wales’ best-kept secrets.

Getting to the coastal areas of Tenby, hidden and cut off from the slightly busier parts of quiet West Wales, is half the fun.

A series of winding, twisting roads will leave you dizzy and in need of fresh air and, fortunately, that’s exactly what Wales has in abundance.

We pulled over near one of the most beautiful old castles I’ve ever seen.

The bride and groom’s first kiss at Manorbier Castle. Photos: Mark Strijbosch

Some castles dotted around Wales and England are often overlooked by tourists due to their similarities, but this beauty called Manorbier Castle had a hidden churchyard, which was the perfect setting for a Welsh wedding.

Capturing the bride and groom’s first kiss on camera against a backdrop of a large Gothic window set the tone for a great day.

As if the picture-perfect castle wedding was not enough, our newly-weds soon made a dash for Manorbier beach for some more photos, driving their convertible along country roads to the sound of clapping crowds.

Some castles dotted around Wales and England are often overlooked by tourists

Tenby offers some of the best beaches in Europe for surfing, and though the thought of swimming in the cold British seas might put you off, donning a wetsuit will keep you warm enough for a quick summer dip.

Hugged by rugged cliffs and defined by a sea tide that can rise up to nine metres, the rocks seem sliced by circling winds and hills roll into the sea from afar.

Catching Tenby’s beaches in the summer is ideal, but a winter stroll would also provide you with the very best of British countryside hikes.

A mile off the Pembrokeshire coastline is tiny Caldey Island: home to a small population of monks and a larger population of lazy seals. Seeing their pups is a must.

Fishing trips set off from the beach every hour, with local fishermen handing out free tasty mackerel by the basketload.

Circling the island by boat offers surreal views of the peaceful sister island of St Margaret, which is home to thousands of birds, including puffins and cormorants.Tiny beaches that are enclosed by coves and low-lying rocks provide the perfect basking spots for the island’s main inhabitants.

We may not have seen any monks sunbathing topless on the beach, but the seals did not disappoint at all as they sat up to greet our boat.

The Caldey Island lighthouse can also be seen on a clear day, providing another glorious photo opportunity as it is set on the lush green rolling hills.

I enjoyed my stay so much I have even begun using the locals’ favourite word: lush!

As Tenby is a traditional fishing village that developed into a tourist resort, it is hard to resist feasting on its glorious supply of shellfish.

Tiny fish shops seemingly appear from nowhere, selling catches in small ice cream tubs.

Those like-branded tubs also hold the best scoop you will ever taste in the UK: Pembrokeshire ice cream.

Good and cheap accommodation here is not hard to find, as many families have converted their country homes into bed-and-breakfasts offering typical Welsh hospitality, including delicious traditional Welsh cakes on your arrival.

Tenby’s colourful houses rise above the beach.

Throughout the village you will see colourful houses standing upright near the coast, catching the late sunset light as British summer days stretch to beyond 10pm.

With a bag stuffed with 16 freshly-caught mackerel, it was soon time to head back to prepare a Welsh feast: fish fried in chilli sauce, as recom­men­ded in a very thick accent by our local friendly fisherman.