A YOUNG Reporter in the south of England has told readers of the Hampshire Chronicle why they should make Tenby their next holiday destination.

“Tenby, nestled in the heart of Pembrokeshire, is exactly the kind of picturesque coastal town which would be the pride of any artist to paint,” begins the article by Kieran Morris, of Peter Symonds College, Winchester.

“The seafront is lined with houses coloured and purposed to every taste and palate; one walk dominated by a line of hotels; the other defined by rows of homes and shops only a few steps from the harbour.”

The Young Reporters scheme gives 14- to 18-year-old school students a chance to write for a real newspaper, and Kieran’s fair assessment of the Welsh seaside town shows an aptitude for writing and genuine engagement with the subject.

“Sandy beaches wrap around the edge of town,” he writes, “and at low tide it is possible to walk directly from one end to the other; alternatively, you can explore the caves and crevices lining the cliffside.”

(Of course, it takes an exceptionally low tide to allow a beach walker to round Castle Hill on the sand, but an easy connection is made via Penniless Cove Hill and Castle Slip.)

Singling out the newly opened Town Crier, Japanese restaurant Umi and the Harbwr Brewery Tap and Kitchen for special mention, Kieran also remarks on the abundance of dog-friendly establishments, pedestrianisation during July and August and the friendly welcome that can be expected from the locals.

Recognising Tenby’s historical riches, the article points out the castle remains, town walls, Prince Albert statue, Tudor Merchant House and Caldey Island with its Abbey, before moving on to other nearby activities in the area.

He names St Davids, the UK’s smallest city at 18 square miles, with its cathedral - open to the public free of charge when no services are being held - and other attractions such as the local chocolate shop and “a rather lovely independent bookshop.”

At Pembroke, he gives Wisebuys a special mention, describing it as a “delightful” 1940s-style corner shop and writes that the town’s main attraction is its castle, the birthplace of Henry VII, recommending the guided tours:

“Upon admittance visitors are welcome to explore the walls and the exhibitions hidden within them as well as Wogan Cave which is buried deep beneath the grounds; the site of a recent excavation which has yielded rare evidence indicating the habitation of the area as dating all the way back to the last ice age.”

“A further twenty minute drive will take you to Freshwater West beach,” he adds, which, “boasting dunes, admirable waves and spectacular views, is home to Dobby’s grave as seen in Harry Potter.”

In conclusion, the Young Reporter recommends that his readers “skip Spain, pass over Puerto Rico and ignore Iceland” next time they book a holiday: “for we already have everything that you could want in a vacation destination here in Britain: in Tenby.” Well said, Kieran.