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 eco-friendly accommodation, adventure activities, 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 offering measurable low-carbon stays and promoting exploration of 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.
At Preseli Venture, this isn’t just a philosophy — it’s something we actively measure, improve, and build into every part of the experience, from our responsibly-led adventures to our low-carbon accommodation, and we are proud to have signed the Green Growth Pledge for Wales.
Putting Sustainability into Practice
We align ourselves with the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism and the World Tourism Organisation Network, putting their ideals into action:
✅ Reduce Carbon Emissions
By minimising waste, recycling, improving energy efficiency, and harnessing renewable energy wherever possible.
This includes our Eco Barn, where we actively measure our carbon footprint using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. In 2025, its total emissions were just:
- 2.0 tonnes CO₂e (location-based)
- 1.1 tonnes CO₂e (market-based, reflecting our renewable energy supply)
This makes it one of the lowest-carbon accommodation options of its kind — powered by solar energy, an air source heat pump, and a 100% renewable electricity tariff, with zero on-site fossil fuel emissions.
✅ Operate with Environmental Sensitivity
Ensuring our activities have minimal impact on the local landscape, biodiversity, and natural heritage.
Much of Pembrokeshire’s coastline is a sanctuary for wildlife, so our approach is deliberately low-impact — protecting what makes this place so special.
✅ 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 partners across the adventure and hospitality sectors to support the long-term wellbeing of the area — socially, culturally, and economically.
✅ 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 travel.
✅ Commit to Continuous Improvement
We’re always learning and evolving, finding new ways to reduce our impact and do better.
We’re also proud to have signed the Welsh Government’s Green Growth Pledge, reinforcing our commitment to renewable energy, low-carbon systems, and responsible tourism.
✅ Become Stewards of the Earth
In the last five years, we’ve planted over 2,500 trees, creating new habitats for wildlife — and that number continues to grow each year.
A Model Built over Decades
Since the 1980s, Preseli Venture has developed a model of sustainable adventure tourism in Pembrokeshire that works in harmony with this wild and protected landscape — Britain’s only coastal National Park.
Much of the coastline here is home to sensitive habitats and small harbour communities with limited infrastructure. That’s why our approach is carefully balanced: offering unforgettable experiences in nature without compromising the integrity of the place itself. People enjoy unforgettable experiences in nature—without compromising the beauty and integrity of the place itself.
Climate-conscious accommodation
Sustainability doesn’t stop when the adventure ends — it continues into where you stay. Our accommodation reflects the same low-carbon ethos. We use:
- Renewable energy systems, including heat pumps and solar panels
- Highly insulated, energy-efficient building design
- Green electricity tariffs
- Ultra-low-energy LED lighting throughout
Read our low-carbon report for the Eco barn.
We also prioritise reducing waste by:
- Recycling and composting wherever possible
- Using compost to grow herbs for our kitchen
- Providing eco-friendly toiletries and recycled paper products
Because we’re off the mains sewage system, we’ve installed a modern bio-disc treatment system to protect the surrounding valley and waterways from pollution.
And beyond our buildings, we continue to invest in rewilding the surrounding landscape, helping restore habitats and increase biodiversity.
More than a holiday
Sustainable adventure tourism isn’t about doing less — it’s about experiencing more, with greater awareness and respect.
It’s about connecting with nature, supporting local communities, and knowing your visit helps protect the very landscapes you’ve come to enjoy.
Responsible Adventure
Preseli Venture has been at the forefront of sustainable adventure tourism for over 40 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.
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.
