THE Pembrokeshire Coast has been voted the UK's Holiday Destination of the Year in a public poll.

The accolade has come in the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2018, which are announced today (Thursday).

The Pembrokeshire Coast was one of five holiday destinations challenging for the title.

Said Countryfile: "With a wealth of natural attractions, it's no wonder that the wild coastline of Pembrokeshire has romped home with this year's top spot.

"It's a haven for marine life, with dolphins and porpoises often seen from Strumble Head, whale-watching boat trips off the coast and plentiful puffins and seals at Skomer.

"Surrounded by the sea on three sides, no part of Pembrokeshire is more than 14 miles from the coast and locals claim to have salt water in their veins.

"Bask on the wide sandy beaches, trek the 186 mile-long Coast Path, and don't forget to stop in St Davids, the smallest city in Britain."

Added one voter, Rachel Brennan: "St Davids in Pembrokeshire is just perfect. It is beautiful, unspoilt and there is space to breathe. It is special to all our family and Whitesands Bay has been the setting for some wonderful memories."

Alan Turner, Pembrokeshire County Council’s tourism, marketing and development manager, said:  “The county has played host to Countryfile on numerous occasions over the last ten years and we have  been able to build up a special relationship with both the TV programme and the magazine.

“We are especially grateful to all the Countryfile magazine readers who voted for us. We wouldn’t have won without them.”

The category runner-up was the Isle of Wight, while the other destinations challenging for the award were The Forest of Bowland in Lancashire and Yorkshire; Suffolk and Scotland's Speyside.

Photographs from the Pembrokeshire coast were also a popular choice of voters. Sussex-based photographer Chris Mole took second place in the Reader Photo of the Year category with his image Lively Light, which was shot at sunrise at Freshwater East beach, and third place with Stormy Spire, an image of a dramatic storm surge.

Also in the awards nominations in the Country Book of the Year category was The Lost Words by St Davids-based illustrator Jackie Morris and poet Robert Macfarlane. The category was won by The Wainwrights in Colour by Andy Beck.