I am back at the day job today after a blissful stay at Peg-y-Don over the Christmas and New Year period. I had never actually been in Newport at Christmas before, so thought it was worth sharing some thoughts on how Newport stacks up as a Christmas holiday destination.
In a nutshell, it was wonderful!
We were spectacularly lucky with the weather (see below) but I don’t imagine that less friendly skies would have dampened the general vibe. Newport is always a happy place, but it was lovely bumping into smiling / festive people and having a good chat. You always receive a warm welcome in this little corner of heaven…
It was surprisingly busy – the beach especially felt busier than I was expecting. Certainly not Piccadilly Circus and there were plenty of peaceful walks in solitude, but there were definitely more walkers on the beach than usual. It was mainly families enjoying a glorious beach walk, often accompanied by their four legged friends, so perhaps it is a Christmas tradition for people living within striking distance of the beach?
Bars and restaurants were equally busy and there was a really nice buzz about the town. It was never *too* busy and we didn’t have any problems finding a seat to eat / drink, but it was great to see so many people enjoying everything that Newport has to offer.
Newport Christmas Lights
The first thing that you will notice when you arrive in Newport is how pretty it all looks – especially if you are arriving in the darker hours. It is always an attractive town, but it really does feel very Christmassy and triggers the festive spirit very well.
Rather than try to explain, here are some photos that I took when walking around the town one evening:
Christmas Day
We had originally hoped that we would be able to eat in the covered garden at The Golden Lion, but it turns out that most pubs / restaurants are actually closed on the big day itself. Llys Meddyg is the exception to the rule – I am sure it would have been amazing, but it is not a cheap option as a family!
We therefore cooked a feast at the house, which I think turned out OK:
Certainly not waist friendly, we had a great meal enjoying the epic views from the house. It was also lovely to be able to head out on to the beach to walk off the excessive eating and drinking…
Boxing Day
Boxing day saw another stunning dawn, without a cloud in the sky, but with a definite nip in the air. This was relevant as it was time for the annual Boxing Day swim by Newport Boat Club.
I will confess that I had no intention of swimming myself. I don’t mind cold water and have windsurfed / kite surfed for years, but I was far too warm and comfortable to join the lunatics who were up for a cold plunge, led admirably by the Mayor of Newport.
There was a really good turnout at the Boat Club (which turns 50 this year) and a very festive atmosphere in the glorious sunshine. I was a (very) regular customer of the amazing Aberfforest Coffee Co van over the Christmas period and we upgraded our coffees on Boxing Day to add some Baileys or Rum, which went down a treat. As a side note, the coffee is amazing from Aberfforest and you should definitely partake if you are there when they are open.
Anyhow, here are some snaps of the impressive turnout of swimmers – impressive not just in number, but in the scarcity of wetsuits! It may look like summer in the photos, but it was barely above zero degrees:
We really enjoyed watching the event and it was great to see the Boat Club offering hot showers and drinks to all the swimmers. Then it was time to wander back along the coast path and enjoy another massive lunch.
The Weather?
We have written before about our thoughts on Newport in the Autumn and off-season, so it will no doubt come as no surprise that we loved being in Newport outside the traditional summer season.
Yes, there is definitely a risk that the weather may not play ball, but we are almost always surprised at how good it can be. Our festive trip was no exception, with truly stunning weather throughout our stay. It was cold, but very bright and entirely dry (apart from our drive home through blizzards on the Preseli Hills).
Peg-y-Don is really warm and cosy, so you can enjoy the majestic views in total comfort even when the thermometer is plunging outside. The views never cease to amaze and we spend hours just staring at the natural beauty that surrounds you.
To conclude our Christmas 2025 wrap, here are some more photos that we hope show just how stunning Newport is, irrespective of the calendar:
Sigh…. I wish I was back there now! If you are interested in a 2026 trip, please don’t delay as the house is getting very busy and free weeks are vanishing fast.
We wish you a very happy 2026 🙂
