Manorbier, Tenby, SA70

THE DAK – A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY

Some properties are defined entirely by the home that stands there today; others are defined by something far more difficult to find: an exceptional position, an extraordinary outlook and the potential to create something truly special. The Dak falls firmly into the latter category, presenting a rare opportunity for a discerning private buyer, architect or developer to acquire a remarkable coastal site where the setting itself is undoubtedly its greatest asset.

Occupying an extraordinary position on the Pembrokeshire coastline, The Dak enjoys a relationship with the sea and surrounding landscape that is increasingly difficult to find. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path passes directly through the grounds, while private steps lead down towards a secluded beach below. Extensive outside space surrounds the property, combining areas of lawn with more natural grounds that have been allowed to blend into the coastal landscape, while behind the house, largely hidden beneath established vegetation, are terraces rising towards the boundary.

The existing residence has a fascinating and unconventional history stretching back more than a century. Originally constructed during the 1920s using part of an Army surplus hut brought from Carew, elements of that earliest structure can still be identified within the property today. The other half once stood further up near what is now the surfers’ car park at the top of the drive, forming a property known as Tranquility, which disappeared many years ago.

Over the decades, The Dak has evolved organically, with various additions and alterations reflecting the different chapters of its life. An external balcony was incorporated into the internal structure, the cellar became part of the developing accommodation and successive owners adapted the building according to the way it was being used at the time. A collection of historic photographs and postcards documents this transition through the years, creating a wonderful visual record of how this unusual coastal property has changed and grown.

Hospitality has long formed part of The Dak’s story. Previous owners operated the property as both a café and holiday destination, and when the current family acquired it in 1987, the café continued trading until 1992. The cellar has even had an unexpected commercial chapter, having once housed a loudspeaker business, while one end of the property was successfully used as separate holiday accommodation for many years. Its configuration may therefore offer future potential for a purchaser wishing to explore a similar use once again, subject to any necessary consents and requirements.

The Dak’s dramatic setting has also attracted the attention of the film and television industry. The film Basil, starring Christian Slater, was partly filmed locally, with the property used as a working base for the film crew. It was later considered as a potential location for The Pembrokeshire , further illustrating the cinematic quality of a setting shaped by the sea, landscape, weather and changing coastal light.

Yet it is perhaps everyday life at The Dak that best explains what makes this location so special. With the Pembrokeshire Coast Path passing through the grounds, generations of walkers have brought interesting encounters and conversations over the years, while the private steps towards the beach create a connection with the coastline that few properties can offer.

The grounds themselves change beautifully with the seasons. In late spring and early summer, the scent of honeysuckle fills the evening air, while established New Zealand flax produces striking orange flowers that appear almost to glow against the backdrop of a coastal sunset. The flax also serves a practical purpose, forming a substantial natural windbreak that provides considerable shelter from the Atlantic weather. Despite the drama of its coastal position, The Dak often feels surprisingly protected, even when conditions higher within the village are considerably more exposed.

When the weather changes, the character of the setting changes with it. Storms can be watched from the comfort of the house as the sea transforms below, while the steps towards the beach provide a dramatic vantage point from which to experience immense waves rolling towards the shoreline. On calmer days, the same landscape takes on an entirely different character, reinforcing the sense that the outlook here is never static but constantly evolving with the seasons, tides, weather and light.

One of the greatest privileges of living at The Dak is the constant connection with the wildlife that calls this remarkable stretch of coastline home. Dolphins and porpoises are frequent visitors offshore, while Atlantic grey seals are regularly seen below the property. On occasion, seal pups have even rested on the secluded beach beneath the cliffs, creating unforgettable moments for those fortunate enough to witness them. Above, gannets dive spectacularly into the sea in search of fish, joined by a wealth of coastal birdlife that changes throughout the seasons.

The ever present sound of the waves provides a wonderfully calming backdrop to daily life. Whether enjoying a quiet morning coffee, watching the sun set across the bay or simply sitting in the garden listening to the rhythm of the sea, there is a sense of peace and tranquillity here that is difficult to describe and impossible to recreate elsewhere.

Today, the existing property would benefit from significant investment and modernisation. For one buyer, the opportunity may be to comprehensively renovate and reimagine The Dak, retaining the history and individuality that have developed here over more than a century while adapting the accommodation for modern coastal living.

For another buyer, architect or developer, the possibilities could be considerably more ambitious.

Subject to obtaining all necessary planning permissions and consents, there may be an opportunity to explore a more substantial redevelopment of the site and potentially create an exceptional new residence designed specifically around the qualities of its setting.

What makes that prospect so compelling is that almost everything about a property can be changed, but its position cannot. Buildings can be altered, layouts redesigned and architecture completely transformed; an outlook and relationship with the coastline of this calibre simply cannot be recreated.

A thoughtfully conceived new home could place the landscape at the heart of its architecture, with expansive glazing framing the coastal panorama, generous open plan living spaces positioned to maximise natural light and terraces creating a seamless connection between inside and out. Whether the vision is for a striking contemporary residence or a more traditional architectural design sympathetic to its surroundings, the setting provides the opportunity to create a home of genuine distinction.

For a developer, The Dak presents the rarity of an established residential site where location, history and future potential come together in an exceptional way. For a private buyer, it offers something equally compelling: the chance to secure an irreplaceable coastal position and create a deeply personal home designed around one of Pembrokeshire’s most remarkable natural settings.

This is therefore not simply a sale centred around the house as it currently stands. The existing building represents more than a century of history, from its beginnings as part of an Army surplus hut in the 1920s, through its café and holiday accommodation years, its unusual commercial ventures, film connections and almost four decades in the same family.

The next chapter presents an entirely new opportunity.

For those prepared to bring imagination, investment and vision, The Dak offers something increasingly rare: not simply a property, but an irreplaceable piece of the Pembrokeshire coastline. Its history, extensive grounds, private access towards the secluded beach and extraordinary relationship with the sea create an opportunity that cannot be replicated. The next owner will not simply inherit a home; they will become the custodian of one of Pembrokeshire’s most remarkable coastal settings, with the chance to create something truly exceptional for generations to come.

A home created not merely to occupy this remarkable landscape, but to celebrate it.

Laundry Room

3m x 1.88m

Dining / Living Room 3

8.28m x 4.86m

Living Room 1

5.31m x 3.03m

Bedroom 4

5m x 3.78m

Living Room 2

4.9m x 3.62m

Bedroom 1

4.98m x 3m

Bedroom 2

5m x 2.8m

Bedroom 3 (with en-suite)

3.66m x 2.88m

Annexe

4.48m x 3.79m