Two coastal towns in Pembrokeshire have featured in the top 10 rainiest locations according to research compiled by former BBC weather presenter Owain Wyn Evans and Sykes Holiday Cottages.

Analysis of Met Office figures from 1991 to 2020 revealed the seaside towns and cities which see the most rain, with Cardiff, Tenby, and Milford Haven featuring in the top 10.

Cardiff has been revealed as one of the rainiest seaside destinations in the UK. The capital of Wales has an average of 100mm of rainfall each month, with over a third of the year - 153 days - seeing more than 1mm of daily rainfall.

The seaside resort of Tenby and the Pembrokeshire town of Milford Haven also featured in the top 10 rainiest locations, with a monthly average of 95mm and 90mm respectively.

Other Welsh locations which feature on the top 20 list include St-Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan, Mumbles Head in Swansea, Aberporth in Ceredigion, and Aberdaron in Gwynedd.

However, on average, seaside towns are drier than the rest of the UK, with analysis showing they get an average of 75mm of rainfall a month, compared to 97mm for the rest of the country.

The findings were compiled by Sykes Holiday Cottages and former BBC weather presenter, Owain Wyn Evans, after research of 2,000 adults found 72 per cent don’t let typical wet British weather get in the way of a good staycation.

Moreover, 61 per cent don’t think it would be a British holiday if it didn’t rain, with sightseeing (53 per cent), strolls along the pier (37 per cent), and tucking into fish and chips on the seafront (30 per cent) among the activities they would do regardless.

Graham Donoghue, chief executive at Sykes Holiday Cottages, which has also created a Rainy Day Guide to Seaside Towns with wet weather activity inspiration, said: “Rain is often part and parcel of a UK holiday, but our latest research shows that wet weather isn’t necessarily a dampener on people’s staycation experiences.

“With our new Rainy Day Guide, we want to help holiday-goers make the most of their trips closer to home – come rain or shine. Whether that’s visiting a museum or spending the day in a local paint-a-pot or board game cafe, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a packed staycation itinerary even when it’s raining.”

Owain Wyn Evans, former BBC weather presenter, added: “I love that even in the rain, holidaymakers will still embrace a Great British staycation.

“Us Brits won’t let a bit of wet weather keep us indoors, and I’d argue some activities can even be better with a few rain drops!

“Despite my experience as a weather presenter, the exact detail on rain, especially showers can be hard to predict, so hopefully this analysis will give Brits some idea of what to expect and plan for if they’re heading to a seaside location this year."

 The study also found 34 per cent have ‘rainy day’ plans in their back pocket for a staycation, with visiting a restaurant or café, a local pub, or museums among the most popular choices.

And despite knowing there’s a strong chance of rain during a staycation, half of holidaymakers are happy to book a getaway anyway because they want to explore more of the UK.

What’s more, four in 10 (40 per cent) rate the convenience of a holiday closer to home, and 30 per cent find it’s easier to plan a staycation than a holiday abroad.

The research, conducted via OnePoll, also found 63 per cent pack with rainy days in mind, with 75 per cent expecting to experience drizzle during a UK winter break.

But it’s all about making memories, as 19 per cent who’ve experienced a rainy staycation said it gives you more to look back on.

Funny stories of getting caught in downpours (38 per cent), spending more time getting familiar with the local pub or café (35 per cent) and unwinding in accommodation (34 per cent) are among the more favourable recollections of trips. 

 Sykes Holiday Cottages’ Graham Donoghue added: “We’ve found that rain can create lots of opportunity to do things UK travellers may not have otherwise considered.

 “You don’t need to shy away from the wet weather while on staycation - in fact, you may find you get to know your chosen location better than you would’ve in the sunshine by spending more time with the local community in pubs, restaurants, and local eateries.”

 For inspiration on activities to do on a rainy day or during a wet staycation, read Sykes’ Rainy Day Guide to Seaside Towns here: https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/blog/rainy-day-guide-to-seaside-towns/