A predominantly rural seat, Preseli Pembrokeshire comprises parts of English-speaking south Pembrokeshire including much of the port town of Milford Haven, combined with the Welsh-speaking northern part of the county. The constituency's spectacular coastline lies within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and the Preseli Mountains are in the north. It also includes Fishguard which serves as a major sea ferry port to Ireland.
Tourism is an important local employer and is recovering following the impact of the Sea Empress oil spillage disaster of 1995. The oil refining industry has also been a big employer, but has been in decline in recent years, a factor which has contributed to relatively high rates of unemployment, particularly in the south of the constituency.
Employment in the area has also been hit by the closure of local defence installations. According to the 1991 census, 18.4% of the population of the Pembrokeshire County Council area could speak Welsh but within the Preseli Pembrokeshire constituency, Welsh speaking is more prevalent in its northernmost part. St David's, the smallest city in Great Britain, is one of the area's major tourist attractions.