Hidden Secrets

Top Tips for visiting North Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire is well known for being something of a hidden secret in itself, but once you get here there is an abundance of things to do and places to see for all tastes and age groups.

Here are just some of our favourite local places to visit in and around Fishguard and North Pembrokeshire, there are many more.

Beaches

• Pwllgwaelod – busy little sandy cove backed by a pub / restaurant. Possibly the best sunsets in West Wales! Access via sign posted road in Dinas Cross.
• Cwm-yr-Eglwys – on a sunny day, you’d think this beach was in the Caribbean, lush green topped cliffs, a famous tree, and clear azure blue waters situated beneath the remains of a Church ruined by a great storm in the 1830’s. Limited parking, and accessed via the sign posted single lane road on the outskirts of Dinas Cross towards Newport.
• Parrog, Newport – boat lovers paradise, a tidal estuary beach situated beneath the Town of Newport. There’s a beach side cafe / bar and a members only boat club. Parrog gets extremely busy during summer.
• Whitesands at St Davids – very popular beach, especially with surfers. Dramatic setting under the hill of Carn Llidi.
• Abercastle – a picturesque cove and harbour with limited parking, a mix of sand and shingle with smaller hidden coves along the coastal path to discover. Just a mile or so north west of Mathry.
• Abermawr – Another sand and shingle beach with very limited parking nearby – access is along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path or via a walk through field from Felin Dwarch. Just under a mile as the crow flies north east of Mathry.
• Aber Bach – beautifully wild and remote cove with a small stream running under a wooden bridge. Access is via the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path from either Fishguard or Pwllgwaelod sides.
• Newport Sands – situated on the opposite side of the estuary to Parrog. A mile or so of flat dune backed sand with parking available below Newport’s golf course. There a beach cafe, life guards and ample space for all the family. Follow the signs from Llys Meddyg in Newport.

Eats

• FFwrn – unique and stylish setting in the centre of Fishguard, just across the road from us, for the best pizza in Pembrokeshire and excellent Italian menu on Saturdays. Live music venue and the place to be during Aberjazz, the Fishguard Folk Festival and of course, the New Year’s Eve Festival, where all tickets sell out in a flash.
• Red Onion Cafe – just a short drive into the countryside from Fishguard, you can find this lovely family run cafe that offer themed nights and events throughout the year as well as homemade freshly baked cakes and desserts, there’s a great selection of hot, cold and alcoholic drinks, along with a small light lunch menu throughout the day.
• Tafarn Sinc – corrugated metal building, sawdust floor, Welsh first language, home cooking and set in the old slate quarrying village of Rosebush – high in the Preseli Hills.
• Yr Hen Printworks – Cardigan, Michelin Guide and Bib Gourmand recognised for it’s outstanding cooking, with expertly selected local ingredients that lean into Welsh culture. The extraordinary and experimental flavours are presented on small plates, tapas-style and may include coracle caught brown trout fro the river Teifi or Cardigan Bay crab.
• Crwst – so just to be accurate, this eatery like Yr Hen Printworks is just over the border into Cardigan, but definitely worth a mention. Now selling their yummy, culinary Welsh branded treats, such as their Great Taste awarded Welsh honey butter, on the shelves of Harrods and Selfridges, this place is very popular amongst locals. Its daily sell-out trays of doughnuts make Crwst a destination in itself, but with an all day style breakfast menu and some clever twists on classic plates available too, be sure to book yourself a table in this urban style cafe, situated in a renovated mechanic’s garage.
• The Shed at Porthgain, amazing fish and Chips alongside à la carte specials and freshly prepared desserts, served practically on the quayside of this old industrious fishing hamlet.
• LLys Meddyg – great place to go for a celebration or special occasion.
• The Ranch – hidden away in Llanychaer and looks almost like something out of a spaghetti western, but a friendly Welsh welcome awaits behind this bar. Quirky for sure but this unique hideaway serves tasty home cooked plates, including delicious freshly made bread.
• Nourish – just off Fishguard market square and take away only, you will have to join the queue for their delicious sell-out sourdough loaves and stunning pastries. Winning combination of expert baker and very friendly, knowledgeable service.
• Mamgu – based above the choir rooms in St David’s cathedral, the canteen-style cafe is run by clever team behind the innovative Welsh cake brand, where they inject tasty flavours into the most classic Welsh teatime treat.

Surf

• Paddle-boarding and Kayaking – you’re never far away from a coastal adventure when you stay at MTH, literally 500yds below us at Lower Town you’ll find paddle-boarding and Kayaking along the quay wall.
• Fancy coasteering? The Blue Lagoon at Abereiddy is the place to go, previously home to the Red Bull cliff diving championships for two years in a row, The Blue Lagoon is a deep flooded former slate mine with an eerily blue glow.
• Why not try your hand at coastal foraging with Craig Evans , his local knowledge is second to none. Craig offers a range of foraging packages that will whet your appetite for a foodie adventure on the Pembrokeshire Coast.
• After a busy day, what could be better than a beach-side sauna with a view? Richard and Scott have the perfect solution – The Wild Water Sauna, Pembrokeshire’s luxury wood fired mobile sauna. They move site on a monthly basis and often have last minute availalbilty offers, such a luxurious and exhilarating way to experience the extremes in a breathtakingly beautiful costal location.

Walks

• Dinas Head – enjoy the incredible views from some of the tallest cliffs in Pembrokeshire.
• Gwaun Valley Trails – Waterfalls and steep wooded valley walks in an ancient glacial melt-water valley, finished off with a pint of Bass at Bessie’s.
• Preseli Mountains – Endless trails to follow, our favourite being the Golden Road that snakes along the entire ridge of the Preseli range.
• Dinas to Aberfforest – discover the hidden waterfall, lushness of flora and fragrant with wild garlic in springtime on this stunning woodland valley walk. Take a picnic, and enjoy the lovely secret cove at the bottom of the valley.
• Whitesands to St Davids Head – coastal route with stunning coves, neolithic sites, and the bare rocky bones of Pembrokeshire.
• Newport Parrog to Newport Sands beach – a gentle flattish walk along both sides of the Nevern Estuary, enjoy stunning views of Newport and Carningli mountain from the northern river bank, before arriving at the lesser used estuary and dune backed beach known locally as The Bennet.

Activities

• Dyffryn Fernant Gardens – On Wednesday book the afternoon tour with Christina Shand. And on Sundays enjoy classical concerts to accompany you as you walk around her beautiful gardens.
• If you are with us during late July and August, a few miles away near Moylegrove, you can discover the Pembrokeshire Sunflower Farm, where you can pick your own sunflowers to take home.
• Llys y Fran – hidden away behind the Preseli mountains, nearly 7 miles of reservoir-side walk, very steep in places. There’s also MTB trails which branch off the main trail around the reservoir, plus a really fun skills area with a pump track and short warm up trails. Bikes can be hired on-site. Enjoy some refreshments or a meal in the cafe overlooking the dam.
• St David’s Cathedral – in just under a half hour’s drive away is where the cathedral is hidden beneath the rooftops of Britain’s smallest city. St David’s is the most ancient cathedral setting where St David chose to set up his monastery in the 6th century. It has survived fires, floods and the Norsemen in the Dark ages, and these days it a place for pilgrimages to the shrine and daily worship, from matins to evensong as well as the annual St David’s Cathedral Music festival and extensive Michaelmas celebrations.
• Ramsay Island Boat Trip – take a boat from St Justinian’s, just outside St David’s to or around Ramsay Island Nature Reserve. Open to the public every year, usually between 1st April (or Easter if earlier) and 31st October with two departures per day and run by Thousand Islands Expeditions only. It is a dramatic offshore island with cliffs that rise up to 120 metres and it’s the perfect place for breeding seabirds, flocks of Choughs and Peregrines with spectacular views across the Irish Sea.
• Bluestone Brewery – The name Bluestone Brewing Company comes from the local stone originally used for the buildings, Bluestone is somewhat famous for being mysteriously transported over 250 miles to become Stonehenge, over 5000 years ago. This low environment impact micro brewery prides itself on sustainability and has a visitor facility and shop, although all production areas are of limits.

Extraordinary

• The Last Invasion Tapestry – 30 metres long and four years in the making, this tapestry was designed by Elizabeth Cramp and the embroidery advisers were Rozanne Hawksley, Eirian Short and Audrey Walker. The Tapestry was unveiled to the public on February 22nd 1997 – the bicentenary of the date the French forces landed at Carreg Wastad near Strumble Head.
• Melin Tregwynt – globally recognised brand producing weaves from 3rd gen working mill is definitely a hidden gem. Cloth for their iconic heirloom blankets and cushions are woven in this tiny spot which now has a great cafe and restaurant and thriving gift shop.
• Carreg Coetan Arthur, Llech y Drybedd, and Pentre Ifan – These three Cromlechs (Dolmens) sit in the landscape in and around Newport Pembrokeshire, Carreg Coetan Arthur possibly being in the strangest location of all – although the folk that built it would have had no idea of the possibility of a 1980’s housing estate being built around it. You’ll find this small but perfectly balanced Cromlech to the right along the entrance to Carreg Coetan behind two bungalows off Pen y Bont road in Newport. Continue along Pen y Bont road and over the iron bridge for approximately 5 miles to discover the site of Llech y Drybedd, a squat Cromlech with views across the Preseli Hills. From here, head back to Newport and then left onto the Cardigan road, about half a mile after Llwyngwair Manor, follow the brown road signs to Pentre Ifan – possibly the finest example of a neolithic Cromlech in the UK. The capstone towering above you at almost 2.5 metres above the ground.
• Coed Cilgelynnen – A 14 hectare ancient woodland and a peat bog site in the Gwaun Valley known as Esgyrn Bottom . You’ll find gladed areas along the central track providing an attractive walk under the canopies of ancient oak trees.
• Rosebush Quarry – located north of Rosebush on the side of the Preseli Mountains, the where you can take a dip in the green slate waters of the tranquil lake. The quarry is more than 300m above sea level which makes it an altitude dive.
• Fishguard Fort – just a short distance from MTH, and visible from our sea view rooms – you really can walk amongst the canons pointing out to sea. The current fort dates from the 19th century, but it is built on top of a much earlier Iron Age fort.
• Stumble Head Light House – about 20 minutes away, off a rocky headland called Pencaer, or Strumble Head. It has a world renowned bird observatory as one of Britain’s best places to spot migratory birds and passing cetaceans. Popular with bird and sea watchers (the most dedicated of whom are known as Strumblers), it is also a great place for seals, seal pups and dolphin and porpoise spotting.
• Bug Farm – Dr Benyon’s innovative and unique research and visitor centre with farm and nature reserve. You will find a Tropical Bug Zoo, Bug Museum, British Bug House, Insect Farming Exhibition, Farm Trails and a Walled Garden with a focus on wildlife conservation and sustainable farming. However, especially with children around, the most memorable take home has to be the Grub Kitchen cafe. This is the UK’s first full-time edible insect restaurant, although not exclusively an insect menu. Thank goodness!
• Fishguard Festivals – Aberjazz, Fishguard Folk Festival, the New Year’s Eve Street Party in Fishguard is well renowned on the music scene, and provides some great venues with Aberjazz over the August Bank Holiday weekend, Fishguard Folk Festival over the late May bank holiday and the New Years Eve party on funnily enough New years Eve! All three sell out quickly, so be sure to book your tickets early!