Pembrokeshire Coast Path - Circular and Linear Walks

Dramatic limestone cliffs and a wealth of wildlife in green unspoilt surroundings. Used by the Ministry of Defence as a firing range, since the 1940s, there has been relatively little human influence on this area of the south Pembroke Coast dominated by dramatic limestone cliffs. This lack of disturbance has produced a rich, unspoilt range of habitats for wildlife (apparently the wildlife don’t mind the noise too much! Stack Rocks (Elegug Stacks – elegug is the Welsh for guillemot) are two detached pillars of limestone. Also, look for the Green Bridge, a natural arch carved by the waves, and the Cauldron on the promontory to the east. The tops of the Stacks and the ledges below are crammed in spring with guillemots and razorbills, and fulmar and kittiwake nest on the cliffs along with herring and blackbacked gulls. In winter there are thrushes, crows and lapwings on the inland plateau. The rich grassland of the plateau is home to a range of reptiles, smaller mammals and invertebrates. Rare butterflies like the dark green fritillary live here, too. St Govan’s Chapel, a 13th century single-chamber stone cell at the climax of the walk, can be reached by 52 rough stone steps (may be slippery). The water from St Govan’s Well, below the chapel, was famous for its healing powers, though the well is dry now.   For more info including bus services see Castlemartin Range Trail East and West  If you want to make a circular route, the range is usually open weekends and bank holidays and the month of August. But please note that live firing may still take place if operational requirements demand. You can telephone Range control on 01646 662367 for a recorded message to confirm if firing is to take place in the next couple of days. If live firing is in progress red flags will be raised and the access gates locked - do not proceed onto the range. If open, keep closely to the marked path and don't pick up objects from the ground. PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Service bus Bosherston 387, Coastal Cruiser serves the car parks at both St Rocks and St Govans.   Range East is open weekends, bank holidays and most evenings after about 4.30 p.m. but best to check times with the recorded information on 01646 662367.  Broadhaven South to St Govans is permissive bridleway.

This route is part of the permissive Castlemartin Range Trail bridleway which follows farm land around the northern edge of the Castlemartin Military firing range. The route provides an alternative for coast path walkers then the the coastal route is closed due to firing, or when the range is open a circular walk when combined with the coast path.  Much of the trail has been segretated from the fields but you will still have sections where you will find cattle.  Sections of the route provide wide open views to the coast and its sometimes possible to watch the tank manoeuvres - very loud bangs.    For more info including bus services see Castlemartin Range Trail East and West  If you want to make a circular route, the range is usually open weekends and bank holidays and the month of August.  But please note that live firing may still take place if operational requirements demand.  You can telephone Range control on 01646 662367 for a recorded message to confirm if firing is to take place in the next couple of days (updated daily at 8.15am).  If live firing is in progress red flags will be raised and the access gates locked - do not proceed onto the range.  If open, keep closely to the marked path and don't pick up objects from the ground.

This 4.5 mile route from St Davids Cathedral to the sheltered harbour of Porth Clais via St Non’s Well and Chapel concentrates some of the best historic monuments of the area.

The smallest city in Wales, St Davids is home to some 200 listed buildings. David, the patron saint of Wales established his community alongside the River Alun in the 6th century. There is no shortage of atmospheric pubs and eateries in St Davids and its neighbouring villages. The route includes paved and natural footpaths, quiet lanes, and bridleways and minor road walking. This is a stile-free route, so ideal for visitors with pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Find out more on the Visit Wales website or see the route on the Viewranger website.

DISTANCE/DURATION: 3.4 miles (5.5 km) 2 hours. PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Service bus Manorbier 349, railway station 1 mile north (SS069994). CHARACTER: Rugged coast, cliff edge, gradients, inland prone to be muddy in wet weather. LOOK OUT FOR: Medieval castle, dovecote and burial chamber. CAUTION: Deep, concealed fissure on Priest’s Nose headland – keep to public paths. A walk with valley views, spectacular coastline and a mesolithic burial chamber… Manorbier stands in a narrow valley carved by two streams and was described by Giraldus Cambrensis as the “most pleasant spot in Wales,” though he was undoubtedly biased having been born in the castle here. The 12th century castle, which is privately owned and lived in but open to visitors from April to October, is very well preserved with fine gateway and round towers, a Great Hall and a vaulted chapel. The dovecote lies to the west. The beach below the castle is well used in summer by tourists and surfers. At low tide you may see the drowned forest, the remains of woodland submerged when sea levels rose to their current level somewhere between 3,000 and 10,000 years ago, which has been preserved by salt water and burial under the sand. On the cliffs above the beach stands the King’s Quoit, a mesolithic burial chamber with a massive capstone standing on only two of its supporters. If you have time and the tide is low it's worth taking a detour down a steep path down to Precipe beach to get a better look at the fossil-rich red sandstone cliffs (or you can head north inland here on a the public right of way if you feel like a shorter walk). Manorbier Dovecote, built in the 13th century to provide fresh meat and eggs for the inhabitants of the castle, this building was home to approximately 250 birds. Doves and pigeons laid two eggs about six times a year and the young “squabs” were taken when fat, plump and juicy at 4 – 6 weeks. Partial restoration of the Dovecote took place in the 19th century and today’s restoration has been achieved by the Manorbier Medieval Landscape Group with generous support from Manorbier Community Council, several private donors and Cadw, PAVS and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. Download Manorbier short walk map

Quiet, steep, single track road with good views. Joining paths give options for circular walks to inland.

Walking difficulty : Moderate

The new marker for the start/finish point was unveiled at St Dogmaels in July 2009. The path then follows the road which is sometimes busy, and is a full width road with no pavement. The Webley Hotel near Poppit and the Ferry Inn in St Dogmael's are popular spots for walkers celebrating completion of the Coast Path. Follow the off road route through sand dunes for 600m east of Poppit. For reasons lost in the mists of time, the official start/finish plaque was sited by the Poppit car park. Gentle Gradients. Views across the Teifi Estuary. 

Walking difficulty : Very Easy

Early Celtic Christianity is very much in evidence along this stretch of coast, look out for St Justinian's Chapel & Well at Porthstinan, also home to the Lifeboat Station. Porth Clais harbour at the mouth of the River Alun was once the place where goods were brought in for the cathedral in St David's. The cliffs and slabs to the east of the harbour entrance are a popular climbing spot. There are toilets in the car park and a kiosk in the summer, for ice cream or a slice of cake.

The Cliffs around St Justinian's are sheltered from the worst of the wind by Ramsey Island so, as well as a profusion of wild flowers in spring and summer (thrift, squill, thyme, crowsfoot, campion) expect to see blackthorn and privet clinging tenaciously to the cliffs. Maritime heath and grassland occupies most of the more exposed land on the cliff-tops. Grey seals breed on the beaches below from the end of August, though Ramsey itself supports the largest breeding colony in the Park. The extreme force of the tides in Ramsey Sound and the Bitches rapids is due to the meeting of the waters of the Irish Sea and St George's Channel which, luckily for the sea birds and porpoises bring fish to the surface, providing easy pickings when the tide is running. In the marshy areas around Pwll-y-Trefeiddan look our for emperor, hairy and golden-ringed dragonflies and small red and southern damselflies. Sparrowhawks, buzzards and kestrels breed in the willow-scrub and mallard, wideon and teal live on the pond.

Dogs are welcome, but please keep them on leads as livestock are grazing. There is also a risk of people being knocked or stepping off the cliffs in order to get away from your dog, not everyone likes dogs.

This walk starts from the beach car park at Saundersfoot and runs along the seafront, through three tunnels to Wisemans Bridge beach where it can be extended by turns inland to run alongside the stream up the aptly named Pleasant Valley to finish at the old iron works at Stepaside. The section from Coppet Hall to Wisemans Bridge is a cycleway. From Wisemans Bridge to Stepaside the path runs along a bridleway so you may encounter horse riders as well as cyclists on this part of the route.  Cyclists must dismount in the tunnels for safety. Coppet Hall was known as Coalpit Hall in the 19th century when coal was shipped out from this beach. The Stepaside Ironworks processed ore dug from ‘patches’ on the sea cliffs between Saundersfoot and Amroth. The path runs along the old railway that was built to transport anthracite coal from Grove Colliery at Stepaside to the harbour at Saundersfoot. Originally a horse-drawn dramway, the railway fell into disuse and closed in 1939. The beaches here were a used a training ground in 1943 for the D-Day landings. Look for blue tit, great tit, wren, greater-spotted woodpecker and chaffinch in the woods. Coppet Hall to Stepaside walk for all guide and map