This turned out to be a relatively easy walk – just under 11 miles. Mainly over cliff tops but with some steep steps. I still hate steps, give me a natural incline or decline any day!
We set off but quickly returned to the car as the heavy mist had turned into a drizzle, Nolton Haven is a bit of a scrappy shingle beach and even the surfers didn’t look happy with the weather.
Given a break in the mizzle we set off up the incline and out on the headland. It was breezy!
Our first surprise was evidence of coal mining . Something you wouldn’t associate with modern day Pembrokeshire Coastal Park. Trefrane Colliery was opened in the 1850s and records show that in 1896 it employed 36 miners and 8 surface workers.
Further into the walk we reach the two mile stretch across Newgale Beach, the tide was out and we made our way down to the sands, an easier and more satisfying way to walk the two mile stretch rather than along the busy road.
It did mean a scramble up the large pebble wall, deposited by the great storm of 1859, this forms a natural barrier between the beach and the roadway. We headed for the Duke of Edinburgh for a swift drink – non alcoholic and more importantly a toilet stop.
We stroll up the hill out of Newgale, there are quite a few steps on the next stretch to Cwmbach, but pretty easy walking to Porthmynawyd. I had never been to this beach before, but I did vaguely recall it being mentioned in The Guardian as one of Wales’s top ten secret beaches.
It nestles into Dinas Fach, one of two headlands, we quickly reach Dinas Fawr (Dinas –City. Fach – small and Fawr- Big)
We come to a pretty valley named after Elvis, the Irish Saint who baptised St David not as in Presley.
More steps at the Gribbin before eventually walking down passed the limekilns dating from late 18th to early 19th century into the pretty harbour of Lower Solva, straight into the Harbour pub for a swift pint of Lime and soda!
If you like your pint after a long walk there are at least three pubs within 100 yards!