Two Easy Walks Near the Pembrokeshire Coast

Walk 1: Newport and the Nevern Estuary

This circular walk to the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path from the village of Newport on the North Pembrokeshire coast, is about 2.75 miles over a mostly level path, some of which is wheelchair-friendly. The walk begins and ends at Llys Meddyg, a very good restaurant with luxury B&B accommodation.

The walk follows the sinuous path of the Nevern Estuary, on its south side, emerging on the beach at The Parrog, once Newport's harbor. After a short stretch across the southern side of the beach, the path runs along the top of stony bluffs, rising towards headlands to the west. There are dramatic views of Newport Bay and the headlands and cliffs to the North as well as the cliffs of Dinas Head to the South.

Directions or Click to See the Map

Directions:

1. Leaving Llys Meddyg, turn left onto East Street (the A487). At the first corner, turn left onto Feidr Pen-Y-Bont (signposted Pen-Y-Bont) and continue downhill on this road.
2. After about a quarter of a mile, reach the Iron Bridge, a series of low level white arches across the River Nevern. Do not cross the bridge. Instead, go through the gate to your left on to the path. There is a small grassy area here with a few benches. After going through the gate, continue along this path. It is wide and dry, paved with pebbles in places, accessible and suitable for wheelchair users. In the spring, it blooms with wild garlic and along its length you can spot wild birds and a great variety of estuary plants.

Beach Views and Moored Sailboats

Continuing along the Nevern Estuary walk, you'll see that as the river widens out, the views are lovely. Take your time. 

3. After about 0.6 miles, there are long views of the beach and moored sailboats. At low tide, they rest on the sand.
4. At about two thirds of a mile, arrive at the intersection of Parrog Road. There is a Wales Coast Path signpost. Turn right and continue toward the Parrog, a few hundred yards along.

The Parrog

A few colorful village houses lead to the beach and continue up a seawall behind the beach.

5. Follow the path toward the beach, passing a red British phone box and a sign for The Parrog. There is public parking, with restrooms near this sign and a private boat club beyond.

Alternate Wheelchair Route

This alternate route, for wheelchair users and push chairs (baby strollers) takes you back to the village and the starting point on paved lanes.

6.The walk becomes unsuitable for wheelchairs beyond this point. You can either return the same way you came, or take Parrog Road about a quarter of a mile into the village of Newport at Bridge Street and turn left. The walk's starting point is about a quarter of a mile further as Bridge Street turns into East Street.

If you click on the map link above, the alternative route is also shown.

Climbing the Coast Path

The path becomes a bit uneven underfoot but there is a handrail at this point and it remains easy for fit adults and children.

7.Continue along the left - or south side of the bay. The walk runs along an old sea wall then briefly descends to the beach for about 50 yards before climbing up a ramp to a narrow paved path. Parts of the path are protected with a railing.
8.The path climbs toward the south, with some beach houses on the left and low cliffs and the beach to the right.

Enjoy the View and Return - End of Walk 1

9. Half a mile along from the Parrog sign,there is a small, landscaped area to sit and enjoy the view on your right.
_{(After this point, the path descends rather steeply before climbing up the next headland. If you continue in this direction, you will come to Dinas Head after approximately two further miles of clifftop walking.)}

To continue on this mapped walk, you will need to backtrack briefly. 

10. Continue back the way you came. In a little over a quarter of a mile, just after the path breaks at the beach, turn right on Feidr Brenin (see map).
11. Turn left on Feidr Ganol after just under a quarter of a mile.
12. Continue on Feidr Ganol for three quarters of a mile, bearing left at every intersection until the road joins Parrog Road. Feidr Ganol is an extremely narrow lane with high embankments so watch for cars and cyclists.
13. Bear right onto Parrog Road and then left onto Bridge Street.
14. Continue on Bridge Street for a quarter of a mile to the starting point of the walk at Llys Meddig

Walk 2: A Woodland Walk to Stepaside

The star in Pembrokeshire's crown as far as serious walkers are concerned is the 260-mile long Coastal Path. But this wonderful, short woodland walk starts on the beach, then and heads inland and upward to a historic surprise. The path is wide, dry and easy to follow. The hardest element of this walk is describing where to find the start.

Start the Walk at Wiseman's Bridge

Wiseman's Bridge is a beach and an inn, just east along the coast from Saundersfoot and essentially one bay along this bay-nibbled coast from the South Pembrokeshire seaside resort of Tenby.

At the opposite (or southwestern) end of the beach from the inn, is a small parking lot. Across the road, a public footpath sign indicates that Stepaside is 1.5 miles and Kilgetty 3.5 miles. The path passes a timber building with public toilets, then plunges into a dark wood beside a stream. Follow it.

Classic Woodland with Garlic...Garlic?

For about a mile, this is a classic woodland walk. Tall deciduous trees arch over a wide, well maintained footpath. A clear, fresh-smelling stream bubbles beside it. 

In May when we visited, wild garlic lined both sides of the path with nodding white flowers, filling the air with their delicious and distinctly non-floral scent. Eau de Joe's Pizzeria, perhaps?

Nevermind. Bluebells carpeted a hillside next to the path, punctuated with buttercups, lady's slipper, elderflower and Queen Anne's lace.Here and there the forest opened into a wildflower covered clearing or a paddock where a horse grazed.

There is little to challenge you on this walk. It is simply a lovely place to spend an hour in a quiet valley (Pleasant Valley is its name, in fact) full of birdsong and rustling leaves.

Then, at Stepaside, a surprise.

The Mysterious "Castle" at Stepaside

At Stepaside, surrounded by a camping/ caravan park and a cluster of cabins, a surprising granite ruin rises up.

It's the Stepaside Ironworks, built in 1848 and abandoned a generation later. The lovely woodland path, paved with pebbles and cinder was once the route of a narrow gauge tramway - or dramway in the technically correct lingo - that carried iron, and coal from several nearby collieries, to the harbor at Saundersfoot.

When the works became uneconomical, they were simply abandoned and the forest reclaimed the landscape. The information, by the way, is on a sign at the start of the path, near the public restrooms. It's the only clue to what the monumental ruins are all about. We'd passed it without reading it so the ruins at Stepaside were totally unexpected. Actually, being surprised by the "Castle" was more fun. 

A Further Challenge for the Energetic

At this point, if you are feeling energetic, continue along the path which runs to the left of a paved road for a while. The small village of Kilgetty is about two miles further on. This is a case of the walk being far more interesting than the actual destination. There is nothing much to see and do in Kilgetty but the path up is beautiful and the achievement of the climb satisfying.

Did we say climb? Yes, if you decide to continue past Stepaside, instead of returning to the beach the way you came, be warned. The last mile of the path climbs steadily at a very steep 30 to 40 degree grade and much of it was long ago paved with ridged concrete to support the iron wheels of carts being pulled up the dramway. Take a taxi number with you in case you don't fancy returning down such a steep path. Kilgetty now has a couple of taxi companies, Road Runners and Kilgetty Cabs than can take you where you need to go.