The Pembrokeshire Coast Path-An Introduction

Opened in 1970 the Pembrokeshire Coast Path has been attracting visitors for over 50 years. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path was the first National Trail in Wales and the only official coastal trail.

Following the opening of the ‘Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’ in 1952, Welsh author and naturalist Ronald Lockley realised that, although there were villages dotted along the coast, communication was largely by boat and accessibility was (generally) poor. Lockley’s report to the Countryside Commission in 1953, suggested a path linking the villages together and the idea was welcomed. Though much of the land where the path could go was private property and was sometimes fenced off, 17 years later after the placing of 100 footbridges and 479 stiles as well as cutting hundreds of steps into slippery rocks, the idea was finally completed.

When opened by Wynford Vaughan Thomas the path ran 180 miles, the further remaining 6 miles was added at later dates, due to erosion and similar happenings.

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path lies almost entirely within the Pembrokeshire Coast National park. Well walked and signposted, the path runs from the edges of sandstone cliffs to the brightly painted houses of Tenby. Erosion is not that common but when there is, the National Park trust are quick to act to make sure that it does not affect the path.

The cliffs along the coast are more than 300 million years old! Many volcanoes used to litter the landscape after the mini–Ice Age, creating the granite outcrops on Ramsey and the sandstone cliffs visible on the northern coast of St. Brides Bay.

During spring and (early) summer the paths sport an array of colourful coastal flowers. Seabirds use the cliffs as nesting spots, and an array of European seabirds use the uninhabited islands, such as Skomer, Stokholm and Ramsey island, as sanctuary’s. These islands have become seabird hotspots due to the presence of neither humans nor predators, as well as the good food supply coming from both sea and land.

As well as wildlife the Coast Path also has many remnants of Neolithic life, such as hut circles. There is also bronze age and iron age remains, possibly originating from Ireland and France. Some later Norman castles, settlements and Hermit churches, still remain of that forgotten age. In the coastal villages the buildings of the wealthy Victorians, that flocked for the views and the picturesque landscape, still stand.

The Coast Path still attracts visitors to this day, and it is very important to keep this 186 miles safe for future generations.