Nolton Haven 10m (Carmarthen Ramblers)

The Carmarthen Ramblers were lead on a ten and a half-mile circular walk in the Nolton Haven area of north Pembrokeshire. The walk incorporated a section of the coast path and some surrounding country lanes and paths and some beautiful scenery. The weather started off with the occasional light shower during the first hour but perked up and cleared as the day went on.

The walk started from the car park in Nolton Haven where the group immediately picked up the Pembrokeshire Coast Path and set off northwards ascending to the cliff tops that gave super views over St Brides Bay; unfortunately in the distance, they could see the incoming bad weather as the skies clouded over. They covered about a mile along the path before stopping at the beauty spot of Maidenhall Point for a coffee stop where they had a fabulous view of Newgale beach and Bay as it swept around towards Porthglais near St David’s. The path then dropped down to sea level at Newgale Sands and they walked the road for about a quarter of a mile before climbing over the pebble bank onto the beach that was becoming exposed as the tide had turned and was on its way out. They walked about a mile along the beach into the little village of Newgale. The coast path continued up onto the cliffs again and from the headland of Pwll March they another grand view of Newgale from the opposite direction. The path then dropped into the valley of Cwm Mawr. This is where they left the coast path and turned inland to gently ascend the banks of Cwm Mawr to reach Penycwm where they crossed the A487, the road that links Haverfordwest with St. David’s. Turning eastwards they located a country lane that led through Llethr and Lower Llethr to reach the highest point of the walk at just one hundred and three metres, before turning southwards to Blaen-llyn. The group then gently circled around some woodland, descending the hillside past Dolgwm, to reach a small lake near Brandy Brook where they stopped for lunch in brilliant sunshine.

In the afternoon they continued eastwards along a footpath that had become a stream following several days of rain earlier in the week to reach the hamlet of Bramble; then they had an easy quarter of a mile of road walking downhill to reach Roch Bridge to cross Brandy Brook. Just beyond the bridge, they located a bridleway that led up to Woodhawk from where they negotiated a series of fields to arrive at the castle in the village of Roch. At Manor Farm they cut across the fields, then the busy A487 onto Rainbolts Hill, where there was a distinct chill in the following breeze as they crossed some fields to reach Folkeston Road – a quiet country road for about three-quarters of a mile to reach Folkeston Farm. After passing through the farmyard, they descended Folkeston Hill onto a bridleway in a wooded valley that brought them back to the car park near the seashore at Nolton Haven.