Fishguard
Fishguard comprises of the old harbour of Lower Town, The main town of Fishguard, perched on the cliff top and the village of Goodwick. Lower Town Fishguard is a particularly picturesque village with its cluster of quayside cottages.
Picture: Lower Town Fishguard
This is where The River Gwaun meets the sea. It is also where Dylan Thomas’s most famous play, Under Milk Wood, was filmed starring Richard Burton. Above Lower Town is Fishguard Fort, a superb viewpoint, complete with cannons.
Picture: Fishguard Fort
The main town of Fishguard is a quaint little town of narrow winding streets. The main focus of the town is The Square where you can find The Old Town Hall. This historic building was imaginatively redesigned in 2007 and now houses The Tourist Information Centre, The Library and the indoor market (weekly markets every Thursday and farmers markets every other Saturday).
Picture: Fishguard Town Hall and Tourist Information Centre (TIC)
It is also home to the 100ft long Last Invasion tapestry, telling a humorous and entertaining story in a Bayeux tapestry style detailing the last invasion of mainland Britain. Viewing the Last invasion tapestry is free of charge. In 1797, a force of French troops landed at Carreg Wastad point just west of Fishguard but thanks to the heroic actions of people like Jemima Nicholas, a local cobbler, who single handedly captured 12 French soldiers, the invasion soon failed.
Picture: The Last Invasion Tapestry
Fishguard has a range of interesting pubs, shops, café’s and restaurants including The Royal Oak on The Square, where the surrender of the French invasion force took place. There are several quality arts and crafts shops such as The West Wales art centre & café.
Picture: Main Street Fishguard
Theatre Gwaun shows a changing programme of latest film releases. For one week each July, the renowned Fishguard International Music Festival hosts a superb programme of orchestral, choral and related events featuring internationally acclaimed artistes and orchestras. There’s a thriving folk music club who hold informal performances in The Royal Oak every Wednesday and a folk festival in May.
Picture: Ocean Lab at Goodwick
Between Fishguard and Goodwick is The Parrog, a half mile long promenade. Here you can find Ocean Lab, which has a café, Ocean Quest and Tourist Information Centre (Fishguard Harbour TIC) all under one roof. Visit the new exhibition Ollie the Octopus in his garden with hands on activities for children of all ages. There’s also a scuba diving centre run by Celtic Diving with bunkhouse accommodation for up to 20. Mike Maybury canoes also operate from here providing tuition and canoe expeditions.
The Stena Line ferry port is at Goodwick. Stena Europe, a conventional car ferry sail to Rosslare in Ireland, twice a day with a fast catermeran operating more frequently between May and September. Goodwick Goodwick village has several good places to stay and places to eat including The Fishguard Bay Hotel which dominates the bay.
Further afield, The Coast Path in either direction takes you through some remote and beautiful coastal scenery including Carreg Wastad point and Strumble Head with its lighthouse.
Picture: Strumble Lighthouse
Nearby attractions include Manorowen Walled Garden and Dyffryn Fernant Gardens. There are numerous small camp sites and caravan parks in the vicinity, some with spectacular views over the coast. There's also a holiday park in Fishguard itself.
There are numerous hotels ranging from the imposing Fishguard Bay hotel, overlooking the port, to more modest guesthouses and B&B's. Self Catering properties are widely available including one superbly located little cottage near Strumble head with no electricity. All the lighting is via oil lamps. A real get-away-from-it-all experience.
Wildlife is varied and abundant in these parts. For one of the best places to see seals, head west on the Coast Path past Carreg Wastad Point to a sheltered little bay. If you're lucky, you'll see upto a dozen Grey Seals there. Go in September and October and there may be seal pups on the inaccessible beaches too.
For more information, go to http://www.visit-fishguard.org.uk