Haverfordwest
Haverfordwest is the attractive and ancient county town of Pembrokeshire. As well as being the county's administrative centre, Haverfordwest has a great variety of shops in the town and the outlying retail parks. The centre of Haverfordwest is dominated by the Western Cleddau that runs through the middle of the town.
Picture: Haverfordwest
Most of the shops, pubs, café’s and restaurants can be found on either side. All are dominated by the presence of Haverfordwest Castle, brooding high above the main shopping street: Bridge Street. Three bridges cross the Cleddau, enabling visitors to zig zag throught and amongst the shops.
Picture: Bridge Street, Haverfordwest
There are quite a few well known high street shops including Boots, W H Smiths and Woolworths, but there are plenty of unusual shops selling more interesting and distinctive goods. These include The Moon and Sixpence, Bosanquet Jewellry and Ocky Whites department store.
The choice of paces to eat out is good. The more distinctive establishments include a quality Italian restaurant where pizza definitely isn’t on the menu, the superbly located Bristol Trader and Wiltons Bistro, a smart restaurant tucked away in Quay Street by The Post Office.
There are plenty of places to stay with a number of independent hotels, guesthouses and B&B’s. The nearest camp sites and touring caravan sites are towards Newgale or Broad Haven or there are self catering cottages in surrounding villages.
Picture: Haverfordwest Museum
The ruins of Haverfordwest castle overlook the town. There is a car park inside the castle grounds but it is quite difficult to find. Ask the best way to get there at the Tourist Information Centre in Bridge Street, which can be found next to the multi storey car park. The castle appears quite complete from the centre of Haverfordwest but disappointingly, only the outer shell remains. The views of the town, however, are good from here. Haverfordwest museum is also inside the castle grounds as is the County Archives office if you want to research your family history.
Haverfordwest Castle
The original castle was built about 1120, although no masonry remains before the late 12th century. The majority of the existing structure was built by successive Earls of Pembroke and Queen Eleanor of Castile in the late thirteenth century. Haverfordwest was attacked by Llewellyn the Greatin 1220 but held firm, althought the rest of the town was razed to the ground. The same happened in 1405 when Haverfordwest was attacked by Owain Glandwr, who was born at nearby Treffgarne. The castle changed hands several times during the Civil War but in 1648, Cromwell ordered its destruction. Thankfully, lack of gunpowder left much of it still standing.
Picture: Haverfordwest Tourist Information Centre or TIC
Haverfordwest was once a bustling port of great importance. The quays are still in evidence and the quayside buildings have been redeveloped and converted to other uses. The weir behind the new council offices includes an innovative fish pass to allow spawning salmon to travel upriver without having to leap the weir. Cameras are built into the pass to keep track of the number of fish who go by.
Picture: Haverfordwest Priory
Down river on the west bank of the river are the ruins of an Augustinian Priory that have recently been excavated and repaired. They occupy a pleasant setting beside the river a short walk from the town cen