Pembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock or The Port of Pembroke is a town with a short but illustrious past. At the end of the eighteenth century the area was just farmland but by 1901 the town had 11,000 residents. It originally grew up around the Royal Naval Dockyard and produced 260 fine ships between, 1814-1926, including several royal yachts and men-of-war.
The Royal Dockyard has some impressive buildings, some of which have recently been repaired and renovated such as the Garrison Chapel. Other buildings are undergoing the same treatment.
Picture: The Gun Tower on Front Street in Pembroke Dock
Strong defences were built to protect Pembroke Dock. Several forts were built and are all still in existence. One of the gun towers has recently been renovated and refitted as it would have looked in Victorian times, complete with a roof top cannon and realistic models of defending soldiers. The gun tower houses the Pembroke Dock town museum and is accessed via a walkway over the sea.
Another gun tower can be seen at the western end of the Royal dockyard. It is also being restored by a private individual so isn’t likely to be open to the public.
The defensible barracks can be seen on the hill overlooking Pembroke Dock. This is also in private hands but can be viewed from the surrounding parkland. The barracks are one of the most unusual barrack buildings in Britain, probably the last example of a ‘square bastion trace’ fortification built in Europe. The form of the design dates back to 16th century Italy. It’s four wings are surrounded by a large moat, with two Martello Towers protecting the seaward approach from Milford Haven.
Picture: A Tank from Merrion Camp at Castlemartin near Pembroke Dock on view next to the Western Way car park in Pembroke Dock
Other forts in the vicinity include Scoverston Fort, Fort Popton, Stack Rock Fort, Thorne Island, Chapel Bay Fort, South Hook Fort, Dale Fort and East & West Blockhouse.
The Second World War saw Pembroke Dock become a famous Sunderland Flying Boat base which eventually closed in 1957. One Sunderland sank at its moorings one night and is still on the sea bed. A Sunderland Trust has been set up to try to recover the wreck and restore it.
Picture: A Sunderland propeller on view next to the Western Way car park in Pembroke Dock
Irish Ferries operate a ferry service from Pembroke Dock to Rosslare in southern Ireland. The ferry runs twice a day in the early afternoon and the early hours of the morning.
There are a number of hotels in Pembroke Dock including The Cleddau Bridge hotel, near to the bridge linking Pembroke Dock to north Pembrokeshire. There are a few B&B’s and guesthouses in Pembroke and Pembroke Dock. The nearest camp sites or caravan sites would be south of Pembroke. There are self catering cottages in the area but more likely to be found nearer the coast.
Picture: The Ferry Inn at Pembroke Ferry below The Cleddau Bridge
The South Pembrokeshire Golf Club occupy a superb location above Pembroke Dock with fine views over The Milford Haven waterway.
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority have their offices in Pembroke Dock.
The Pembrokeshire coast path crosses the Cleddau Bridge, passes next to the National Park offices and traverses round the waterfront past the Martello Tower on Front Street before heading uphill on the way to Pembroke. Although the character of the coast path around the haven is quite different to that around the more rugged coastline, it's still