This 6.6 mile walk starts at St. Mary’s Church, Pwllcrochan, near the Valero power station, and finishes at Pembroke town bridge.

We had previously reached the beautiful church at Pwllcrochan on walk 12. There’s a small parking area near the church so we drove to the site and then began our walk back up the lane towards the entrance to the power station.

We took a slight detour down an old overgrown track leading to a inlet, before backtracking to follow the coast path way-markers around the boundary of the power station. The large site is surprisingly well hidden from the path, being mostly out of view apart from a series of tall chimneys and pylons, as some pleasant woodland screens it very well.

After rounding the power station boundary we crossed open fields, with some nice views across the Pembroke river as the path heads inland following the line of a tidal inlet.

At a number of places the path winds through natural native woodlands. As in the photo below, the path was flanked by verges full of scented wild garlic and wildflowers, a lovely contrast with the greenery in dappled sunlight.

After crossing farm fields the path joins a quiet country lane. As we walked along this lane, accompanied only by the sound of birdsong in the hedgerows, we were suddenly startled as a Sparrow Hawk swooped alongside us and in an instant seized a young sparrow and took flight with its screeching prey. It was over in seconds but our close up view brought to mind the old quote by Tennyson “Tho’ nature, red in tooth and claw”.

Turning off the lane we headed back into countryside and across farmland fields, then into a pleasant woodland valley.

Occasionally there’s a fine view such as the tidal mudflats at Goldborough Pill and a glimpse into past industry here, with the remains of an old ivy covered lime kiln.

After passing bland streets at Hundleton, a tidal inlet ‘Quoits Mill’ and some road walking through Monkton, we reached “The Awkward Hill”. A row of quaint old character cottages, we wondered if the name of the street referred to the steep hill or some occupants in times past.

A short walk downhill on the main road and directly ahead is the magnificent Pembroke Castle one of the most impressive and largest Norman Castles in Britain.

The path runs below the ridge on which the Castle was built, it’s walls and towers high above you on one side. the calm waters of the Castle Mill Pond on the other side.

The Castle holds a place in British history as the birthplace of Henry VII and the Tudor dynasty. There’s an impressive statue on the bridge of Henry Tudor.

Pembroke is an historic town and it’s worth finding time for a wander around the ponds either side of the bridge, the Main Street, and a visit to the magnificent castle.

Route Recap

> Walk distance ~ 6.6 miles ‘point to point’ / ‘there and back’ 12 miles by returning along country lanes.

> Recommended Rest Stop in Pembroke:

• The Quayside Cafe a lovely cafe within the Cornstore building, near Pembroke bridge.