Day 4 of our Pembrokeshire Holiday.

Date : Wednesday May 13th 2009.

Places visited : Porthgain and a more northern section of the coast path .

Walk details : Porthgain Harbour and Quarries, Traeth Llefn Beach, Abereiddi and the Blue Lagoon, Trwyncastell Tower and back.

Distance travelled : 4.5 miles, approx 800 ft of ascent up and down the headlands.

Weather : A dull day with grey skies and occasional drizzle on a warm westerly breeze.

Puzzled Harry and Bethan wonder where the sunshine has gone

Today we travel slightly further north to the historic coastal village of Porthgain.

The large building on the back of the quay was originally the brick making building and once had a coke furnace alongside.

Today part of it houses a delightful restaurant known as The Shed.

Over the years the harbour has been used as a major port for shipment of slate, bricks and granite road stone as well as supporting the local fishing industry.

Small boats reside in the harbour

where once there were ocean going sailing and steam ships plying their trade.

Croeso i Borthgain.

A brief history of time.	A window on local history.

At the back of the harbour are the brick built hoppers that once store crushed granite which was used as as road stone all over the country.

They are now listed historic buildings, preserved for future generations to appreciate. ( more Porthgain links here )

The Harbour

We walk round and take the steps at the far end, climbing quickly above the boats.

The Harbour Mark on the outer Porthgain cliffs, set against a distant Strumble Head.

[ Hold your cursor over the photo to see the lighthouse on Strumble Head working ]

Brick Quarry buildings from the Sea Quarry / granite road stone era.

Strumble Head seen through an old arch.	Ann seen in an old arch.

Alongside the buildings, the cutting for the tramway down to the headland quarry.

The path down to the old route . . .	. . . which has now been redirected via a new set of steps.

Harry is not too sure of the holes in the structure.	They follow me carefully down to the beach.

Once down they were fine

as we enjoyed a stroll out and back across the sands.

Traeth Llyfn is a popular surf and swimming beach provided you don't mind the short walk to get there.

The tricky old steps and diagonal path up . . .	. . . can be seen to the right of the photo.

Gorse in full bloom provides a splash of colour on a rather dull day.

Trwyncastell, the tower on the headland at Abereiddi is clear

but the subsequent headlands fade into the damp sea air as we look west towards St David's Headland.

More old Slate Quarry buildings overlooking Abereiddi Beach.

Abereiddi Slate Quarry, better known as the Blue Lagoon.

A good place to stop to take in the view and enjoy a quick snack, the Druidstone breakfasts making lunch unnecessary at this time !

Before the quarry was abandoned the cut to the sea was made.

The subsequent flooded lagoon can appear deep blue on a fine day.

Time today to walk out to the tower and back before we return to Porthgain.

The building boasted a slate roof and fireplace at one time.	The views would have entertained the visitors.

Built of local stone . . . one could say.	A headland of wild flowers again.

On the way back now . . . a rock shelf holds an old seabird nest.	Close up, it is made of sticks, probably by a cormorant ?

More gorse brightens up Penclegyr Headland.

A natural arch on the headland looks rather precarious.

from here we return to the quarry and follow the old tram road back to the village.

Old workers cottages have been beautifully restored.

The old Harbour Master's office was once a restaurant but is now an art gallery.

The Sloop Inn

Back in the village there's always time to appreciate the finer aspects of the place . . .

and the Sloop Inn holds a remarkable selection of old photos and artifacts relating to the life of the village. Well worth a visit !

The beer's not bad either.

- - - o o o - - -

Technical note: Pictures taken with with my Cannon G7 or Ann's Ixus 75 Digital camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed with . . . a pint and a T-shirt from the Sloop Inn.

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Our previous time here - 13th to 21st May 2005 A visit to Swansea and Pembrokeshire.