Monday 10 August 2015

Pembroke, the Welsh far west

Driving to Pembroke you do get a sense of how far west it is compared to the other Welsh counties. Its eastern borders are for the most part, further west than most counties western borders. You can almost sense the proximity of Eire as witnessed by the regularly departing ferries on a 3 hour journey from either Milford Haven (Aberdaugleddau) or Fishguard (Abergwaun). 

We stayed in Pembroke, the county town, that is very old and remarkably well preserved both in the number of old buildings and the layout of the streets. Henry VII was famously born at the Castle that is itself in remarkably good condition with glass windows in many of the apertures. The high street has many fine pubs and we ate at the Kings Head that served Dylan's excellent dark beer. I had a fantastic curry and the prices were very reasonable.


We visited all of Pembroke's major towns and were able to surmise that in size and popularity and population Tenby was clearly the winner and the most major centre. It also has connections with Henry VII who escaped to France from here, and Dylan Thomas who frequented some of the pubs. It also has probably the most western located Sainsbury's in the United Kingdom if not the world.





To get in touch with nature we took a trip to Skomer Island where we saw puffins and fulmars in amongst a plethora of gulls and rabbits. A beautiful island and we took 4 hours to walk right round but not the most interesting, either that or all the animals were hiding. Skomer is also home to a lichen that is unique to this island.

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