Castlemartin: Trails, Nature and History

Hiking, nature observation and history offer different starting points for a trip to Castlemartin. When looking for a hotel in Castlemartin, you can consider which focus you want to shape your plans. The route descriptions vary in length and layout; the nature and history destinations each have their own thematic emphasis.

Trails and route choices

The Castlemartin Range Trail is 9 km long and open to walkers, horse riders and cyclists. You can therefore include it in your plans as a route in its own right, whether you want to travel on foot, on horseback or by bike. When the Castlemartin firing range is closed, the trail is designated year-round as a permitted bridleway and footpath along the edge of the training area. Check the current range notices if this condition is important to your plans.

The route from Stack Rocks to St Govan’s is 3.1 miles or 4.83 km long. It continues to the car park at St Govan’s Chapel, passing Bullslaughter Bay and Huntsman’s Leap along a striking cliff landscape. Compared with the 9 km trail, this route is shorter; the two stated distances let you weigh up different route lengths.

At St Govan’s Head, an accessible walking route follows a surfaced path with only very gentle slopes. The car park for this walk is at St Govan’s Chapel. If you plan to use this access route, check the current range notices before setting out. The surfaced ground and gentle slopes are the path’s specific features.

Historic sites and structures

Castlemartin Castle is an oval, double-banked enclosure surrounded by ditches and measuring 60 m × 70 m. Its oval shape, double banks and ditches give the structure a clear architectural character. These details offer a tangible way into the history of the site, so that its size is more than just an abstract figure.

Castlemartin Pound is in the centre of the village. During the Second World War, it was fitted with bunkers and used as a machine-gun position. Flimston Bay Camp is a promontory fort with three curved lines of defence on its landward side, extending over 120 m. The layout and extent of these lines make the fortification a distinct topic in local history.

St Michael’s is an abandoned, Grade I listed church. Its building dates back to the late 12th or early 13th century. At St Michael’s, the focus is therefore on a church’s long building history, while Castlemartin Pound and Flimston Bay Camp are shaped by their military use and design.

St Govan’s Chapel also brings history and landscape together: it is a medieval pilgrimage chapel in a rocky ravine on the coast. St Govan’s Well lies about 17 m south of the chapel. The approximate distance helps you understand the location of the two named sites in relation to one another.

Nature and coastal landscape

Castlemartin Corse is a 30.4-hectare wetland designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its biological features. Its size and protected status give the area a different focus from the historic sites: here, the biological value of the wetland takes centre stage.

Guillemots, razorbills, fulmars and cormorants breed at Elegug Stacks, also known as Stack Rocks. The cliffs at St Govan’s Head are important for seabirds such as guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes. Coastal heathland and unimproved grassland at St Govan’s Head also provide habitat for the stonechat.

The Green Bridge of Wales is a natural rock arch near Castlemartin, close to Pembroke. In the wider Castlemartin area, Freshwater West lies in front of an extensive wetland known as Castlemartin Corse. At Freshwater West, permitted paths lead to a wooden bird hide; check its current availability before travelling.

Getting around the Castlemartin Peninsula

The Castlemartin Peninsula is served by Coastal Cruiser routes 387/388. They connect the peninsula’s villages with Pembroke and Pembroke Dock. If you want to use the bus services when planning your trip, check the timetable before you leave.

Discover more destinations: Porthgain, St David’s, Mynachlog-ddu, Stepaside, Llandeloy, Llandissilio, Angle, Penally.

For the wider travel overview: Pembrokeshire.