Marloes

Situated around ¾ mile inland of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, this is the only place with accommodation of any significance between Dale and Little Haven, so most walkers will end up overnighting here.  Derived from its Welsh name Moel Ros (which means bare moor), it sits remote and isolated from the rest of the Pembrokeshire National Park,  located high on a flat windswept plateau. Sitting first in line for the full force of the Atlantic Weather Systems, this is the most westerly village in Wales and has a population of only around 300. Many of those living here are still deeply involved with the sea, as lobster fishermen that was the villages traditional trade, or working on the boat trips to Stockholm and Skomer Islands departing from St Martins Haven a couple of miles back down the coast path.

CLICK HERE to read about getting to the Islands with Pembrokehsire Island Trips (who operate the ferries) and those that want to visit should take an extra day out at Marloes.

Check out the pleasant village green and you will find a remarkable freestanding Clock Tower built by the local Lords of the Manor (The Barons of Kensington, no less) which would look more in place outside Paddington Station in London than in West Wales.  A little further up the main road and the 13th Century Celtic Church of St Peters (the Patron Saint of Fisherman) is worth visiting to see its Norman Font and vaulted Chancel.

The Barons of Kensington were based at St Brides Castle that you will walk past tomorrow and its alarming to note that the later Lords ordered all the pubs in the village to shut down for over 100 years and this windswept spot was dry until the 1960’s. Thankfully The Lobster Pot sprung from the desperate (!) period of prohibition and now provides walkers with good food, real ale and rooms for the night.  As the only pub in the village it’s the place to head to meet the locals and get in on the gossip.

One plus for the Pembrokeshire Coast Path walker is that due to Marloes position in the centre of the headland it can be approached on its south side from the magnificent Marloes Sands or from the North at Musslewick Sands a good 3.5 miles further round the headland.  This gives the Welsh Coast Path walkers great flexibility to either push on or cut short their walking day when staying here depending on weather and energy and our itineraries make use of this by covering both options for you.