Adventure walk: 1.9 miles (3.1 km)
Character: Great views over the Milford Haven waterway, mainly grassy paths of various gradients, cross gradients in places.
How to get there
Public transport: Coastal Cruiser in car park (wheelchair accessible).
Own transport: South Pembrokeshire; 10 miles west of the town of Pembroke. Approach via the B4320 road.
Toilets: At car park (not wheelchair accessible). Nearest wheelchair accessible toilets in Angle village.
This route is mainly on uneven grassy surfaces, with steep climbs and cross gradients in places.
West Angle Bay marks the end of the Haven waterway and so takes the brunt of the weather. There are good rock pools here and the bay is home to the rare cushion starfish.
The viewpoint gives good views of Thorne Island, with its Victorian fort. The fort is one of seven, dating from the second half of the 19th century.
Built to defend the Haven against a threat from France that came to nothing, the fortifications were later dubbed Palmerston’s Follies after Lord Palmerston, Prime Minister of the day.
Across the Haven, St Ann’s Head and its lighthouse can be seen.
Directions
Leave the car park onto the access track to house and stay on stone track at first fork.
From this point there are two options: taking the West Angle Bay viewpoint or missing it to head for the Thorne Island viewpoint.
For the West Angle Bay viewpoint bear left at second fork and follow track down to nearby viewpoint (1:12 to 1:9 down for 30 metres, then 1:5 ramp up to viewpoint).
There is no seat at this viewpoint. Retrace steps towards track, but turn left onto path just before reaching it.
For the Thorne Island viewpoint, bear left at second fork and immediately turn right onto path. You are now on the Coast Path. The obvious grass and stone path goes uphill, then down (1:8 for 30 metres).
Where path goes uphill again and turns sharp right, there is a 1:8 cross gradient for 25 metres. A little further the gradient is 1:8 for 10 metres uphill.
Retrace steps to return to car park.
