Pwllgwaelod


Pwllgwaelod is a small scattered hamlet centred on a bay on the south-western side of the Dinas Island peninsula. It is in the community of Dinas Cross between Fishguard and Newport, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Many of the properties within the hamlet of Pwllgwaelod are holiday cottages.

The beach

The small sandy beach, which is wide and open, with fine dark sand, has rocks and cliffs on either side, making it protected and unsuitable for watersports such as surfing. It offers good views across Fishguard Bay to Fishguard Harbour.
Pwllgwaelod beach failed to meet EU water quality standards in 2011 and 2012, possibly as a result of landwater run-off following two exceptionally wet summers. Nearby Cwm-yr-Eglwys has a Green Coast Award and a Seaside Award.

Access and facilities

Pwllgwaelod is reached by a narrow, twisty road from the centre of Dinas Cross. In the summer months it is also served by the "Poppit Rocket", a bus which follows the coastline from Fishguard to Cardigan in the north.
Pwllgwaelod lies on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path which from here runs for 3 miles all round the peninsula of Dinas Island, reaching Cwm-yr-Eglwys on the other side. Cwm-yr-Eglwys can also be reached by a direct footpath through the valley that almost divides Dinas Head from the mainland, and is suitable for wheelchairs.
There are two car parks and public toilets, and the boat-park has a slipway for launching dinghies. Dogs are allowed on the beach.

The Old Sailors

Close to the beach is an old pub, now a bar/restaurant called the Old Sailors. This is the only building by the beach itself, and has seen some 500 years of use. Formerly called the Sailors Safety, it supposedly dates from 1593, the name referring to the light it once kept burning as a guide to ships. It was visited by Dylan Thomas at least once.

A harbour

Pwllgwaelod was at times used as a sheltered harbour when strong winds from the east made Fishguard dangerous.
There is a medium-sized "three-quarter" lime kiln by the beach, used for converting the limestone brought in by boat to quicklime. This was used on the land, in this case on Dinas Island.

In literature

Pwllgwaelod is mentioned in "Sailing directions for the West Coast of England" , published by the Admiralty Hydrographic Department in 1870 :
In "A Book of South Wales" , published in 1905, Sabine Baring-Gould wrote: