Did you know that all our parks at Matthew Baker Caravans are just a short drive from some of Pembrokeshire’s most beautiful, wheelchair-accessible walks? We believe that everyone should have the chance to enjoy nature and fresh air, which is why accessible walking paths are so important. While not all nearby trails are suitable for wheelchairs, there are still plenty of wonderful locations that everyone can enjoy. Here’s our selection of the best wheelchair-friendly walks in north Pembrokeshire.
1. Solva Quayside
Image credit: solva.net
The first walk on our list is in the picturesque village of Solva, which is near our Newgale caravan park. This beautiful walk along the quayside will give you both great views of the village as well as the boats in the long harbour. This location has great ties to Pembrokeshire history as Solva’s harbour became the main trading location in St Bride’s Bay in the medieval period, and was important for lime burning. A prominent row of lime kilns are still preserved at the harbour edge to this day as a reminder of this history. The Gribyn, which is a steep hill at the east of the harbour entrance, was used as a defensive outpost when it was once an Iron Age fort. So, there is a lot of history lovers to see during this walk. You may even see some seabirds from here like gulls and fulmars, which is great for birdwatchers. This walk goes from the the lower Solva car park to the Yacht Club which is a relatively short walk at 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) but it is along a smooth stone track and part tarmac, so it is suitable for wheelchairs. There are also toilets in the car park, and not far away is the cafe on the Quay, where you can get a bite to eat. Public transport links include a wheelchair service bus to Solva as well as the Puffin Shuttle bus (unfortunately not wheelchair accessible).
2. Newport Parrog to Cwm
Image credit: newportpembs.co.uk
Another great walk we recommend starts in Newport Parrog which gives great views of Newport Bay, the estuary and the dramatic coastline. This is one of our favourites but we might be a bit biased as our Newport caravan park is close to here! This is a gentle walk which is mostly on surfaced paths along Newport Bay but there are some gradients to take into consideration if you are taking a wheelchair user with you. This walk will follow the southern edge of the bay out towards the sea, giving you opportunities to see Neports Sands and the cliffs on the other side of the bay. If you are using the car park, turn right leaving the car and go up the ramp on right onto the causeway and down onto the paved path. Follow this path in front of houses until you bear right. When the path reaches Rock House turn right then left onto the foreshore and join the path for a short distance. The walk enters the foreshore again, and although the sand is firm there is a gradient which can be difficult in poor conditions. Keep following the coastal path for the rest of the walk. Newport Parrog, like many on this list, is a great one for local history lovers as many vessels have been built here and local merchants used to trade from here.
3. The Point, Little Haven
Our next walk is in Little Haven, which is not too far from Broad Haven. Little Haven is a small picturesque seaside village in an area of outstanding natural beauty. This walk has great sea views, as well as great views looking back at the small harbour of Little Haven, the caves to the left of the harbour and the beach if the tide is out. Cafes and facilities can be found in the small village so you can have some lunch once you’ve worked up an appetite from your walk!
4. Martin’s Haven towards Gateholm
Image credit: ourbeautifuladventure.co.uk
Our next wheelchair walk is in Martin’s Haven which is on the Dale Peninsula and gives great views across St Bride’s Bay towards St David’s. Our walk starts from the gate at the west end of the National Trust car park (charges in season). Follow the field edge path which will give you great views of Skomer Island. Skomer Island is one of the most important breeding islands in Pembrokeshire as it is home to around 350,000 breeding pairs of Manx Shearwaters, but the island is most famous for its Puffin population. Sea birds like Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Fulmars also visit the island. It is said that the sea birds come to the island in the summer months, so you probably won’t spot any of these at this time of year but the stunning views of the island are there all year round. This walk will take you along the clifftop so please take care whenever going on the coastal path. You will be able to see Gateholm island, which is less well known than Skomer but is a great view to see nevertheless.
5. St Brides to Tower Point
Image credit: tripadvisor.co.uk
Another walk we would recommend is 1.1 miles long from the breathtaking St Brides Bay to Tower Point near Marloes. This walk is a bit more difficult as it is steep in sections and can be rough so caution is advised but it gives rewarding views of the stunning coastline. There is also a picnic site along this walk so bring some sandwiches! The nearest toilets on this walk can be found in Dale or Little Haven. Take care as there are two gates along the walk that may need assistance for those in long wheelchairs. Near the end of the walk you will find Tower Point, which is a coastal promontory fort. The fort is defined by triple banks with intermediate ditches, having a central causewayed entrance. Historians have speculated that this fort at one time could’ve been used as a prehistoric smithing workshop but there is also evidence which disproves this theory.
6. St Brides Haven
Image credit: ourbeautifuladventure.co.uk
Our next walk is on the southwesterly curve of the Pembrokeshire coastline overlooking St Brides Haven. The sheltered cove has a mixture of shingle until low tide when a sandy bay is revealed and is popular for boating. This walk is wheelchair friendly as the rolled stone path allows you to take in the views of the haven and it is only short drive from the rural villages of Marloes, Dale, and St Ishmaels. This is also a location that is rich with history as it is suspected to have been a fishing village with a collection of cottages close to the cliff’s edge. Up the road, you’ll find a grand castle that was once home to the Barons of Kensington over a century ago. St Brides Castle is now a hotel but on the outside, some of the original features can still be seen.
7. Porth Clais
Image credit: nationaltrust.org.uk
The final wheelchair-friendly walk we recommend is in Porth Clais, which is a small sheltered harbour near St Davids. The walk overlooks the quaint harbour and there are also great coastal and sea views from this location. It was thought that the harbour was built in the 12th century to be used to import coal and timber, whilst today it us used for local fishermen. The harbour is renowned for being a good place to launch small boats and kayaks so you can stop and watch the boats go out during your walk.
