Wales

Dinas Island circular walk

Coastal view of yellow gorse and green fields, cliffs and dark rocky coastline with a teal-blue sea — Looking south from the western side of Dinas Island, towards Mynydd Dinas | © National Trust Images/Joe Cornish

A circular walk with steep ascent and descent gives you some of the finest views anywhere on the Pembrokeshire coast. This isn’t a long walk, but definitely one to test your fitness, with plenty of reasons to stop and admire the scenery.

Near to

Strumble Head to Cardigan

Start point

Pwllgwaelod car park, grid ref: SN005398

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 3 (km: 4.8)

Duration2 hours

Dog friendly**

*Steep, rocky coast path, sharp gradients, steps, stiles and kissing gates. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Dogs on leads welcome – livestock nearby. For further details, please see Facilities section.

Address
Pwlgwaellod Beach car park, Dinas Island, Pembrokeshire, SA42 0SE.
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Fishguard and Goodwick station 6 miles (9.6km), see Traveline Cymru for details.
Traveline Cymru
By bus
404 Strumble Shuttle St Davids to Fishguard, get off at Dinas Cross 1 mile (1.6km) from the start, or see Traveline Cymru for other options.
Traveline Cymru
Cycling
National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 47 Fishguard 6 miles (9.6km) or NCN Route 82 Cardigan 6 miles (9.5km).
Sustrans
By road
A487 St David’s – Fishguard road. Take turning to Pwllgwaelod and Bryn-Henllan northeast of Dinas Cross. Satnav: SA42 0SE.
Total stages: 10
Total stages: 10
Start point
Pwllgwaelod car park, grid ref: SN005398
Stage 1
From Pwllgwaelod Beach, turn right uphill following coast path signs. At the cattle grid, turn left through a kissing gate.
Stage 2
The path soon begins to climb sharply and includes 40 steps. You'll pass through heather and gorse on either side. After a stiff climb you'll reach a stile and the path becomes easier. Your reward is fine views across Fishguard Bay.
Stage 3
The path soon becomes steep again and as you round a corner, you'll see the highest point of Dinas Island, Pen-y-Fan, ahead. Newport comes into view on your right.
Stage 4
Pause at the Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar (OS trig point) to take a well-earned rest and enjoy the views north to the cliffs at Pen-yr-Afr and inland to the Preseli Hills.
Stage 5
It's mostly downhill from here, but steep. Follow the path downhill. Around 55yds (50m) beyond a kissing gate the path divides. The main coast path plunges away to your left – you can see it snaking round the coast. If this looks too exciting you can follow a broad path along the fence to your right. The two paths reunite further on.
Stage 6
Around half a mile (0.75km) after the paths split, look out for Needle Rock below you. Seabirds, including guillemots, breed here in early summer.
Stage 7
The bay at Cwm-yr-Eglwys comes into view. Go through the kissing gate, which leads to a shady section of the path, but take care: it is rocky with tree roots.
Stage 8
A timber footbridge leads onto the road. Follow this down to Cwm-yr-Eglwys and past the toilets on your right.
Stage 9
Follow the path along the right hand side of boatyard, signposted ‘Pwllgwaelod 2/3 mile’, and walk straight ahead through the car park and alongside some caravans on your right. You’ll see the footpath by a solid wood panel fence in the far right-hand corner.
Stage 10
Walk back to Pwllgwaelod through the valley along a tarmac path. With the rise in sea levels, Dinas Island could well be a real island again one day.
End point
Pwllgwaelod car park, grid ref: SN005398
Trail map
Map of the Dinas Island circular walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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