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Pembrokeshire Heritage Attractions
Heritage sites such as castles, Roman remains, stately homes & gardens, cathedrals, country houses, historic monuments, etc in Pembrokeshire...
Since the stone age, man has been creating majestic structures that we still marvel at today. Whether you are interested in ancient monuments, battlefield sites, re-enactments, Roman and Norman forts and castles, stately homes, country houses, historic cathedrals, ruined abbeys etc, this is the page that should give you the information you need.
Here we try to list properties in private ownership but open to the public (even if only occasionally) as well as those in the care of the organisations like National Trust or English/Scottish Heritage. Please help us make this guide comprehensive by sending us details of missing attractions.
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Pembrokeshire Ancient Monuments, Castles, Roman Forts, Battlefield Sites, etc |
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CAREW CASTLE
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CILGERRAN Standing high above the tidal limit of the River Teifi just a couple of miles upstream from Cardigan, this castle holds an almost impregnable position. Built some time in the mid 13th century, it is now a picturesque ruin, so picturesque that it was chosen as a subject by famous painters such as Turner and Wilson. Now a National Trust property.
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HAVERFORDWEST This 13th century castle was built at the lowest crossing point of the River Cleddau to guard the upper reaches of the haven. Can be viewed from outside.
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LLAWHADEN Just off the A40, 8 miles east of Haverfordwest are the impressive ruins of this castle which dates mainly from the 14th century. Two centuries earlier, a wooden castle was built on the site to protect the estates of the Norman bishops of St David's. It stands on the "Landsker" an imaginary line marking the boundary between the Welsh to the North East and the Normans to the South West. Even today, most of the people living in the west are not Welsh speakers and the area is known as "Little England beyond Wales". The wooden castle was eventually replaced by the stone castle, the remains of which you see today. Admission charge.
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MANORBIER
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NARBERTH There is little of the castle left and what remains is privately owned. However, it can be viewed from the road.
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PICTON CASTLE Built in the 13th Century by Sir John Wogan, his direct descendants still live in the Castle today, carrying the name of Philipps since the 15th Century. Awarded their Coat of Arms by Richard Coeur de Lion for their exploits during the Crusades, they were to oppose The King during the Civil War. In the 18th Century they figured prominently in the economic, educational and social life of the Principality. Today the Castle is still a home retaining its original medieval features in the undercroft. The principal rooms were remodelled during the 1750's by Sir John Phillipps the sixth Baronet, with fine plaster work and fireplaces by Sir Henry Cheere. During the 1790's the first Lord Milford added a wing which includes the splendid dining room and drawing room. Signposted three miles East of Haverfordwest and two miles South of A40.
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ROCH Roch Castle, 6 miles north-west of Haverfordwest has a single tower built in the 13th century, standing on a volcanic outcrop with commanding views over the surrounding countryside. No public admittance but easily viewed from the road.
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ANCIENT MONUMENTS It is beyond the scope of this guide to give details of the area's rich archaeological heritage but no guide would be complete without some mention. The area has many stone-age burial chambers, some standing stones, and even stone circles (and remains of others). There are iron-age forts, many built on promontories around the coast and on the nearby islands. Ordnance Survey maps show details.
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Castell Henllys
Off A478 Cardigan to Fishguard Road, near
Newport, SA41 3WT A reconstructed Iron Age hill fort. Findings from excavations carried out on the site have enabled the National Park Authority to realistically reproduce life as it was 2000 years ago. Traditional craft making and ancient breeds of animals can also be found on site. Open April to October.
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Lamphey Bishops Palace
Lamphey, nr Pembroke, SA71 5PE Extensive remains of a grand medieval palace of the Bishop's of St Davids which has been sensitively renovated recently. A regular programme of events is held in the summer.
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Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber nr Newport, SA41 3TZ Set in the heart of the Preseli Hills, where the 'Spotted Dolerite' came from which made the inner sanctum of Stonehenge. A fine example of a cromlech with a 15ton capstone intact. Dramatic against sunrise or sunset.
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St. Dogmael's Abbey St. Dogmaels, SA43 3EB Remains of a 12th century abbey built by Benedictine monks on the site of an earlier Celtic monastery.
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St. Govans Chapel St. Govans Head, nr Bosherston, SA71 5DR A tiny hermits cell built into the cliff at St Govan's near Bosherston. Count the steps down and up again - legend has it that the number is never the same!
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St. Nons St. Davids, SA62 6BN A holy well, retreat and shrine dedicated to the mother of St. David, situated on the south coast near St. Davids.
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Tenby Castle Tenby, SA70 7BP Overlooking the harbour. The now ruined castle and the well preserved town walls with their distinctive Five Arches formed William de Valences' defensive plan for Tenby. Now designated an ancient 'walled town'. 
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Pembrokeshire Stately Homes, Country Houses & Gardens |
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Hilton Court Gardens
Roch, nr Haverfordwest, SA62 6AF 9 Acres of woodland and lakes in a sheltered hollow above Nolton Haven overlooked by the Balcony tea room. Entrance to the garden is via a cobbled courtyard of converted stone buildings which accommodate craft workshops, a garden centre, restaurant and shop.
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Penrhos Cottage
3 miles from Maenclochog, SA66 7XT A carefully preserved thatched cottage or 'Ty Unos', unique in Pembrokeshire, of a kind which could be built overnight on land claimed "as far as a stone could be thrown" The cottage can be viewed but by appointment only through Scolton Manor Museum.
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Scolton Manor House and Country Park
nr Haverfordwest, SA62 5QN A Victorian manor with upstairs, downstairs exhibits and historical artefacts including a steam train, smithy and wheelwrights shop. The surrounding country park has an eco friendly theme and hosts numerous events in summer. Country park open all year.
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Upton Castle Gardens
nr Cosheston, SA68 0TN The grounds and gardens occupy a secluded wooded valley which runs down to a tributary of the Carew River. The grounds contain over 250 different species of trees and shrubs and are managed by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.
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Pembrokeshire Cathedrals, Historic Churches, Abbeys |
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