Angle Bays and Milford Haven.

Start. West Angle Bay.

Route. West Angle Bay - Chapel Bay Fort - Chapel Bay - Angle Point - The Old Point House - Angle Bay - Castle Farm Tower - Angle - West Angle Bay.

Notes. The tide has brought many legendary visitors and industrial developments to the safe shelter of historic Milford Haven. Vikings, future kings, shipping merchants, Quaker whalers from Nantucket, Royal Naval ship builders, Admiral Lord Nelson, fishing boats large and small, and the pioneering industries that made Milford Haven the UK’s largest energy port have all had important roles in the fascinating history. In the past defending this deep water birth has been a national priority, as we discovered on this fascinating walk through an industrial skyline of refinery towers, but we did manage to discover two absolute gems.

We set out from West Angle Bay a finger post pointed out the route of the coastal path, after a few yards we made a short detour to some stunning secluded beaches tucked away behind ridges of rock. Once back on the main path we wandered towards Thorn Island home to a Napoleonic fort (actually built thirty years after Napoleons death) now in private hands, easy walking carried us round the point and along the North Shore of the Angle Peninsula.

We soon reached Chapel Bay and another fort, this one is open to the public sometimes, (it was shut the day we visited), we continued woodland now blocking our views across Milford Haven, passed two small cottages we wandered then out into cow pastures. It was too hot for those beasts to be bothered with us, they were more concerned about the fly problems inflicting them, me well my problem was bloody horse flies, why weren't they picking on Sue?.

After passing the Life Boat Station we rounded Angle Point and to our delight came across our first gem, an inn, The Old Point House, once a pirates meeting place it has been a pub since at least the 16th century. It was obviously a popular watering hole for families, we joined them, had lunch outside overlooking Angle Bay and a bloody great oil refinery, that seemed to fit nicely into the landscape.

Lunch over we followed a rough track, (the access road to the inn) along the edge of the bay, just before crossing a bridge we swung right, a way-marked path guided us to the second gem, the tower at Castle Farm. This little 14th century tower is unique, it’s Wales only example of a true tower-house, like those in Ireland, the English Borders and Greece, and it’s open you can have a look round. From the tower our route crossed a field, passed through an abandoned children's play area then into the streets of Angle, a strange place with an odd mix of buildings, I liked it. The main road then guided us West eventually depositing us back in the car park at West Angle Bay.

view route map.

home.

Views across West Angle Bay.

The Dale Peninsula seen across the mouth of Milford Haven.

West Angle Sands viewed from the short detour mentioned in the text above.

A stunning view across the mouth of Milford Haven taking in St Ann's Head and West Blockhouse Point, to the far left Rat Island and East Blockhouse.

Thorn Island Fort dominating a strategic position at the entrance to Milford Haven.

Milford Haven known as the UK's largest energy port handling liquid, bulk, break bulk and heavy lift cargoes.

One of many Napoleonic forts built to guard the harbour against French invasion, Stack Rock Fort.

A glimpse of West Angle Bay.

Looking over the crop fields towards the roof tops of West Pill Farm.

An industrial skyline of refinery towers.

Oil tankers at Velero Oil Terminal.

The Old Point House a pub since at least the 16th century, once the haunt of pirates.

Seen from the Old Point House the Velero Oil Refinery.

The sheltered waters of Angle Bay.

The 14th century tower house at Castle Farm.

I bet you're itching to know what's up those stairs.

Views over crop fields near West Angle Bay, visible on the horizon Chapel Bay Fort passed earlier.

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