Pembroke Ramble.

Start. Pembroke (main street).

Route. Pembroke (main street) - Northgate Street - Mill Pond Walk - Golden Lane - Woodbine Terrace - Northgate Street - Castle Pond - Westgate - Pembroke (main street).

Notes. Pembroke a Norman settlement built on a rocky promontory, the main street running along a ridge that terminates at one of Wales most impressive castles, hemmed in by a tidal inlet and marsh land, this was an ideal place to defend. Pembroke River rises on Hogeston Hill meandering passed the remains of the Bishops Palace near Lamphey before spilling into the Mill Ponds at Pembroke, Upper Millpond, a nature reserve, Pembroke Millpond, a mess (it needs cleaning out) and Castle Pond the baby formed in 1970 when a barrage was built.

This was a dead simple ramble dominated by a bloody great castle, it was Sunday so we were able to park free in the main street. After descending Northgate Street we followed Mill Pond Walk, medieval walls to our right the mill pond our left, at the head of the pond we swung left joining a narrow tarmac path running parallel to the Pembroke Dock railway line, this path deposited us in a housing estate, not what I’d call an ideal place to ramble. Between the houses on Golden Lane we walked followed by Woodbine Terrace to be ejected onto Northgate Street, after descending the hill we joined a tarmac path that guided us around Castle Pond.

Castle Pond was formed in the 70s after a barrage was built across Pembroke River, the path crossed the barrage gifting us with views over the pond to mighty Pembroke Castle and west over the mud flats of the tidal section of Pembroke River, after rounding the pond we ascended the main road back into town.

view route map.

home.

Pembroke Mill Pond looking to Mill Bridge.

Dominating this short ramble Pembroke Castle.

The impenetrable walls of Pembroke Castle as seen across Castle Pond.

Pembroke River below the mill ponds.

Pembroke Castles Great Keep viewed from the West

Part of Flemish Cottage in Westgate, the cottage sits on solid rock, Westgate was the west entrance to the castle, the gate has long gone.

Still viewing Flemish Cottage, originally the road surface would have been much higher, but was lowered to allow horse drawn carts to enter the castle.

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