Dinas Cross Village near Newport Pembrokeshire
An old sea captains Village.
Head west for 3 miles along the A487 from Newport and you will enter the village of Dinas Cross.
Once very popular with Sea Captains who built many of the stone houses that are still visible all over the village, Dinas is now a peaceful and quiet village hiding quite a few surprises, and if you'd continued along the A487 through the village you would most likely be thinking - What is this article talking about?
You will have probably noticed the two pubs (The Free Masons & The Ship Aground), fish and chip shop, service station (closest fuel to Newport), Cafe and a tennis court, but there is so much more to this unassuming little north Pembrokeshire village.
Dinas Cross beaches
Within a mile of the village centre there are 4 beaches, two of which can only be accessed by foot.
Cwm-yr-Eglwys
The ruined Church at Cwm-yr-Eglwys
A long narrow winding road takes you down into a hidden valley where this picturesque little hamlet sits. A handful of houses, a small car park (small charge during peak season) and a Church yard with the remains of St Brynach's Church unfold as you enter.
Cwm-yr-Eglwys beach
Head towards the ruined Church to discover a beautiful sheltered sandy beach flanked by low cliffs which harbour some great rock pools. There is also a slip way here for launching small vessels.
Pwllgwaelod
Pwllgwaelod Beach
Pwllgwaelod beach can be found by turning off the main road near the Ship Aground pub, en-route there is a pressed seaweed art studio / gallery (coastandwild.co.uk) and also the local blacksmith (jetblacksmith.co.uk) and at Pwllgwaelod you'll find the 'The Sailors Safety', a pub and restaurant practically on the beach. There is also a small car park and an area designated to sea craft which also houses the slipway down on to the sandy beach. Pwllgwaelod is very popular during the high season but you can usually find space on the beach - just beware that the car park is very small and does fill up very quickly, as does the pub - the only coastal path watering hole from Fishguard to Newport.
The Sailors Safety pub
Aber Bach Beach
Aber Bach beach
A small sand and stone beach flanked by low cliffs which is accessed only by foot along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path from either Pwllgwaelod, or further afield at Fishguard.
Aber Fforest Beach
Aber Fforest beach
A small, sheltered, sand and slate beach flanked by cliffs which again is accessed only by foot along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path from either Cwm-yr-Eglwys, or Newport.
If you are a skimmer, then this is one beach you cannot miss, there's always a good selection of skimming stones to be found on the left hand side of the beach, near to the small stream.
Aber Fforest waterfall
Behind the beach, hidden away in the woodland is a small waterfall - to find it, just follow the stream into the trees behind the beach.
Walks from the beaches
View towards Newport from Dinas Island
From Cwm-yr-Eglwys and Pwllgwaelod, there is a lovely circular walk around Dinas Island, although only 3 miles in length it can be quite steep and rocky in some places, so allow a good 2 to 2.5 hours to complete in good weather. A bonus on this walk is that at the end of the decent at Pwllgwaelod there is a pub. The return walk from either Pwllgwaelod or Cwm-yr-Eglwys is a brisk flat walk along a valley floor behind the pub.
A section of the coast path from Aber Fforest to Dinas Island
From all of the beaches, there are spectacular sections of the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path to enjoy.
Dinas Cross View Points
The view over Dinas from the view point
Head back into the village and look for a road named Spring Hill, head up this road for approximately half a mile, you will pass through a series of sharp hairpin bends before the road opens up slightly - look out for a small car park on your right. This is an ideal spot for eating the fish and chips you may have purchased in the village and is known as Dinas View Point. 180 degree views from Goodwick Harbour to Newport can be enjoyed here high above the village.
The view from Garn Fawr on Dinas Mountain
Continue onwards, and uphill from the view point, and another of Dinas Cross' hidden gems slowly opens up in front of you. This is Dinas Mountain (Mynydd Dinas) and stands some 310m or thereabouts above sea level. Walk to any of the rocky outcrops to enjoy some stunning views of the north Pembrokeshire countryside. You may also spot a wild pony or 20!
The view of Dinas Island (and a pony) from Dinas Mountain
From these views you can see Dinas Island jutting out into the sea, and as mentioned earlier, Dinas Island also offers a fine vantage point to take in some views - especially at the trig point at the part of the Island known as Dinas Head.
Dinas Cross Amenities:
- Parking at Pwllgwaelod, Cwm-yr-Eglwys and the view point
- Service station (fuel) with convenience store
- Three pubs, plus a club house bar
- Fish and chip takeaway
- Café
- Tea room
- Blacksmith
- Two art galleries
- Children's play area / park
- The Old School / Yr Hen Ysgol community hub
- Public conveniences at Pwllgwaelod & Cwm-yr-Eglwys
Wildlife to look out for:
At the beaches
- Choughs, Gulls, Peregrine Falcons
- Porpoises, Dolphins, Seals
- Crab, Anemones, Star Fish, Winkles, Limpets and Muscles
On the mountain
- Red Kite, Buzzards
- Wild Ponies, Sheep
Nearby Accommodation
Directions:
Head west along the A487 from Newport. Some 3 miles later you will come to Dinas Cross.
