Dinas Mountain (Mynydd Dinas) near Newport Pembrokeshire
A moorland landscape with Carn Enoch, Garn Fawr and Y Bryn outcrops.
Mynydd Dinas may not reach the heights of Carningli Mountain to the East, but it holds several hidden gems. Starting from Dinas, take the road marked 'Spring Hill' and proceed past the houses along the winding country lane. You'll navigate a hairpin bend and continue up the hill, crossing over a cattle grid. As you ascend, the landscape will unfold on either side, and to your right, you'll catch a glimpse of Carn Enoch in the distance. Keep following the road until you spot a small grassy parking area on your right; that's where you can park.
We'll start with Carn Enoch as this is the nearest to where you are parked. Follow one of the many grassy paths in the general direction of Carn Enoch to enjoy splendid views over Dinas Island and the Bays of Fishguard and Newport.
View looking west to Fishguard Harbour.
It's not just the views from Carn Enoch that are surprising, if you look around the rocks for long enough you may come across a few that have very strange markings that look like they've been carved into the cracks in the rocks. We have no idea how they came about. The carvings can be found on a few slabs to the south east of Carn Enoch, they are part of the lower rocky out crops.
Marks in the rocks at Carn Enoch.
From Carn Enoch continue walking in a westerly direction over the summit of Mynydd Dinas (where this is a lovely mountain pond) you will discover Garn Fawr, and if you've driven from Fishguard this is the outcrop you can see as you come down hill into Dinas Cross.
The views from Garn Fawr over Fishguard Bay are second to none, and if you're there whilst the ferry is coming or going then even better. A word of warning if you do decide to climb up Garn Fawr, there's quite a large vertical drop on it's northerly side.
View looking east to Newport Sands.
From Garn Fawr you can walk in a southerly direction and pick up quite a wide grassy track. This will take you in a more circular walk around Mynydd Dinas and brings you back nearby to where you had parked. There are a few smaller rocky outcrops along this route.
The last outcrop on Mynydd Dinas takes you back down towards Dinas Cross. Park at the view point which has splendid views over Dinas Cross and cross over the lane - you will see a path heading east through the gorse and bracken. Follow this for approximately half a mile and cross over the farm track to continue onwards to Y Bryn.
Approaching Y Bryn on Dinas Mountain.
Go over the stile and you are now just below the rocky outcrop, the smaller outcrop is known as Carn Fron and the larger outcrop behind is known as Carn Gwiber. To get to the top, walk around it's left hand side past the old enclosure with a small overgrown pond in it.
View to Dinas Cross from Y Bryn.
Fine views over the beautiful countryside can be enjoyed from the peak of Carn Gwiber.
From here you can follow a path that leads all the way to Newport via the lower slopes of Carningli Mountain.
Round stone structure below Carn Enoch.
There are interesting features all over this part of the north Pembrokeshire landscape, above is an image of a circular embankment some 6 to 7 metres in diameter, discovered purely by chance on walk to Carn Enoch.
Wildlife to look out for:
- Red Kite, Buzzards
- Wild Ponies, Sheep
Accommodation in and near Dinas Cross:
What3words
- Carn Enoch ///tiling.wobbling.bulge
- Garn Fawr ///exploring.quite.victory
- Y Bryn ///submits.mice.pronouns
