Llanwnda

DISTANCE/DURATION: 4.1 miles (6.6 km) 2 hours.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: *Strumble Shuttle 404 (*seasonal, hail & ride).
CHARACTER: Relatively easy walking, fairly steep ascent/descent at Cwm Felin, shortcut can be muddy in places, superb coastal views, livestock, 0.6 mile (1.0 km) minor road walking.
LOOK OUT FOR: Seals, porpoises, wildflowers, ancient Llanwnda village and church, Carregwastad – point of French Invasion, Trehowel Farm – headquarters of French General Tate.

The superb wild scenery of Strumble Head makes any walk on the headland a thrill. It is a striking landscape created by dramatic geological events between 500 and 440 million years ago.

At that time volcanoes were active in the area and lava flows cooled to form super-hard igneous rocks. In places the volcanic upwelling of molten rock did not reach the surface, but cooled slowly below the ground.

Over millions of years these intrusions have resisted erosion to become the rocky crags – Garn Fawr, Y Garn, Garn Gilfach and Garnwnda – that are the backdrop for this walk.

The crags were important to the first communities of the area. Both Garn Gilfach and Garnwnda have Neolithic tombs on them while Garn Fawr is topped by an Iron Age fort.

Carreg Wastad Point was the setting for one of the most fascinating episodes from Pembrokeshire’s history – the invasion by French forces in 1797. An ill-fated army led by an American called Tate climbed the cliffs and then secured Trehowel Farm as its headquarters.

At the farm the soldiers found a good stock of drink that was ready for a wedding. So, they were drunk during much of the time they spent in the area before surrendering at nearby Goodwick two days later.

One of their few ‘military’ operations was to storm Llanwnda’s St Gwyndaf’s Church and steal silver plate.

On the coast take time to scan the sea for dolphins and porpoises which are often seen passing close to Strumble Head. Also look out for grey seals which are often as interested in passing humans as we are in them.