Walk 28: Freshwater West to Angle

We walked from Freshwater West to Angle – or, actually, from Angle to Freshwater West – during our stay in Pembroke Dock in February 2023. This was an interesting walk with some pretty views, and, as with most of our walks during this trip, we were lucky to have relatively good weather.

For ease, we relied on taxis for transport during this trip, so we parked in Freshwater West and got a taxi to Angle, to begin our walk. We used a great taxi service in Pembroke Dock, who were used to helping Wales Coast Path walkers with their travel!

The walk began with a stroll around Angle Bay. Situated on the southern side of the entrance to Milford Haven Waterway, the Angle peninsula has a unique feel – it’s wild and rugged, with a long history of seafaring.

We walked from Angle village towards Old Point House, a pub believed to date back to the sixteenth century, and to have been the haunt of pirates and smugglers. Nowadays, the pub serves up fresh seafood aplenty, and dishes made with the owner’s brand of laverbread. In the summer, Café Môr, a solar-powered mobile kitchen, is stationed in the garden. Old Point House was closed when we passed it on our walk, but we returned a few months later and enjoyed a delicious veggie burger and tasty fries with kelpchup from Café Môr.

We continued around Angle Bay, with views across the Milford Haven Waterway to Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven. The path was a bit muddy, but nice and quiet. As we walked, we spotted the first of what would be several interesting features – Stack Rock Fort. Built on a small island in the Milford Haven Waterway, Stack Rock Fort was built between 1850 and 1852, and upgraded between 1859 and 1871 to become the building that can be seen today. I’ve since seen photos of Stack Rock Fort from above, and it’s a fascinating place.

As we rounded the peninsula, we got our first glimpse of Thorne Island, a rocky inlet dominated by a coastal artillery fort built in the mid-nineteenth century. The fort at Thorne Island served as a hotel from 1947, until it was put up for sale in 1999. It was purchased by the current owner in 2017, who intends to take a restoration project.

We continued around the peninsula until we reached the first beach of the walk – West Angle Beach, a cute little cove tucked inside West Angle Bay. After we passed the beach, we headed gently upwards across a couple of fields. As we continued round, we passed a few interesting features, including the remains of Eastblock House, built by Henry VIII to guard the approach to Milford Haven.

The final section of the walk involved a few ups and downs as we navigated our way along the coast. We had a bit of a slippery time of it as we descended and ascended the hills, and whenever I felt like we’d had our final ascent, along came another descent! We finally reached Freshwater West and enjoyed a nice wander along the beach and to the car park to finish our walk. All in all, this was an interesting but enjoyable section, and it was lovely to explore Angle!

🥾 Distance: Around eight miles.

⭐ Highlight: Lots of interesting things to see on this walk!

👎 Less Good: We had a bit of slipping and sliding near the end as we were walking in muddy February.

🚗 Transport: We parked at Freshwater West and took a taxi to Angle.

🛏️ Accommodation: We stayed in Pembroke Dock for a week, in two different Airbnb properties – The Coach House and Nyth Bach – both of which were lovely.

🌱 Food: We had dinner at our Airbnb, although I do recommend Old Point House in Angle for a great meal.

🗺️ Map: This route is featured in the official Pembrokeshire guide.

Still not convinced? Read my ten reasons to walk the Wales Coast Path. If you’re ready to start planning your walk, you can find lots of resources to help you on your way here. Please note, I collect a share of the sales from the links on this page.