Day 7 - Broad Haven to Dale

Tuesday 10th July 2007
16.5 miles, 9 hours



The rain had cleared overnight and it was a bright but cloudy start to the day. We left our Bed and breakfast just after 9am and headed back to Broad Haven beach. The tide was out and the wide expanse of sand had been revealed.





We followed the beach round to Little Haven and rejoined the path via the slipway onto the road.





It was good easy walking along this section of path, passing along the wooded cliffs to reach Borough Head


It was a pleasant walk along the next section passing Mill Haven and St Brides Haven. There were a few ships anchored out in St Brides bay and in the distance we could see Grassholm Island. It appeared white in the sun apparently due to the masses of gannets nesting on the island. We saw several nesting birds along the cliff edges too and also a group of kestrels. These were perfectly camouflaged against the dark reddish soil.









We paused briefly on a bench above Musslewick sands. Unfortunately it was high tide and there was no sign of the beach.




We arrived at Martin’s Haven just after 2pm, an hour too late for the boat trip out around skomer but it was a convenient stopping point for our lunch. Martin’s Haven had less to see than we expected with only a small pebbly beach and a rickety walkway for boarding access.


There was some sort of construction work with diggers taking place within the deer park so we decided to not to take this detour.
The scenery and climate on the southern side around Deadmans Bay was quite different. The cliffs took on a redish tint and the banks were abundant with wild flowers.







We followed the cliff top path around past Gateholm Island and along above Marloes Sands.


We took a short trip down to investigate the beach and it’s three chimneys. The alternating sandstone and mudstone run vertically up the full height of the cliff. Different rates of erosion has left tall red stone columns. After a short time enjoying the view we set off back up onto the path towards Westdale bay.






Westdale Bay was the point at which we left the coast path for the day. We opted to head directly into Dale and leave the Dale peninsula and St Ann’s head for the following day.
On the approach to Dale we had a good view across Milford Haven and to the Oil refineries near Angle bay.


We arrived at our bed and breakfast, Richmond House just before 6pm. It is ideally situated within Dale being only a minutes walk to the Griffin Inn and with great views from the doorstep out across dale roads.


Evening meal: Griffin Inn Good food, busy pub.