Pembrokeshire – Pembroke
Pembroke is an historic walled town set in the shadow of one of the finest castles in the country, with a busy main street that includes excellent eating places like the Old Kings Arms Hotel. Nearby are the Waterman’s Arms and the Corn Store, both providing good food near the Mill Pond, which obtains its water from the Pembroke River and forms part of the castle’s defences in years gone by.
Here you can look out and see the many swans, ducks, Herons, Cormorants and other wading birds that make the Mill Pond Walk a pleasant stroll, with Wogan’s Cavern as a feature of the castle that can be seen.
The castle was the birthplace of Henry Tudor, later to become Henry XII, and it is said that Oliver Cromwell spent a night in the York Tavern, with pubs like the Lion Hotel, The Royal George, The Old Cross Saws and the East Gate Hotel, situated where one of the old three gates into the town were once key to the town’s defences, are worth a visit.
Just a mile away, in the village of Lamphey, are to be found the Lamphey Court Hotel, the Dial Inn and Lamphey Hall, all of which are popular for good food, whilst there are many other good places to dine in nearby villages like Hundleton, Stackpole and Angle.
The current mayor is the 625th recorded since Pembroke was granted its charter by Henry II between 1172 and 1189 and it is a tradition that the mayor is invited to the abbey to attend the coronation of kings and queens.
FMB is one of several estate agents in the town’s Main Street, whilst Heron Crafts, Castle Gifts, Kismet and Henry’s provide gifts. The Town Hall is open in the mornings and various coffee mornings are held there each week. The Pembroke Bookshop provides a good service and visitors are also made welcome at the Haven Café and Bookshop.
There is sport aplenty in the town, with rugby, cricket and football all well catered for, with the young people made welcome at the Tanyard Youth Project. There are excellent churches in St Michael’s, St Mary’s, Monkton Priory and St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Monkton, with easy access for visitors to all the nearby beaches like Angle, Freshwater East and West, Broadhaven, plus the Bosherston Lily Ponds.
