Mynachlog-ddu lies on the southern flank of the Preseli Hills. The Foel-Dyrch Trail leads into the moorland above the village; the stone circle, and the history of its chapels and churches, offer other points of interest. When planning your stay, it is worth treating the walk as a block of time in its own right and cultural history as a second focus. This lets you prioritise according to the time you have available and your own interests.
Walking the Foel-Dyrch Trail
The Foel-Dyrch Trail is 7.6 miles (12.2 km) long and takes 3 hours 30 minutes. It leads walkers into the moorland above Mynachlogddu. The route’s features include panoramic views, buzzards, skylarks and old quarries. Its stated duration makes the walk a block of time in its own right, rather than a short stop along the way. You can factor this time into your plans for each day. Route conditions and access may change; check both before setting out.
Gors Fawr and the landscape of the Preseli Hills
Gors Fawr is the only surviving intact stone circle in Wales. A pair of standing stones stands about 120 metres away. The two stones form a kind of gateway to the view of Carn Meini, which dominates the outlook. So this place is defined not only by its prehistoric stones, but also by their relationship to the view across the landscape. The wider landscape around Gors Fawr is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Those interested in archaeological sites can consider the stone circle and the surrounding landscape as distinct aspects.
Landscape and protected areas
The Eastern Cleddau forms much of the eastern boundary of the Mynachlogddu community. The river and its tributaries are designated a Special Area of Conservation and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This is a different landscape reference point from the view at Gors Fawr: here the focus is on a river, its tributaries and the community boundary. Together with its location on the southern flank of the Preseli Hills, this gives the landscape several clearly distinct points of reference.
Chapels, churches and local history
The history of Bethel Baptist Chapel can be traced through two building phases: the first chapel was built in 1794, and the present building replaced it in 1877. The graveyard includes the grave of Thomas Rees, known as “Twm Carnabwth”. He was the first “Rebecca”, when the Efailwen tollgate was attacked in 1839. The building history and this local memory highlight different periods. Check access to the chapel separately before visiting.
The history of St Dogmael’s Church stretches back to its time as a grange chapel of St Dogmaels Abbey, a role it held until the 16th century. About 80 per cent of its medieval core fabric survives. One simple detail of the church building is its medieval font. Its former role, surviving fabric and font each tell something about the history of the place and the building in their own way.
A memorial stone in Mynachlogddu was erected in honour of the life and work of the poet Waldo Williams (1904–1971). Williams had connections to this district and wrote many of his finest poems about the landscape and people of the Preseli region. Thus, alongside archaeological and ecclesiastical history, literature offers another way to explore the region: the memorial stone commemorates a poet whose work was connected with this landscape and its people.
Discover more destinations: Solva, Camrose, Manorbier, Stackpole, Boncath, Pontfaen, Moylegrove, Abercych.
Return to the main travel guide: Pembrokeshire.
