At Porthgain Harbour, traces of quarrying meet a harbour that is still in use. There are also coastal trails of varying lengths and with different focuses. Porthgain lies in the heart of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. For your stay, you can therefore plan both a look at the town’s industrial history and walks along the coast.
Harbour, Quarry and Traces of Transport
Porthgain Quarry opened in 1831. Construction of the harbour began around 1850 or 1851 to enable the export of slate from Abereiddi and Porthgain. From around 1905, the brick hoppers at the harbour were built to hold crushed granite until it was shipped. A tramway connected the main quarry at Abereiddi with the hoppers above the harbour. This makes it possible to distinguish between several phases of industrial history: the quarry, slate exports through the harbour, and the later storage of granite.
Parts of the harbour, including the western breakwater, berths on the west side and the storage hoppers, are designated as Scheduled Monument PE382. Porthgain’s pilot house is a Grade II listed building. The Sloop Inn in the village also has a long history: it dates from 1743.
The harbour is more than a historic ensemble. Several fishing boats and leisure boats still use it, and a rowing club is also based here. Its clubhouse is in the former Ty Mawr brickworks. In this way, the protected parts of the harbour sit alongside its present-day use.
Coastal Trails and Planning Your Time
Near Porthgain, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs between St David’s and Fishguard. The coastal trail from Porthgain to Abereiddi starts in the village. The Porthgain/Abereiddi walk is 3.6 miles (5.8 km) long and takes two hours. Porthgain Clifftop is an adventurous walk of 3.6 to 4.4 miles (5.8 to 7.1 km), with spectacular coastal views and industrial heritage. For planning your day, the two-hour Porthgain/Abereiddi walk gives you a timeframe; you can assess Porthgain Clifftop by its distance range.
On Porthgain Clifftop, the trail follows the route of the former tramway. Some railway sleepers are visible at the surface—a tangible trace of the former connection between the quarry and harbour. On the Porthgain/Abereiddi walk, Traeth Llyfn beach is a featured viewpoint. When choosing your walk, you can therefore take into account both the walking time and the trail features mentioned for each route.
More Trails and Views
The Porthgain Quarry Easy Access route leads from the car park to the cliffs and, via the old incline, to the granite quarry near Porthgain. From this route, there are views of St David’s Head and Strumble Head. It adds another perspective on the quarry’s history and the surrounding coast to the coastal walks.
Porthgain Clifftop is served by the wheelchair-accessible Strumble Shuttle. If you plan to use the shuttle, check the timetable in advance. This will help you coordinate your walking time with the service.
Discover more destinations: Llandeloy, Boncath, Mynachlog-ddu, Haverfordwest, Goodwick, Moylegrove, Solva, Rosemarket.
For the main travel overview: Pembrokeshire.
