Clynderwen – History, Trails and Landscape

Clynderwen lies on the A478, approximately halfway between Tenby and Cardigan. From here, both the north and south coasts of Pembrokeshire can be explored. For your travel planning, the village offers an interesting combination of railway history, churches, old transport routes and walks through the countryside.

Railway History and Historical Traces

The development of the present-day village centre is closely connected with the railway. Before its arrival in 1851, there were no houses there. By 1861, the village known as Narberth Road had grown up around the station. The railway also crossed the main road between Tenby and Cardigan at Clynderwen. This history is particularly interesting if, during your stay, you would like to learn not only about the landscape but also about the origins of the village.

St David's Church lies on the western edge of Clynderwen. It can be reached via a narrow lane from the A478, which runs through the village. South of the village, a section of the Via Julia runs through the area, partly overlain by a post-medieval road. The churches in the surrounding area also tell of a long past: the original Castell Dwyran Church is believed to date from the 13th century. Rhydwilym Baptist Church was built in 1701 and rebuilt in 1763, 1841 and 1875.

Another historical connection leads to the Voteporix Stone. It was found at Castell Dwyran Church and is now kept at Carmarthenshire Museum in Abergwili. The origins of Gilfach Quarry may date back to the 16th century. Slate from the quarry is also said to have been used for roofing during the rebuilding of the Houses of Parliament in Westminster in the 1830s.

Walks with Different Points of Interest

For a shorter circuit, a 1-mile countryside walk is an option. It starts at the station, leads across open farmland to Blaenwaun and returns to the village via a quiet country lane. A second route is 2.5 miles long, leads through the village towards Clynderwen House and also follows quiet country lanes on the way back. The lengths of the two routes help you choose the level of activity you want for your day's plans.

The Clunderwen Station Walk – Village Circular combines woodland with views of the Preseli Hills. This circuit also uses boardwalks and footbridges. Those looking for a longer walking connection can link Clynderwen to the Landsker Borderlands Trail via a quiet lane to Pen Lan Farm near Gelli. This provides a choice of routes ranging from local walks to paths with a stronger focus on the surrounding landscape.

Choose Accommodation to Suit Your Plans

When searching for a holiday cottage in Clynderwen, you can base your choice on your preferred daily activities. If you would like to combine historic places, the station circular walk and walks through the village, the village name itself is an obvious search term. Those who also want to use Clynderwen as a base for exploring Pembrokeshire can include the references to both coasts in their wider travel planning. The history of the village, the different route lengths and the landscape around the Preseli Hills provide a range of ways to plan your days.

More Destinations for Your Travel Planning

As additional destination ideas, you can include Pontfaen, Begelly, Mathry, Treffgarne, Fishguard, Ludchurch, Solva and St Florence in your wider selection.

For the overarching travel overview: Pembrokeshire.