Mathry: Coastal Views and Early History

Mathry is a quiet hilltop village with sweeping panoramic views of the coast. The Church of the Holy Martyrs stands in the village centre and is visible for many miles. With its history and early stone monuments, the village offers several cultural themes to explore alongside its landscape.

Hilltop and Coastal Panorama

Small roads wind across the hilltop. The elevation shapes not only the views towards the coast, but also the village’s layout. These features can be weighed up when choosing a holiday destination: Mathry combines a peaceful village atmosphere with a hilltop setting and expansive coastal views. When searching for a holiday cottage, if you take the surroundings and the kind of holiday you want into account, the village atmosphere and landscape can help guide your choice of location.

Church and Early Stone Monuments

The present-day Church of the Holy Martyrs is a Grade 2 listed building. It is associated with the tradition of the seven saints who were sent to Mathry. The village’s history thus brings together a listed church building and a religious tradition.

Mathry 1 stands in the church porch. The stone bears a Latin inscription in Roman letters as well as a fragmentary Ogham inscription; both are thought to date to the 6th century. The monument therefore brings together two distinct forms of writing, with the Ogham inscription surviving only in fragmentary form.

Mathry 3 is set into the outer west face of the Church of the Holy Martyrs’ churchyard wall. It bears a linear equal-armed ring-cross within a ring; the carving is thought to date from the 7th to 9th centuries. St Edrins 2 is currently on the north side of the church’s chancel. The local stone monuments thus vary in both form and location.

A History Spanning Several Eras

Mathry’s origins date back to the Iron Age, when the village served as a defensive fort. This historical context predates the inscriptions and cross dated to the early medieval period. Those interested in the longer history of the area can therefore explore both an early defensive function and later-dated evidence in writing and stone in Mathry.

Getting Here and Choosing a Location

The Strumble Shuttle connects Mathry with Fishguard. As route arrangements may change, check the operator’s latest information before travelling. This lets you factor the connection into your travel plans and prepare for your journey using the latest information.

When choosing a holiday cottage, you can weigh up Mathry according to the interests you want your holiday to focus on. If coastal panoramas and a peaceful village atmosphere are your priorities, the hill and village layout are useful points of reference. If you are particularly interested in history, the church, the tradition of the seven saints and the early stone monuments offer specific themes to explore. This distinction can help you decide what kind of holiday destination you are looking for before considering individual holiday cottages.

Discover more destinations: Fishguard, Llanfyrnach, Pontfaen, Cilgerran, Letterston, Milford Haven, Whitland, Clarbeston Road

For the regional travel overview: Pembrokeshire.