Mynachlog-ddu: Preseli Hills, Walks and History

Mynachlog-ddu combines the landscape of the Preseli Hills with impressive traces of history and culture. The village lies on the southern flank of the Preseli Hills, making it an interesting choice for travellers who want to spend their days among moorland, distinctive landscapes, archaeological remains and historic buildings. When looking for holiday accommodation in Mynachlog-ddu, it is therefore worth first deciding on your preferred travel rhythm: should the focus be on a longer walk, striking landscapes or discoveries involving chapels, stone circles and regional figures?

Landscape and walking around Mynachlog-ddu

The Foel Dyrch Walk offers one specific way to get to know the landscape. The route is 7.6 miles (12.2 km) long and takes 3 hours 30 minutes. It leads walkers into the moorland above Mynachlog-ddu. Along the route, there are panoramic views, buzzards, skylarks and old quarries to see. The information on length and duration helps with planning the day, especially if you want to choose accommodation as a base for a fully planned day of walking.

The Eastern Cleddau also shapes the geographical character of the area. The river forms a large part of the eastern boundary of the Mynachlogddu community; the Eastern Cleddau and its tributaries are designated as a Special Area of Conservation and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The wider landscape around Gors Fawr is also designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Travellers who value landscapes and their special conservation designations when planning a trip will find a clear thematic focus here.

Stone circle, standing stones and views of Carn Meini

Gors Fawr is the only surviving intact stone circle in Wales. About 120 m from Gors Fawr is a pair of standing stones. These two stones form a kind of gateway to the view of Carn Meini, which dominates the vista. This landscape theme therefore centres not only on individual prehistoric remains, but also on the relationship between the stones and the distinctive views across the Preseli region. For families who enjoy discovering unusual places and historical mysteries together while travelling, this is a particularly vivid aspect of the area.

Chapel and regional history

Bethel Baptist Chapel adds a more recent but equally multifaceted history to the picture. Its first chapel was built in 1794; the present building replaced it in 1877. The churchyard contains the grave of Thomas Rees, “Twm Carnabwth”, who was the first “Rebecca” when the Efailwen tollgate was attacked in 1839. The dates and the personal history associated with the churchyard provide several specific points of interest for visitors who are interested in the region’s social and religious developments.

Another historical point of reference is St Dogmael's Church. Until the 16th century, St Dogmael was a grange chapel of St Dogmaels Abbey. The church preserves around 80% of its medieval core fabric; the simple font is also medieval. In Mynachlogddu, a memorial stone also commemorates the poet Waldo Williams (1904–1971). He had connections with this district and wrote many of his finest poems about the landscape and people of the Preseli region.

Crafts and different day plans

The Preseli Mohair Centre has a small exhibition room with handmade garments made from mohair and knitting yarn produced from the fleece of its own Angora goats and dyed by hand. This adds a craft element to the mix of walking, landscape and history. Holiday accommodation or a holiday cottage in Mynachlog-ddu is especially well suited to your plans if you do not want to squeeze these different themes into a single sightseeing programme, but instead want to alternate active and cultural days. The Foel Dyrch Walk places a clear emphasis on distance and landscape; Gors Fawr, the chapel history, St Dogmael's Church, Waldo Williams and the Mohair Centre offer other ways of engaging with the region.

For more local pages to help plan your trip, you can also compare Roch, Cosheston, Milford Haven, Letterston, Wisemans Bridge, Castlemartin, Rosemarket and Saint Dogmaels.

For the wider travel overview: Pembrokeshire.