3.3 - MARLOES - MARTINS HAVEN
A short distance - 2miles / 3 miles if the Deer Park is walked / but Marloes Sands is an amazing area.
Near the west end of Marloes (YH) car park is Marloes Mere / a wetland area / where Medicinal Leeches were collected for use by doctors in the 18th century .
Marloes Sands - one of Pembrokeshires most remarkable coastal areas / majestic golden sands / beach - long and curving / a number of rocky outcrops and geological features. Excellent beach , best on a calm day at low tide.
The seaweed " Porphyra Umbilicalis" / can be found around the pools near the Raggle Rocks / washed and boiled for a few hours to make " Laverbread " .
At the northern end of the beach is Gateholm Island ( island of goats ) / a promontory Iron Age Fort / Old Red Sandstone in contrast to the coastal rocks / Difficult access to island and Albion Sands at low tide.
Albion Sands / named after The "Albion" - a paddle steamer wrecked on her delivery trip on April 19th 1837 / small part of ship still visible.
Grassholmn Island , 7 miles west of Skomer , is home to a huge population of Gannets . Trips around Grassholm , from Martins Haven / but be prepared for the strong aroma ! from 70,000 gannets.
An attractive coastline leads to the "Deer Park" , with its stone wall / formerly part of the St Brides Estate / enclosed by Lord Kensington in 1847/ removing the livelyhood for many in the Marloes region . The Deer where probably never resident.
This area was previously fortified , during the Iron Age (500BC) ,and is Wales largest Promontory Hillfort.
Skomer Island can be seen from the Deer Park partly obscured by Midland Island .
Skokholm is to the south west / both have puffins , manx shearwaters . A good population of storm petrels on skokholm + other sea birds. Skomer and Skokholm , can be visited from Martins Haven.
Seals can often be seen in the sheltered bays . In the evening Manx Shearwaters may be glimpsed , flying low over the sea , during the breeding season (may - sept). Forming Rafts of birds in St Bride's Bay - Broad Sound , before returning to their burrows.
Car Park - Marloes (nr YH)- footpath to coast ,
Martins Haven (NT).
Bus "Puffin Shuttle" , Marloes Village (Lobster Pot Inn ) , Martins Haven.