WEST ANGLE BAY

Landowner

The Angle Estate, the majority of the land is privately owned.
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority own the car park and picnic site and lease the foreshore.
The land and foreshore around East Blockhouse is under military ownership (DERA).

Facilities

Car Park.
Public toilets.
Public Telephone.
Café.
Picnic Area.
Steep narrow ramp to beach (not suitable for boat launching).
A boat can be taken to the hotel on Thorn Island, the public telephone should be used to contact the hotel to send a boat.

Description

The site lies within West Angle Site of Special Scientific Interest and is in a candidate Marine Special Area of Conservation. The site has complex geological structures and is important in understanding the glacial and interglacial chronology of Wales. The rocky shores of West Angle provide a wide variety of foreshore habitats, it is one of the richest sites for flora and fauna in south west Wales. Among the important organisms at the site are the cushion stars, one of which is only found in nine sites in the whole of Britain. An extremely rare marine ostracod normally associated with warmer Mediterranean waters is also found.
The chimney adjacent to the caravan park is what remains of the old brick works. Bricks were made here and shipped out from the beach.
The cannon in the car park weighs 18 tonnes and was removed from the sea below Chapel Bay Fort, part of the Victorian fortifications built in the area.
Thorn Island was built in 1842, the first of the Victorian fortifications to be built in the area.
The area around West Angle Bay has very interesting archaeological features including ancient burial sites. Artefacts may be found on the beach, these should be reported to Cambria Archaeology or Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Important Information

The beach and foreshore are heavily studied and of scientific importance, please take extra care when carrying out any activity in the area, nothing should be removed from the rock pools or shoreline.
Access from the car park is along the coast path, please keep to the path. This is especially important when passing through MOD land.
Visitors should be aware that the coast path can pass very close to steep cliffs.
Children should be kept under close observation at all times.
The coast path west does not have an exit suitable for public use for 6 km.
Visitors using the tidal zone must familiarise themselves with its movements for the day.
Dogs should be kept under control so as not to cause a disturbance to other people, wildlife or livestock.
Fires should not be lit and camping is not allowed unless on designated sites.
Cycling is not allowed except on roads or bridleways.
The beach is cleaned by Pembrokeshire County Council. There is a Coastcare group who carry out voluntary beach cleans.

Useful Contact Numbers

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park – 01437 764636
Milford Haven Coast Guard – 01646 690909
Countryside Council for Wales - 01437 766646
Cambria Archaeology - 01558 823121
Thorn Island - 01646 641225
Pembrokeshire County Council - 01437 764551
Coastcare Group - 01646 661225

IN AN EMERGENCY USE THE PUBLIC TELEPHONE IN THE CAR PARK