Birding at Tegfan

RazorbillTegfan’s a great base for bird watching and Pembrokeshire birders provide information and inspiration on-line.

Tegfan’s wi-fi connection will allow you to explore local sightings and benefit from local birders’ knowledge of the area. This guide to Dinas Island bird life comes from their web-site. (See blogroll)

Dinas Island

Ten minutes or so to the east of Fishguard, Dinas Island has great cliff scenery, an excellent circular walk and good birding.

Turn off the A487 at Dinas Cross and park in the public car parks at Pwllgwaelod  (SN003402) or Cwm-yr-Eglwys (SN016401) at either end of the “neck” of Dinas Island (which is not an island at all but a large circular headland). See map. Toilets are available at both locations.

At Cwm-yr-Eglwys there are views across Newport Bay and Divers, Grebes and Scoter are regular here in winter. At Pwllgwaelod the view is across Fishguard Bay and, again, Divers and Grebes are regular in winter. From either location the c.3mile circular walk around the “island” has great views but is very steep in places. Peregrine and Chough are usually seen and at Needle Rock there is a small colony of Guillemots and Razorbills. The valley across the neck of the island has thick cover and is well worth a look, particularly during the spring and autumn.

See photos here .

Click here for a link to Richard Crossen’s amazing photos of sea birds and here for his photos of North Pembrokeshire.

Of course, people staying at Tegfan won’t need the car parking information. Dinas Island is within easy walking distance of ‘home’.

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Autumn Rambles in Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire coast between Porthgain and Trefin

Pembrokeshire coast between Porthgain and Trefin  (Photo by Oliver Dixon)

You don’t have to be a member of The Ramblers Association to join the Pembrokeshire group’s walks as they offer three taster days before you have to sign up. They might, however, inspire you to join your local group and give your support to this admirable charity.  Click here to find out about The Ramblers’ Association’s ‘One coast for all’ campaign.

Here is a quick preview of the Pembrokeshire Ramblers’ Autumn Programme. Their friendly, welcoming website gives much more information and contact details.

  • 15th Sept:  Castlemartin Range
  • 22nd Sept: Aberieddy / Llanrhian
  • 28th Sept: Abermawr / Abercastle /Trefin
  • 29th Sept: Llawhaden – Gelli
  • 5th Oct: St Justinian’s / St David’s
  • 12th Oct: Kiln Park / Tenby
  • 13th Oct: Mynydd Caregog / Penparc
  • 14th Oct: Marros Mountain and Sands
  • 20th Oct: Priskilly Forest
  • 27th Oct: Bosherston / Stackpole

Be reassured. They pay proper attention to coffee stops and lunches.

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Seal Pups in September and October

SealPups PembrokeshireAtlantic Grey Seals can be seen throughout the year round the North Pembrokeshire coastline and it’s worth taking a light pair of binoculars with you just to check whether the shiny grey sphere you can see amongst the waves is a seal’s head or an old float from a fishing net. At the end of the summer, however, you can get a much better view of these big mammals as the young are born all along the shore-line near Tegfan and the mother seals can be observed fishing nearby and lumbering back on land to suckle their pups.

We have seen pups at the base of the cliffs round Dinas Head, on the Cwm yr Eglwys side, and even on the beaches between Fishguard and St Davids.

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Guerrilla Knitting in Fishguard

If you are already a guerrilla knitter come to Pembrokeshire for the first two weeks in September and you’ll be amongst friends.

Knitting Jazz

If you haven’t taken up knitting yet, you’ll be inspired!

The people of Fishguard and Goodwick have taken up knitting on an industrial scale as the whole town (young and old, male and female) goes knitting mad over the weekend of the AberJazz and Blues festival, when benches and bollards, trees and lamp posts all over the town will each have their own idiosyncratic knitwear cover.

The public face of the project, promoted by the Fishguard Arts Society, has included workshops teaching people to knit, as well as accompanied knitting in concerts and public readings.

Following an outdoor display during the last week of August, there will be a Cast-Off Exhibition in the West Wales Arts Centre from August 31st until Saturday 14th September where all of the art work can be appreciated.

Goodwick lifeboat men knitting

Goodwick lifeboat men knitting

You’ll also be able to visit Jane’s wonderful wool shop  on Fishguard High Street, enjoy the Pembrokeshire Craft Makers’ Exhibitions in Newport and St Davids and, of course, see the sheep that make all this possible.


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STOP PRESS!

We still have weeks available in September and are offering a discount for small groups. If you’re looking for a last minute holiday booking, check Tegfan’s availability and rates on http://www.westwalesholidaycottages.co.uk/tegfan. Walk the Pembrokeshire coast path, linger on the beaches, ramble in the Preselis or enjoy the Dinas pubs and restaurants in Newport in the quiet of late summer. 

You might ask why we are being so generous. Tegfan has just been completely refurbished and the building and decorating work took longer than planned. As a consequence  we were unable to accept bookings until very late in the season this year. A few lucky people will benefit!

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