Angle

Angle looking back from the east

Having just enjoyed a very nice walk around Freshwater West, we have moved onto Angle, where after a nice lunch in the cafe we are heading east around Angle Bay towards Milford Haven

As we get closer to the headland we see an island with a rectangular building on top - what can it be?

Close up it is revealed as Thorne Island with a fort on top dating from the 1850s, an era when there was great concern about the expansionist ideas of the French Emperor Napoleon III. The fort was converted into a hotel in 1947 and in 2001 there were plans to spend four million pounds to reopen the hotel with a five star rating and a cable car to allow access from the mainland. These do not seem to have materialised.

We continued around the corner into Milford Haven, where another fort sits on a small island in the middle of the waterway. This is Stack Rock Fort.

It was built in 1850-52 as a three gun fort and upgraded in 1859 with a new building that completely encased the original gun tower. It was one of many fortifications against an attack by the French, and specifically to defend  the Royal Naval Dockyard at Pembroke Dock. It is now derelict, but you can buy it for a mere £400,000. More information here.

At this point we decided to retrace our steps to Angle and to then continue westwards round to Angle Point, where there is a picturesque ruined watch tower.

There were many wildflowers on the headland, but all defied our ability to identify them. Suggestions would be gratefully received.

Conditions: warm and sunny.

Distance: maybe 4 miles.

Rating: four stars. A very interesting and picturesque walk.