The Iron and Stone Trail
Take a walk among fascinating artefacts of a long and very real history.
4,000 year old standing stones to modern sculptures, memorials to works of art.
The Iron and Stone Trail
Fascinating artefacts of a long and very real history
A good place to start the Iron and Stone Trail from Fishguard and Goodwick train station (free parking) find the station cat and stroke her before setting off. Begin the walk by turning left out of the station; across the road on the far side of the bridge over the railway see the memorial to those who worked on this railway. Continue up the hill, look across the road in front of you to see the list of rescues achieved by the local lifeboat crew since 1858. Go right, along Quay Rd towards the Fishguard Bay Hotel and find a short row of former gas lamps to light the street. On the left look for the beginning of what is called the zig-zag path by which you climb the cliff side onto New Rd. Turn right and follow signs to Burial chamber.
Return to the centre of Goodwick and go back across the railway bridge; see the single track that was once part of a much larger railway terminal to carry the imports of livestock from Ireland and other vital supplies. Time was when London to Fishguard boat train was a first leg in the fastest link between London and the New World.
At the entrance to the ferry terminal see the large anchor and opposite a sculpture by John Cleal of a fishing net. Nearby is the workshop of another internationally renowned sculptor, Darren Yeadon.
Continue towards Fishguard along the seaward side of the footpath and see the mosaics of Fishguard and Goodwick. Climb the steps at the end of the beach area; at the top turn left so that the bay is on your left. After 11m see a new sculpture “Sunrise” a joint project with a Japanese sculptor sunrise sculpture
Continue round “Marine Walk” and spot the set of iron steps make from scraps from a wrecked ship.
You will soon see the stone circle marking the Gorsedd stone circle that forms a central part of the Eisteddfod held in Fishguard in 1936.
On your way towards the town centre see the decorative fence panels on your left as you reach the shopping area called Golden Mile. Go straight across into Ropewalk – so named as the making of ropes for ships being constructed in Lower Fishguard began here. In front of you there is a special gate to commemorate the centenary of the Harbour. Turn back to Golden Mile, go across the road to find the memorial to D J Williams, respected teacher and co-founder of Plaid Cymru, and another marker to the last invasion.
Turn left in the centre of Fishguard to find St Mary’s church. Outside the front wall is a memorial stone to Jemima Nicholas, heroine of the last invasion. Inside the church, as well as abundant stained glass windows see the oldest piece of stonework in town in the north wall.
In the entrance to the Town Hall look for the original stone pillars of the entrance. Explore the Town Hall for other memorials and items of interest, as well as the amazing last invasion tapestry, upstairs.
Outside the Town Hall turn right and first right to find a memorial to Sir John James Hamilton, noted benefactor. Back to the main road, turn right and go down the steep hill to Lower Town. On the left is a large former warehouse, now the home of our local Sea Cadets corps. Across the river Gwaun
