Thursday 30 June 2016

Nolton Haven, Pembrokeshire

Nolton Haven is a hamlet halfway along the coast of St Bride's Bay in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is included within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Today the community is little more than a cluster of houses and a pub next to a shingle cove.

Nolton Haven Bay
You wouldn't think so to look at them now, but the picturesque villages of Nolton and Nolton Haven were once the centre of a thriving coal-mining enterprise. The Cliff and Folly veins were the most significant coal-producing seams in the area and between 1850 and 1905 several local collieries exploited the anthracite veins running out under the sea. A long tramway once ran from Nolton Haven over the hill to the Trefran Collieryin, although you wouldn't know it to look at the village today.

Nolton Haven was renowned as a small coal port and local coal was exported from this bay from the Medieval period right through until the early 1900s.

Looking at the bay today it is hard to imagine its industrial past, the water is crystal clear and there are no traces of coal or industrial waste on the sand or shingle. In short this sheltered bay makes a restful place to stop and enjoy fresh air and beautiful scenery.

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