Photographs of Cwm yr Eglwys

Cwm Yr Eglwys is a beautiful sandy cove at the Northern base of Dinas Island, which is situated between Fishguard and Newport in Pembrokeshire.

Cwm yr Eglwys beach and village are accessed via a windy, narrow, country lane, which leads from the main road (A487) to the public car park (charged in the summer months)

There is an alternative route through Dinas, but be warned this is incredibly steep with a couple of very nasty bends on it (so best avoided).

Directly above Cwm yr Eglwys beach is the remains of the old 12th Century church of St. Brynach. Now only the west wall remains and the graveyard, Cwm yr Eglwys church was destroyed during a violent storm in October 1859.

This is quite significant date in history, for who would have thought that a little village like Cwm yr Eglwys would have been the catalyst which marked the beginning of official weather forecasting in this country.

Only the west wall of the St Brynach’s church remains standing along with the gravestones of local folk buried centuries ago. This church is now the focal point of this very picturesque Pembrokeshire cove.

The beach at Cwm Yr Eglwys is a shingle and pebble beach, with a small shallow stream running down the right hand side, and into the sea. On the opposite side of the cove there is a small waterfall. There is also a slip-way for boat users all year round, and even a boat park.

Being at the northern base of Dinas Island, Cwm Yr Eglwys is a great place to join the Pembrokeshire coastal path. From Cwm Yr Eglwys, you to walk round Dinas Island to Pwll Gwaelod (another beautiful Pembrokeshire cove), or further on towards Fishguard.

Alternatively, you can walk to Newport Parrog, or Newport Traeth Mawr (beach) where you have spectacular views looking across Newport bay to Dinas Island.

You can leave your car at Cwm yr Elwy’s and walk around Dinas Head (via Dinas island) to Pwllgwelod beach, here you can enjoy a well earned rest in The Old Sailors pub and restaurant before cutting back through the valley to Cwm yr Eglwys. The whole walk is just over 3 miles.

The views from Cwm yr Eglwys back to Newport bay are fantastic. The bay is relatively sheltered which is great for sailing and boating enthusiasts.

Many of Cwm yr Eglwys residents are keen sailors, so much so that they host their own highly competitive regatta during the summer months.