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Wales Online
5 days ago
- Wales Online
Secret beach with crystal clear waters that looks like it could be on a desert island
Secret beach with crystal clear waters that looks like it could be on a desert island It may not be as popular as other Pembrokeshire beaches like Saundersfoot or Tenby, but this beach is so secluded it could even be your very own private haven The secluded beach is located on the south west coast of the county (Image: Laura Clements) Pembrokeshire's beaches are so beautiful, the only bad thing about them is having to choose between them for a day out. And while you may think you know every inch of the Pembrokeshire coast path, it is likely you may have missed one special beach from your list. Now, it may not be as popular as other Pembrokeshire beaches like Saundersfoot or Tenby, but this beach is so secluded it could even be your very own private haven. Even better, the views are truly breathtaking here, with the beach providing a direct vista up the Milford Haven waterway. The name is Watwick Bay, nestled on the south-west coast of the county. Its sand is the softest, most golden of any beach you may have ever strolled on in Wales, and its crystal-clear waters boast that tropical-aquamarine colour. At Watwick Bay, it is not an unfamiliar sight to see yachts belonging to well-off people, who've moored up in the bay to enjoy picnics and sip wine here. If there ever was a place where you could pretend you were at the most exclusive beach on the continent, then this could be it. But, you don't have to own a yacht to have to get to and enjoy here. In fact, a walk to Watwick beach is a great way to soak in all the brilliant views the surrounding area have to offer. Located on the Dale peninsula and at the mouth of the Milford Haven waterway, Watwick Bay is a two-mile hike along the coast path from the village of Dale. On your way to the beach, you'll pass Dale Fort, which was constructed in the latter half of the 19th century to defend Milford Haven against a French invasion that never materialist. Those defence walls were later named Palmerston's Follies after Lord Palmerston, the Prime Minister of that time. Article continues below Once you reach Watwick Bay, you may find a beach all to yourself. But the views here are also quite something. The distant industrial skyline offers a stark contrast to the estuary's vibrant blues and greens. Turn your gaze in the opposite direction, and you'll be met with the sight of the Angle peninsula and the vast expanse of ocean beyond. The view of Dale in Pembrokeshire, where you can begin your walk to Watwick Bay (Image: Laura Clements) Nestled in between is Thorne Island's Victorian fort, another one of Palmerston's Follies, which has been transformed into one of Wales' most distinctive homes by tech entrepreneur Mike Conner. It's essential to check the tide times before venturing to the beach as high tide leaves little sand exposed, and you certainly wouldn't want to be caught out by an incoming tide. However, with careful planning and preparation, you'll be rewarded with one of Pembrokeshire's most stunning and tranquil experiences. The journey to the bay along a winding, tree-lined trail adds a real sense of adventure, making you feel as though you're the first person to stumble upon this hidden gem of a beach. The crystal-clear blue waters are so transparent that you can see the seabed and watch crabs darting across the sand. And thanks to its sheltered location, the water is perhaps a degree or two warmer than more exposed beaches. The tranquil sea of Watwick Bay in Pembrokeshire (Image: Laura Clements) But some may say that the best way to explore is to start at Dale and amble towards Dale Fort, pack a picnic and pause at Watwick, but then continue on your journey afterwards. You can extend your stroll towards the West Blockhouse, another Victorian structure, and the remnants of the concrete gun emplacements from World War Two. There's a circular route right around St Anne's head, approximately six miles in total, which takes in Mill Bay, a site of historical significance where King Henry VII landed in 1485 prior to the Battle of Bosworth, and the lighthouse at St Ann's Head. It's along these rugged rocks where the Sea Empress spilled 72,000 tons of oil into the sea. On clear days, you'll be treated to stunning views of Skokholm Island and Skomer further north, islands teeming with puffins, gannets, guillemots, and kittiwakes. Further on, you'll pass Frenchman's Bay and Welshman's Bay as you steadily make your way north to Westdale Bay. From here, you'll head back down to Dale. Article continues below Once one of Pembrokeshire's most important ports, Dale is now a hotspot for water sports, particularly sailing and windsurfing. It's also a great spot for a pint and an ice cream. Watwick Bay is one of those places where you can feel far away and escape reality yet be within walking distance to modern-day comforts. It really is worth the effort.
Wales Online
08-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Restaurant hailed one of the best in Wales forced to close after council say they will have to move on
Restaurant hailed one of the best in Wales forced to close after council say they will have to move on Paternoster Farm's founders said: 'This isn't just business—it's our life, our home, our kids' childhood. It's hard to understand why there's no room for that in the council's plans.' Paternoster Farm's restaurant will close at its current location in Hundleton at the end of the year (Image: Laura Clements ) An award-winning Welsh restaurant hailed as serving some of the very best food found anywhere in Wales will close later this year. Paternoster Farm in the village of Hundleton, Pembrokeshire has received rave reviews by the likes of the Good Food Guide and The Times, but its founder Michelle Evans has said that the acclaimed restaurant has been forced to shut after receiving confirmation that its lease has not been renewed by its landlord, Pembrokeshire County Council. According to Michelle Evans, the council has asked the business to move to another holdings in the county. The founder has expressed frustration at the council's handling of the situation, claiming the business' future was abruptly cut short when the site was offered to another party without consultation. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here . She said: "This peninsula means a lot to me. "The local authority are asking us to move to another of their holdings in north Pembrokeshire, irrespective of the fact we have built a business here that's tightly woven into the local community. Article continues below "Guests plan their holidays around dining with us, even booking their accommodation to be near to us. "The hospitality industry is tough, we have spent four years pouring time, money, our heart and soul into the restaurant. "We're just about getting there, and now we have to leave. There has been no conversation or negotiation to be had, by the time we were made aware, Paternoster Farm had already been offered to another party. "Our children are finding it particularly difficult to accept". Our review: Barely findable on a map is a restaurant serving up some of the best food in Wales Michelle Evans of Paternoster Farm in Hundleton, Pembrokeshire has expressed frustration over the council's decision (Image: Laura Clements ) She continued: "This isn't just business—it's our life, our home, our kids' childhood. It's hard to understand why there's no room for that in the council's plans." Michelle Evans, who decided to quit the rat race as a family law solicitor, took the plunge and bought the smallholding with her husband Leum. Entirely self-taught, Michelle started out with a beach hut and focused on street food. The venue, which is housed in the farm's former milking parlour, was created during the Covid-19 lockdowns and initially opened as a farm shop selling home-reared meat and pastries but then evolved into a restaurant. Over time, the business transformed a small farmstead into a hospitality destination and attracted praise from food critics and diners alike. You can read our review of Paternoster Farm here. The venue has featured in the Good Food Guide for three consecutive years and was recently profiled in The Times, which described it as "a rural gem reinventing Welsh dining." It has also received high-profile endorsements, including a glowing social media review from celebrity chef and broadcaster Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who praised its "sustainable ethos, warm hospitality and exceptional food." The venue celebrates the farm's own produce and has received rave reviews from celebrity chefs and diners alike (Image: Laura Clements/WalesOnline ) The restaurant's menu changes on a daily basis and celebrates the farm's own produce. It also employs around 12 staff members and sources produce from local suppliers. Although no official closing date has been set, Paternoster Farm is expected to remain open into the autumn. The team behind the venture has said they are now actively seeking a new site elsewhere in Pembrokeshire, but bookings can still be made via or through the restaurant's Instagram page @paternoster_farm. Michelle Evans said: "It's early days. We're still coming to terms with the news, and we're not sure what our next project will be, but we are keen not to lose momentum. "It will be in Pembrokeshire. Whether it's a restaurant, café, or pub—we're not ready to give up. We owe it to our brilliant staff and loyal suppliers to keep going." "If a new opportunity arises that needs us to act quickly, then we may close sooner, so come and eat with us while you still can". Article continues below WalesOnline has asked Pembrokeshire County Council for a comment.
Wales Online
05-05-2025
- Wales Online
Welsh restaurant in a former cowshed that's barely findable on a map got a rave review from The Times' food critic
Welsh restaurant in a former cowshed that's barely findable on a map got a rave review from The Times' food critic A rustic restaurant on a working farm in the heart of Pembrokeshire serves up some of the best food in Wales - Paternoster Farm serves sublime food from an old cowshed (Image: Laura Clements/WalesOnline ) A rustic restaurant on a working farm in Wales that Google Maps might struggle to find has received a rave review from the Times. Journalist and restaurant critic Charlotte Ivers visited Paternoster Farm, one of Wales' best restaurants, housed in a former cowshed and praised its culinary offering. Ivers explains how she travelled by public transport and taxi to reach the remote farm-based restaurant in the small village of Angle, one of the most westerly spots in Wales. It's a blink, and you'll miss its type of venue. There's no grand turning or fancy signage, just a modest signpost and what looks like a scruffy farm track veering off into the fields—hardly the kind of road you'd expect to lead to culinary greatness. Eventually, you'll find yourself in front of a humble cowshed, its whitewashed walls a little weather-worn, with bits of old farm kit artfully lying about like some accidental rustic design choice. There's a faded chalkboard pointing the way in, and a hazy glow of orange bulbs strung along the guttering, making the battered doorway feel a touch magical. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here The old milking parlour pipes have been kept and turned into a feature light (Image: Laura Clements/WalesOnline ) "As we arrived, my heart sank," Ivers writes. "This was a working farm, not a restaurant. We were in the wrong place, and we'd just waved goodbye to the only taxi driver within 50 miles. Then, I spotted a tiny sign on one of the barns. Article continues below "Inside, a chaotic collection of antique furniture, pampas grass hanging from ceiling beams, low lighting. Lambs bleating through the walls. A blackboard with a set menu of small plates. A wine list by the bottle, one red and one white by the glass." Run by former lawyer Michelle Evans, Paternoster Farm is a self-taught labour of love after Evans quit the rat race as a divorce lawyer. She took the plunge and bought a smallholding before initially starting with a beach hut and focusing on street food. And it's fair to say she's come a long way since then, winning rave reviews from punters and now the Times. Read our Wales' 50 Best Restaurants list, which Paternoster graces with their delicious presence, too. Michelle does all the cooking (Image: Laura Clements/WalesOnline ) Here, the locally sourced menu sings with the seasons, and the flavours are farm-fresh. We're talking roast Welsh mountain mutton shoulder, with cavolo nero, shallots and dill oil in the winter or mullet crudo with locally caught fish, lime and juicy peaches in the summer. In her rather glowing review, Ivers enthuses, "There's a fine balance between countryside authenticity and fashionable cooking. It works extremely well." And of Michelle's current culinary offerings? "She makes a first-class Jerusalem artichoke soup and a focaccia that's simultaneously crunchy and melty, served with a superb glob of crab meat butter." The crumbling beef brisket is described by Ivers as "hearty and rural yet elegant and cosmopolitan: the product of a big city lawyer transplanted to the rolling fields." Their only complaint was a glitch on the booking system which said they had to return their table after 90 minutes, which wasn't the case in fact. Read The Times review, here. Buffalo mozzarella and heritage tomatoes (Image: Laura Clements/WalesOnline ) From multiple rave reviews, it's clear that delightfully shabby chic Paternoster is all about the food, with no gimmicks or fuss, just seriously good ingredients crafted into delicious dishes. When your produce is this fresh and local, there's no need to overcomplicate things, and Michelle knows it. She lets the flavours do the talking. In a Wales Online review, our writer notes, "When you work this close to the very produce you put on a plate, there comes a deep and meaningful understanding evident in the way Michelle cooks and her food sings on the plates. It's a real treat to eat food cooked with so much respect." But if you're thinking of visiting Paternoster, don't hang about. With this kind of national spotlight, it won't stay a secret for long. Tables are already in hot demand, and now that the Times has declared it a must-visit, this off-the-radar cowshed restaurant is now firmly on the culinary map. Book now, or risk kicking yourself when you can't bag a table for months. Article continues below Get the restaurants latest updates here
