04-05-2025
Tiny UK seaside village with once thriving harbour now a hidden gem
The small hamlet of Porthgain offers tourists a wonderful holiday destination off the beaten track with cultural touchstones and some amazingly fresh fish and chips
A tiny seaside village with a once-thriving harbour is now a hidden gem that offers the perfect holiday destination for visitors.
Hugging the Pembrokeshire coastline is the coastal hamlet of Porthgain, a once-thriving harbour village that is now considered a hidden gem that has plenty to offer visitors despite its smaller size. Tucked into a small valley that faces the Irish Sea, Porthgain is protected by a rugged coastline.
As its time as a harbour faded over time, new industries and attractions have emerged to keep a steady influx of tourists visiting the area. Today visitors to the small hamlet can enjoy the local Harbour Lights Galley which vows to bring "the best of Welsh art" to the area.
"There is a wonderful mixture of styles and mediums available from some of the best artists Wales has to offer," Welsh Slate Water Features said on its website. "Interestingly the Gallery is located in what was once the manager's office for Porthgain brickworks."
Pembrokshire local Alun Davies has also opened his own gallery in the village that features his own artwork. "His love of Pembrokeshire is evident in his beautiful landscape paintings which capture the essence of the Welsh coastline and countryside," the website added. "Alun's beautiful Pyrenean mountain dog Sion is a local celebrity and a visit to Porthgain wouldn't be complete with giving Sion a fuss."
After taking in the scenic beauty of the area, visitors can tuck into Fish and Chips from the Shed Bistro that offers fresh local fish caught that day and cooked just yards away from the sea. Though, make sure you are keeping an eye out for seagulls.
The history of Porthgain stretches through the centuries, according to the website and offers a treasure trove of cultural touchstones for people curious to know more about that region of Wales. The website said: "In the early 1900s the harbour was extended to allow more and bigger ships in for loading and the Ty Mawr brickworks were built to manufacture bricks out of waste material from the quarry.
"This included a continuously burning Hoffman Kiln for burning the bricks. Production shifted from 1912 to 1931 into crushed road stone, and this was used for road surfaces all over the UK. The crushed dolerite stone is a similar material to the bluestones found at Stonehenge. Mining and industrial works in general ceased at the location in the 1930s."
Those wanting to visit Porthgain can make their way from both St David and nearby Fishuard. A shuttle bus that operates with hikers is also available for those wanting to make their way to the hamlet.
Those able to drive out to the village can also make use of free parking in the centre of the hamlet.
