Wiseman’s Bridge is a tiny seaside village with a rocky beach in between Saundersfoot and Amroth. It is joined to Saundersfoot by a series of three tunnels through which a narrow-gauge railway once travelled carrying coal from the local mines to Saundersfoot Harbour.

The old railway line heads up the wooded valley to the Stepaside Iron works, now a historic ruin, the pathway leads through the valley, known as Pleasant Valley.

This valley was a hub of industrious action from the 14th to the 19th century, as it was an essential part of the Pembrokeshire coal field, at the time there were 12 working collieries in this area. Since then, Wisemans Bridge was used as a practice beach for D-Day landings, which Winston Churchill witnessed himself.

It’s hard to visualise now, as very little remains apart from the old ironworks at Stepaside and the railway tunnels. If you head along the coast path from Wiseman’s Bridge but before you reach the first tunnel, there are several grated cave entrances where coal was mined directly from the cliffs, these are now used as bat habitats. If you look over the railings to the other side, there’s a very fascinating radial rock feature, a truncated fold, on the beach (as shown in the photo above).

Wiseman’s Bridge Beach

Wiseman’s Bridge beach is a wide but rocky foreshore backed by a pebble bank. It is possible to walk all the way to Amroth or Saundersfoot along the beach during a very low tide, perfect for a spot of rock pooling to pass away the time.

Activities

Off-road cycling is available along the pathway that links Stepaside Ironworks with Wisemans Bridge, on to Coppet Hall and then Saundersfoot, its surface is also suitable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. There is the opportunity to hire bikes from Good Trails at Coppet Hall, as well as wetsuits, kayaks and paddleboards.

Attractions

The remnants of the Stepaside Ironworks and Colliery stand as a testament to the region’s industrial past. Among the ruins, the Engine Blasting House and the Casting House remain well-preserved. It’s a place where history whispers through the rusted structures, inviting visitors to explore its storied past.

Food and Drink

The Wisemans Bridge Inn is located on the road just above the beach. It is a traditional pub, with a cosy bar and restaurant, it is a great place to eat and admire the view.

Lan y Môr, previously Coast restaurant, brings together Hywel Griffith, the man behind Michelin-starred Beach House in the Gower, with former Head Chef at award-winning Grove of Narberth, Gerwyn Jones.

They want you to embrace the ‘hwyl’ in life through great Welsh food and cooking, with the freshest, natural and nourishing dishes, prepared with love and attention, it’s a match made in Wales.

Walks and wanders around Wiseman’s Bridge

Walking along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path in either direction is worthwhile, as is exploring inland up to the Ironworks along the Heritage walk pathway.

One direction of the coast path follows the old tramway to Saundersfoot along an elevated seawall and through some superb tunnels. Whereas heading the opposite direction towards Amroth has some stunning panoramic views out over the bay, from Pendine to Monkstone point.

The Heritage Walk is a short walk taking in the historic industrial sites of Stepaside Ironworks and Grove Colliery, offering an intriguing peek into Pembrokeshire's industrial past as well as beautiful views of the local landscape.

Places to stay

Why not take a look at our Puffin Cottage Holidays amazing properties in Wiseman’s Bridge. The Cottage has unrivalled sea views from every room. The Hollies, and St Helens Apartments are setback in the countryside with peaceful surroundings but within a short walk of the beach and the coast path.

About us

Based in South Pembrokeshire, Puffin Cottage Holidays are a family run business, with a wealth of knowledge on the area and the local attractions and have been successfully letting holiday accommodation for over 15 years.

We aim to provide our customers with excellent service before, during and after your holiday, making your break away from home as enjoyable, relaxing and hassle free as possible. We understand that you may lead a busy life which is why we make ourselves available out of hours and on weekends, so that we can help you find your perfect holiday at a time convenient to you and if there is anything we can do to make your holiday more special just let us know.

Remember we specialise in all sorts of properties whether you are looking for Sea Views Pet Friendly, Character, Rural, Hot Tubs, Lodges, Apartments, Cottages, Pods and keep close to our website for the best late deals.

If you have a property you are looking to holiday let, please see our Property owners page and contact us for more details. Our current properties are predominantly based in Tenby, Saundersfoot, Penally and surrounding areas therefore access to Pembrokeshire’s award-winning beaches is never too far away!