Freshwater East is a village in
Pembrokeshire,
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
. The majority of the village is on a cliff overlooking a bay. It is approximately from
Pembroke by road, and south of
Lamphey
Lamphey ( cy, Llandyfái ) is both a village, a parish and a community near the south coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales, approximately east of the historic town of Pembroke, and north of the seaside village of Freshwater East. The 2011 census re ...
, and is in the
parish
A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one o ...
and
community
A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place, norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, village, ...
of Lamphey. Freshwater East is the site of a Green Coast Award Beach.
History
There is evidence of prehistoric occupation to the east of the village, where there is an earthwork.
Freshwater is marked on a 1578 parish map, but apparently as a coastal place, rather than a parish.
The historic name for the bay is cy, Porth Lliw, and this is still in occasional use today.
In more modern times, the stream would provide fresh water for ships, giving it its name. In Victorian times it became established as a bathing venue.
The beach is named as Freshwater East on a pre-1850 parish map, with little sign of a settlement, apart from a large house named Portclew (probably built around 1800;
the name is a form of the bay's historic Welsh name), and a chapel.
In 1860, county horse races were held on the beach.
The 2011 census population was 250.
Situation
The village is on the
Wales Coast Path
The Wales Coast Path ( cy, Llwybr Arfordir Cymru) is a designated long-distance trail which follows, or runs close to, the coastline of Wales.
Launched in 2012, the footpath is long and was heralded as the first dedicated coast path in the wor ...
and in the
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park ( cy, Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro) is a national park along the Pembrokeshire coast in west Wales.
It was established as a National Park in 1952. It is one of three national parks in Wales, the others b ...
.
To the west is
Trewent Point, a
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), covering some 64 hectares.
Amenities
A coastal bus service connects with
Pembroke and Pembroke Dock, and the surrounding area including
Lamphey railway station on the
Pembroke Dock branch of the
West Wales Line operated by
Transport for Wales Rail
Transport for Wales Rail Limited, branded as Transport for Wales and TfW Rail ( and ), is a Welsh publicly owned train operating company, a subsidiary of Transport for Wales (TfW), a Welsh Government-owned company. It commenced operations of t ...
. Trains stop on request.
Surfing is possible in winter, and the beach is popular in summer. There is a cafe, toilet and parking.
''The Freshwater Inn'' is the village pub, serving food. The dunes, known as ''The Burrows'', are a nature reserve.
See also
*
List of beaches in the United Kingdom
References
External links
Surfing at Freshwater East
{{authority control
Beaches of Pembrokeshire
Villages in Pembrokeshire
Coast of Pembrokeshire