Pembrokeshire

Wiseman's Bridge, Pleasant Valley and Stepaside

Although these villages are adjacent, they are quite different in character.

What links them is their industrial history. These pretty places would have looked quite different in the late 19th century when there were several coal mines around Wiseman's Bridge and Stepaside, and an iron works in the Pleasant Valley.

These used a system of tramway and railway to transport the heavy products to the beach at Wiseman's Bridge and through two tunnels to the harbour at Saundersfoot. It is still possible to walk half a mile or so uphill from Stepaside to see the remains of the Grove coal mine. The ruins of the iron works have been preserved in recent years and can be walked around.

Wiseman's Bridge is a tiny seaside place with one pub and a couple of caravan sites. It is linked by under-cliff tunnel to the beach at Coppet Hall.

Just to the north is the aptly named, Pleasant Valley, comprising large houses and small hotels, cleverly concealed caravan sites, and an old mill.

The wooded valley leads slightly uphill to Stepaside which houses a bird and animal park, a craft centre and the largest evidence of past mining activities.

	Walk along the sea wall at Wiseman's Bridge, and through the old railway tunnels to Saundersfoot
	The lovely Pleasant Valley hides an industrial past
	Part of the remains of the Stepaside iron works
	This possibly housed a beam engine at the iron works. The steps to the right lead to a footpath from Stepaside to the old coal mine (see below)
	The base of several large chimneys at the iron works (see picture below for how this looks from the top)
	The path to the coal mine passes above the ironworks, and large holes can be seen on the roof of this ruin showing where the chimneys used to be
	The overgrown remains of Grove Colliery are beside a footpath from Kilgetty