Stackpole

Stackpole

The pretty little village of Stackpole is a few miles south of Pembroke, in between Freshwater East and Bosherston. The village has some pretty cottages and a good pub but is better known for the Stackpole Estate and Stackpole Quay nearby.

Picture: Bosherston Lily Ponds as seen from the terrace where Stackpole Court once stood

The pub, The Stackpole Inn, has a country cottage feel about it; quaint, surrounded by gardens and in a wonderful location. They serve food at lunchtimes and evenings. The quality home cooked food has earned them a place in many of the top guides including The AA Best Pubs for Food Lovers, the Michelin Guide, the Which? Pub Guide and Country Pubs & Inns of Wales. They use locally produced food and are part of the Pembrokeshire Produce scheme. The Stackpole Inn is a free house and serves Double Dragon and Best Bitter from Felinfoel, together with Reverend James from Brains plus a guest ale.

Picture: The woods west of Stackpole village are full of wild garlic in April and May

Interestingly, The Cawdors, who owned The Stackpole Estate, were keen to encourage sobriety amongst their tennantry, and until they departed in the 1960s the only places on the estate to have a drink were unlicensed 'shebeens'. But what was bad news for the drinkers on one landed estate was good news for the beer-sellers on another. Anyone with a property just over the 'border' from one of the dry estates could be guaranteed a steady income - which is one reason why there were four pubs in and around the village of Hundleton, all of them on the less sober-minded Orielton estate. One that still remains open is The Speculation Inn at Hundleton, A lively hostelry selling Felinfoel ales.

The Stackpole Estate was one of several grand country seats of the Scottish Cawdor family, whose main residence was Cawdor Castle at Nairn. Stackpole came into their possession when Sir Alexander Campbell, eldest son of the Lord of Cawdor, married Elizabeth Lort, heiress to the Stackpole Estate. It was a later Lord Cawdor of Castlemartin who led the attack on the 1,200 French troops that had invaded Fishguard in 1797. This event, The Last Invasion of Britain, is commemorated by a 100ft long tapestry on display at Fishguard Town Hall.

Picture: Part of The Last Invasion tapestry showing the news of unconditional surrender being brought to Lord Cawdor.

Most of the Stackpole Estate was requisitioned in the war to create a training ground for troops. Merrion camp still occupies this land. Unfortunately, this made the estate unviable and The Cawdors left to return to their Scottish estates. Crippling taxes on the empty mansion meant it was demolished in 1963, leaving only the outbuildings and the parkland that includes Bosherston Lily Ponds.

Picture: The National Trust's Stackpole Centre

The remnants of the estate were given to The National Trust who built the Stackpole Centre, which includes a school study centre, self catering cottages and extensive facilities for groups and conferences, which are adapted for use by disabled visitors.

Picture: The old coach house. All that remains of Stackpole Court.

The National Trust land includes the Lily Ponds that are a haven for wildlife with otters, herons, wintering wildfowl and over twenty species of dragonfly. Limestone cliffs from Stackpole Quay to St Govan's Chapel are an important site for breeding seabirds and the resident chough. There are two sheltered bays with open and wooded sand dunes, plus an older dune formation, Stackpole Warren, perched on the coastal plateau.

Picture: The stunning beach at Barafundle. Unspoilt even by a car park. The nearest one is half a mile away at Stackpole Quay.