Neyland

Rails, Quay and Estuary

The broad-gauge rails that ring the quay were designed by Brunel, and they are now safety barriers. They recall the railway and Irish packet service that shaped modern Neyland. The packet service ended in 1906, but the railway remained until 1964; Brunel Quay was regenerated in the 1980s. The marina sits on the old railway yard. From Brunel Quay, the Brunel Trail reaches Haverfordwest in 9.5 miles, following the former railway route through Westfield Pill and Johnston.

You are on the north bank of the River Cleddau, at the upstream end of the Milford Haven estuary, looking across the water at Pembroke Dock. There's a marina, wooded creeks, and a lot of estuary.

A Pub and a Waterside Meal

The Coburg Inn on the High Street is a drinkers' pub with boat pictures on the walls. It serves real ale and no meals, only snacks, but you can fetch a Chinese or fish and chips from along the road and eat it in the pub with a pint. There's a beer garden.

Follow the Coast Path towards Hazelbeach for a waterside meal at Ferry House Inn. The same family has run the inn for over 60 years; the conservatory restaurant overlooks the Cleddau and serves freshly cooked food using Pembrokeshire produce. The bar offers a choice of real ales and local craft beers.

From Marina to Trackbed

On Brunel Quay, Neyland Yacht Haven has a cafe and restaurant. Bikes are available to hire at the marina, and two Haven Pods float in its upper basin.

The Brunel Trail is mostly off-road, with tarmacked stretches, minor road crossings and a short traffic-calmed road section beside the marina. It passes through Westfield Pill Nature Reserve, where herons and otters have been recorded, before continuing via Johnston to Haverfordwest. Information boards on Brunel Quay describe Neyland's railway and port history.

Rise and Retreat

What used to be here was a lot. Modern Neyland dates to 15 April 1856, when the South Wales Railway opened its terminus here after Brunel chose the site. The old cottages were levelled for the railway. A Brunel-designed pontoon served traffic to Ireland, and a steamship route to Portugal and Brazil began in 1858. The name New Milford lasted until 1906, when Irish traffic moved to Fishguard. The terminus closed under the Beeching cuts in 1964.

The Brunel Statue

A bronze statue of Brunel was stolen from its plinth in Neyland's Hotel Gardens in August 2010. A recast made from the original mould was unveiled there in April 2013.