Milhav two

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Decided to go out for my last Slow Ways adventure of my holiday in the region. The weather was mild but overcast and visibility wasn't great. The forecast for later is the day was expected to be awful with a yellow weather warning in place for much of Wales for storm Betty.

I parked the van in a free spot behind the Tesco in Milford Haven and got the bus up to Haverfordwest. The bus was fairly frequent - every 30 minutes or so and was fantastic just to sit back and watch the world pass you by.

For the first section of the walk, I got my head down and did a bit of a march through the streets of Haverfordwest until I reached Merlins Bridge. From here all of the walk down to Johnston follows the existing train line on a fairly newly laid off road national cycle path (Number 4). There is a fair amount of variety for a cycle path with lots of twists and turns and a bit of low level gradient. This obviously wasn't an old train/tramline that most of the off road cycle paths are... leading to flat, straight and sometimes quite monotonous walks. During this leg there were a few gates that would have to be navigated if you are on wheels.

On arrival at Johnston I took advantage of the facilities and had a coffee and looked around a nearby charity shop. On exiting Johnston I took a paved right of way opposite the church down a small alleyway. This took me back onto the National Cycle network again. Further on, there are clear signposts splitting the cycle path with a public right of way straight ahead. It didn't look quite right in comparison with map as the right of way took a 45% route through the field and did not run alongside it. However it was well maintained and tarmac so I decided to walk down it regardless.

The path becomes fairly narrow in spots as there are fences either side and are becoming encroached by seasonal undergrowth. I stopped at the mast along the footpath to recharge my phone and ponder on the deviation from the right of way. It looked as though the nearby Bolton Hill quarry had extended there workings south east in 2009 and a definitive map modification order did not take place (to change the right of way legally). Something then happened in 2015 when the council submitted planning permission to do engineering works - presumably to build this right of way. I don't know whether it was intentional to build the path off the right of way and/or whether the rights of way team knew anything about it! I haven't reported this to the council as the right of way works and doesn't disadvantage my enjoyment of the walk.

After researching the above I had a few moments of chaos when I felt a bit of pain in my right leg. When I looked down a horse fly had hooked on and was having a nice meal of me. I brushed it off in frustration and maybe uttered a few expletives. I stepped back and stung my left leg in four spots on the nearby stinging nettles. A few more expletives may have come out of my mouth!

The right of way exits onto a quiet country lane that runs down to a busier road, where you branch left following the cycle path running adjacent to the road. This takes you into Tiers Cross, which from sight had a pub in the village.

The next section is entirely road based. It is safe to walk along the verges for a few miles towards Steynton. I think 2 cars passed me during this time. A few miles along, after crossing the railway line the road hits a junction on the edge of Steynton and Milford Haven. Care is needed to cross this road and walk along the pavement. After a short section, care is needed again to cross back over and take a right onto a quiet lane and under a railway line.

You arrive in the tiny hamlet of Priory. It will become immediately apparent why when you see the remains of the old Pill Priory standing in someone's garden. the priory was built in the late 12th Century and was the daughter house of St Dogmael's abbey. The priory was sold off in 1544 to private landowners following the dissolution in 1536. I was amazed how it just sat in someone's garden and life continued to revolve around it - just like having a bird bath in the front garden. I hope the photo I took reflects this with a traffic cone close by to help aid drivers, recycling bags were at the front of the driveway with the car parked further down alongside the house.

The last section of the walk is probably my favourite. It's an off road cycle path that runs alongside Hubberston Pill into Milford Haven and my end point. It gives glimpses of the Pill and has a few benches to sit down and enjoy the woodland tranquillity. It's less than a mile and is well used by dog walkers and people who have been shopping at the other end of the trail.

I had walked this path a few days earlier doing another Slow Ways and was intrigued by the jar lids that had been secured to the majority of the fence posts. As a guesstimate this has been done over 100 times and I couldn't work out there purpose. The route is owned by the Milford Haven Port Authority, so I sent them an email via there feedback tool on the website. It took me 15 minutes to compose a rather tongue in cheek email to provoke a response. Once sent I received an immediate undeliverable message to my annoyance. So instead I approached a lady walking towards me with her shopping trolley and asked her if she knew what the lids were for. She explained they were mini bird feeders and a retired couple had put them in place and come down the route regularly topping them up with bird seed.

After satisfying my curiosity, I ended the walk a happy man!

Overall the walk is highly recommended for walking or by wheels. the stop off at Johnston was nice to break the journey up and the path alongside Hubberston Pill is a definite highlight to begin/end your walk.

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