Burton, Llangwm and Hook
Burton, Llangwm and Hook
Burton is a small village overlooking the River Cleddau with a landing pontoon in summer and a popular waterside pub with a riverside beer garden.
Llangwm is an attractive old fishing village built around an inlet further upstream from Burton. Unusually for Wales, the normal pronunciation of the double ‘L’ isn’t used here. Llangwm is pronounced ‘Langum’.
Hook village is 1½ mile north of Llangwm.
Burton, Llangwm and Hook are all on the route of Pembrokeshire bus service 308 which connects to Haverfordwest bus station.
Until 1982, HMS Warrior was moored on the river opposite Burton. It was used as a floating pontoon for the naval fuel depot that once stood on the opposite bank. It was taken from Burton to Hartlepool to be renovated and refitted to how it would have been when it was the Navy’s flagship. It’s now at Portsmouth Harbour. There are photographs of The Warrior in The Jolly Sailor pub.
Llangwm was established by The Normans after they invaded south Pembrokeshire. They brought in dispossessed Flemish refugees and placed them in between themselves and the Welsh to the north!
Prior to this, local folklore suggests previous settlers were Viking raiders who overwintered on the Milford Haven waterway.
Hook was once busy with coal mining with dozens of small pits extracting anthracite. The last pit closed in 1959 and almost nothing remains to indicate where it was.
Activities
Burton – Sat right on the banks of the River Cleddau, Burton is a popular venue for all things water based. There are moorings for yachts and small watercraft on the pontoon outside the Jolly Sailor pub. Longer term moorings are available from Rudders Boat Yard who also run RYA courses for sail and power boats
Llangwm – The landing slip at Black Tar provides access to the river for small boat users at all states of the tide
Hook – Little Milford Woods, owned by The National Trust, borders the northern end of the village where a small car park can be found. These woods cover the high banks of the Western Cleddau which meanders around the village. For an interesting walk, go down to the bottom of Pill Road and take the old miners’ drove road over to Lower Quay Road
Food & drink
Burton – The Jolly Sailor at Burton Ferry has the perfect location right on the water’s edge provides an extensive lunchtime and evening menu. At the top of the hill is the Stable Inn, which offers a varied menu
Llangwm – There’s a pub, The Cottage Inn, providing food and a small village shop at Llangwm
Hook – There’s a small village shop in Hook
Accommodation
There are a few small camping & caravan sites nearby. There are one or two B&Bs and hotels in the vicinity and in nearby Haverfordwest. There are also a few self-catering cottages and chalets, especially in Burton. Search for accommodation