Wiseman's Bridge and Stepaside

Wiseman’s Bridge is a tiny seaside hamlet with a rocky beach in between Saundersfoot and Amroth. It is linked to Saundersfoot by a series of three tunnels through which a narrow gauge railway once travelled carrying coal from the local mines to Saundersfoot Harbour.

The old railway line or dramway heads up the wooded valley to the Stepaside Iron works, now a historic ruin. The dramway has recently been resurfaced and makes an ideal off road cycle for children all the way into Saundersfoot – its surface is also suitable for wheelchairs. The valley through which it runs is called, appropriately, Pleasant Valley.

Heading along the coast path from Wiseman’s Bridge and before you reach the first tunnel, there are several grated cave entrances where coal was mined directly from the cliffs. These are now important bat residences. If you look over the railings on the other side, there’s a very interesting radial rock feature, a truncated fold, on the beach.