Dinghy Trail Under Construction

Mission Statement: An open sea passage from Fishguard to Newport and back

There are many lovely coves between Fishguard and Newport and around Dinas Head, with a chance of dolphins joining you.

About the Area: Unspoilt countryside…

Grading: We need to agree the definition, the grading will go here

Round Trip Distance: 14Nm

Approximate Time that the Trail will take in a Wayfarer or similar in F4 winds: 5 hours plus stops

OS Map or Chart: OL35 N Pembrokeshire, AC 1484 Cardigan Bay plans

Trail Details:

Launch at Goodwick Parrog or Fishguard Bay YC, Lower Town and head E along the coast, passing outside the Carreg Tomas outcrop just E of Castle Point. There are some interesting coves to explore on the way to Pwllgwaelod at the base of Dinas Island. Pwllgwaelod has a sandy beach and the Sailors Safety pub.

From Pwllgwaelod follow the coast around Dinas Head, watching out for wind shadows. On the east side of Dinas, pass the many birds on Needle Rock on te way into Cwm yr Eglwys, where there’s the remains of a church destroyed in the Royal Charter storm of 1859 – and an ice cream van (cash only!).

Between Cwm yr Eglwys and Newport, pass Aberfforest, a shingle beach with a waterfall  5 minutes walk up the stream and the possibility of camping.

The entrance to Newport estuary is at the southern end close to Cat Rock; once inside the channel is buoyed up to Newport Boat Club (toilets, showers, bar)

Trip Extensions:

Explore the coves!  And sail inside Carreg y Drywy rock on the north of Newport Bay

Launch Point Lat and Long:

Either Goodwick Parrog N 52°00.1544′ – W  4°59.4508′
or Lower Town, Fishguard N 51°59.8847′ – W  4°58.2880′

Lat and Long for integration with the RYA “Find My Nearest” service
Fishguard Bay YC N 51°59.8847′ – W  4°58.2880′

Launch Point What3Words:

Goodwick ///rocky.stadium.villager
FBYC ///notched.backpacks.hotel

Launch Information:

Public slipways, useable at all but the lowest spring tides

Costs to launch: Free

Tidal Information: The tides can reach 3 knots around Dinas Head, but are weak apart from that. Newport estuary is only accessible a couple of hours either side of HW (Milford Haven +0115). The tide flows NE from about HW -3 and SW from HW+3. So a good time to leave is around 3 hours before  HW

Best Tides: Lunchtime high tide = 12,13,14,15

Towing vehicle Parking: What3Words:
Goodwick: ///creamed.hints.amending or ///acquaint.really.bravery
Lower Town: ///proposes.opposites.steers

Towing vehicle Parking Information:

At Goodwick, pay and display parking with trailer in the Parrog car park, or free over the road behind Tesco.  At Lower Town, free parking in Skirmisher car park by the bridge. No overnight camping in either car park.

Trailer Parking:
The Parrog car park has bays reserved for vehicles with trailers.

Trailer Parking What3Words:

Trailer Parking Information:

Costs and things to know

Toilets:

Toilets What3Words: as car park

Toilets Information:

There are public toilets in Goodwick Parrog car park, on the quay at Lower Town.  There are also toilets and showers in Fishguard Bay YC and Newport BC.

Page Month Published: March 2025

Dinghy Trail Sponsor: