Llanstadwell, Refinery History Trail

This weekends’ short walk was from Waterston around the refinery perimeter via the Coast Path to Hazel Beach, returning to start along footpaths behind the village.

After a brief introduction to the refinery history, seventeen walkers set out from the main gate to the old Waterston Refinery.

The first section was along the road towards Milford Haven. Road walking can be boring so it was good to get this over at the start.

On reaching the junction with the Coast Path the route was past Venn Farm to the shoreline above Milford Haven.

Here the pier for the redundant mine depot at Newton Noyes was visible and the walkers were made aware of its function during WW2.

It was then onward along the fence line and an excellent view of an LNG tanker that was discharging on the jetty.

The group proceeded, passing over the walkways spanning the pipe lines and jetty road to a quiet beach where they stopped for lunch.

The mist had by now burnt away to reveal a sunny blue sky and after lunch the walk continued on the Coast Path to Hazel Beach.

Here the route left the Coast Path, and after a short climb up Hazel Bank road, took the bridal way leading back to Waterston.

The walkers arrived back at the start point by 2pm and thanked the leader for an enjoyable walk.

The leader hoped that they had not been to overwhelmed by the facts and figures on pipeline and refinery production that he had subject them to.

Walk leader

John Reeves