Hakin/Sandy Haven, Sunday, 6 February 2022
An urban/rural walk around Hakin walk probably didn’t stand out as an exciting one but I think the 16 walkers who turned out on a rather damp morning were pleasantly surprised.
The first loop started out from the road behind Tesco and a steep climb took us along a path overlooking Hubberston Pill and Goose Pill. Soon we dropped down onto a surfaced path and cycle track which leads to Lower Priory. Helen, one of our walkers, had lived here for some years and was able to give us a history talk about the 12th century Priory, which is in private hands, and the property her parents bought and turned into a pub.
The walk along a surprisingly busy narrow road brought us to the small hamlet of Liddeston and which led onto Havens Head. The footpath between a collection of quirky houses emerged at Tesco and the chance to use proper loos.
Heading along the short footpath to the Milford Fish Market and Docks we reached Hakin Point and had a short break for coffee overlooking the Haven waterway. A brisk walk up a hill to a closed off footpath involved a diversion where there had been some subsidence. Some decent signage here would have been helpful because the footpath is obviously going to be closed for a long time. Local knowledge got us back on track.
We passed a few more properties before reaching a promenade called Pointsfield which has more marvelous views of the Haven. At the western end we negotiated some steep steps and a walkway that clings to the wall to reach a small beach called Conduit where I’m reliably informed most of my generation of Hakin children learnt to swim.
Passing the impressive headquarters of the Conservancy Board and Milford Port Authority and the much older Hubberston Fort we soon reached Gelliswick Beach. While lunching we were able to look back at the fort which was built in the 1860s to defend the Haven and the Royal Naval Dockyard from possible French Invasion. This never happened but the forts were used in the 1st and 2nd World Wars.
The light drizzle had disappeared by now and we set off inland up a wooded valley to the road which leads from Hakin to Herbrandston. Our route continued through Milford Golf Club and the path alongside the first fairway was completed without the need to duck from any wayward golf balls. Originally this land was all part of a farm called South Hook: the larger part was acquired in 1950s to build the Esso Refinery and the footpath to Herbrandston was closed from 1957. An agreement between the new South Hook LNG and the Pembrokeshire National Park reinstated the footpath in 2016 with funding from National Resources Wales.
The footpath crosses the main access road to South Hook LNG and we walked on surfaced road leading to Herbrandston before turning left along a very muddy and slippery stretch leading to the coastal footpath. With Sandy Haven over on our right we then turned left on the last part of our ramble.
This was a relatively easy walk with the wind behind us bringing us back to Gelliswick Bay. A direct route through urban Hakin soon returned us to Tesco. A total of 10.5 miles was recorded and while most people headed home the two back markers, Val and Madeleine, and I were joined by 3 other walkers at the Harbourmaster on Mackerel Quay for a drink.
Liz
