Pembrokeshire is a bucket-list destination for many tourists, which is why demand to own a home in this Welsh tourist hotspot has soared by 45% in the last year. However, cast your net beyond the normal tourist traps of adventure parks, castles and family festivals and there’s an opportunity to make some mind-blowing discoveries.
That’s because the coast of Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire sits around a dozen military forts which once defended Britain’s largest Royal Naval ship building dockyard from the strength of the French Navy. It was only after the outbreak of war with France in 1756 that the military gave serious consideration to defending the Haven and quickly built six forts.
One such Napoleonic structure is Stack Rock Fort which most seafaring visitors who often pass by know little about. This eerie abandoned island fort off the West Wales coast dates back to the mid 19th century and the long, winding, labyrinthine of corridors would have once been home to nearly 200 soldiers.
Having grabbed my sense of adventure one October morning, I set out to explore this overgrown, uninhabitable, and bewildering place that time has simply forgotten. These days the soldiers have been replaced by a flock of sea birds seeking shelter from the crashing waves, and a colony of seals now choose to sunbathe on its outer rocks at low tide.
The Day Trip:
My unique experience and journey begins at The Port of Milford Haven which handles over 30 million tonnes of cargo annually and which last year, supplied 85% of the UK's gas needs through its giant terminals. Arriving at the Haven Marina pontoon at 8:15am sharp for our excursion, we climbed aboard Pembrokeshire Boat Charters and a vessel called the ‘Overdale’, captained by Dave.
Arriving at the fort jetty at low tide and climbing its historic staircase, you soon find yourself inside the fortification which was built in two stages less than nine years apart.The inner 3-gun fort was built between 1850 and 1852, and then upgraded in 1859 with a new building that completely encased the original gun tower. The new fort was intended to resist and defeat the newer iron-clad steam-powered warships, travelling at speed, which were no longer dependent upon the wind or tide.
Disarmed in 1929, it was first placed on the market in 1932 and sold for just £160. Then back in 2005 it was sold once more for £150,000 but plans to restore the structure were short lived and it was soon put back on the market. The fort was finally sold again in 2021 for £191,000 to a community interest company. Stack Rock Fort CIC now plan to restore and preserve a Grade 2-listed building and scheduled ancient monument, which is also a site of Specific Historical Interest, as a residential activity centre for local service users and visiting tourists.
To undertake this project through the vehicle of a not-for-profit, the Fort with the help of local Phil Hedley, now provides an opportunity for likeminded explores to spend the day or night visiting the structure in return for a donation.
You can find out more an book a visit here: Stack Rock Fort
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