Fishguard is a charming coastal town in West Wales best known for its picturesque fishing harbour. The town has a rich maritime history including tales of pirates and smugglers.
It was infamously the site of the ‘Last Invasion of Britain’ when the French unsuccessfully landed here in 1797, a story you won’t be able to miss when exploring the town.
Neighbouring town Goodwick has grown so close that the two are essentially one, having been governed by the same town council since 1934.
Fishguard is best known for its ferry port which has regular departures to Ireland, however, it's become a compelling destination in its own right and is one of my favourite places to visit in Pembrokeshire.
Where To Stay in Fishguard
The Abergwaun Hotel (££) - A newly refurbished hotel in the heart of Fishguard with modern and comfortable rooms at an affordable price.
Where To Eat in Fishguard
- The Royal Oak - A pub restaurant in Fishguard with an extensive menu of British food. Also an important landmark, more on this later.
- The Rose and Crown - Excellent pub food just over in Goodwick, especially good for Sunday lunch.
- The Gourmet Pig - A cafe and deli known for their delicious ciabattas.
Map of Things To Do in and Around Fishguard
Things To Do in Fishguard
1. See the 'Last Invasion' tapestry
The Last Invasion Tapestry was made by 80 local women in 1997 as a way to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the last invasion of Britain which took place in Fishguard in 1797.
It’s over 30m in length and took four years to complete. Today, the tapestry is housed in a dedicated gallery in Fishguard Library.
The tapestry tells the story of the invasion which took place in Fishguard when French forces came ashore but became stranded and were abandoned by the rest of their squadron, resulting in their eventual surrender. It tells every step of the tale, including how a local lady, Jemima Nicholas reportedly locked them in a church.
The tapestry has been embroidered in a medieval style, similar to the famous Bayeux Tapestry in England which depicts the Battle of Hastings in 1066. It’s completely free to see and there are information leaflets that add more context to each scene.
2. Follow the Marine Walk
The Marine Walk is a circular walking route in Fishguard around the headland and through the town. The first part of the walk has excellent views of Lower Town and during the second part, the breakwater and the Preseli Hills come into view.
There are a few picnic benches dotted along the route or you can optionally divert to stop at Ocean Lab Aquarium over in Goodwick.
The path is well signposted, with the start point down the side of The Gourmet Pig deli (make sure to grab a ciabatta from here). The walk is only 1.5 miles (2.4km) long and took me about 45 minutes to complete, but could be done faster with fewer photo stops.
3. Kayak around Fishguard Bay
One of the best ways to explore the coastlines around Fishguard is by taking a kayak around the bay. You can do this by yourself or with a guided kayak tour.
If you have your own kayak or paddleboard, head down to Fishguard Lower Town where there's a free car park by the harbour with two different launching points depending upon where the tide is.
When you are out in the bay, I recommend that you head East (right) to explore the caves in the cliffside. If you head West (left) then you might find yourself in the path of some rather large ferries.
As I didn’t have my own kayak, I took a tour with Kayak King. They provided all of the gear and two guides took us out on a 2-hour trip. They told us stories about the town, pointed out wildlife, and took us to some caves. This is a very family-friendly activity, especially for newbie kayakers.
4. Visit Fishguard Fort
Fishguard Fort was built in the 18th century after an American privateer named Stephen Manhant held the harbour town random and destroyed some of the buildings.
Two years later, the fort was built on Castle Point overlooking Lower Town and the harbour with eight cannons at the time.
Today, the fort is managed by CADW and is free to visit. Although only the ruins of the fort remain, its strategic location provides a beautiful panoramic view across Fishguard Bay. You’ll also find four of the original cannons, now restored.
You can walk from the town but it's quite a steep hill near the fort. Alternatively, there's a car park just a 3-minute walk from the fort which is also free.
For a full history of the fort and visiting information, see my full guide to visiting Fishguard Fort.
5. Visit the pub where the Last Invasion Treaty was signed
The Royal Oak in Fishguard might seem like you’re typical British pub, but it’s actually a building of historical significance to the town. The last invasion of Great Britain (see point no.1) ended with French invaders signing a peace treaty with British Soldiers, this treaty was signed in the bar area of the Royal Oak Inn.
The bar has been refurbished and now offers an extensive but reasonably priced food menu plus a range of local ales. One of the ales usually on offer is Jemima's Pitchfork, a golden ale made by Glamorgan Brewing Company that references Jemima Nicholas, the heroine of the last invasion story.
It is said that Jemima single-handedly rounded up 12 French invaders and locked them in a church overnight until the British army arrived. Who knew that enjoying a beer in a local bar could be so cultural?
6. Ocean Lab Aquarium
The Ocean Lab Aquarium (also known as the Sea Môr Aquarium) across in Goodwick is where you can see and learn about marine animals usually found in Welsh waters.
I don't typically recommend a lot of animal-based activities, but the aquarium is run by a charity called Sea Trust Wales whose goal is to study the animals and help take care of them.
They are also engaging with the local community to improve awareness and show the public how they too can help improve the habitats for animals living around the Welsh coast.
Some of the animals you can expect to see here include pipe fish, lobster, jellyfish, and octopus.
It’s open 6 days per week (except Thursdays) in the summer holidays and you can book a guided tour here. There’s also the Ocean Lab café open year-round here.
Things To Do Near Fishguard
7. Visit an Iron Age Village at Castell Henllys
Castell Henllys is a great family day out near Fishguard where you'll step back in time at the reconstruction of an Iron Age village on the exact site where it once sat around 2,000 years ago.
You’ll get the chance to explore life-size roundhouses where costumed villagers will show you how they lived with craft demonstrations, a guided tour, a slingshot, and some ancient instruments.
There are two sessions, morning and afternoon with all of the activities repeated in both. I recommend visiting around 10.30am or 2pm to get the most from your visit. I attended near the end of a session and missed quite a lot of things.
Castell Henllys is open from April to October and costs £7 for adults or £5 for children.
8. Enjoy the sunset at Strumble Head Lighthouse
Watching the sunset from Fishguard is an incredible experience in itself, but for something really special, I recommend that you head up to Strumble Head lighthouse. Strumble Head lighthouse is not open to the public, although it’s still a functional automated lighthouse.
Whilst you can#t enter the lighthouse, there’s an old WW2 building that was part of a secretive microwave communications project which has now been remodelled into an observatory for spotting marine wildlife. From here, you can spot dolphins, porpoises, and sea birds during the day (although not a lot to see near sunset).
The easiest way to get here is by driving, although keep in mind that the roads are very narrow. There’s also a bus from Fishguard called the Strumble Shuttle which goes here twice per day. Some people like to get the shuttle there and then walk back. Find the latest times here.
If you’re feeling energetic, the Strumble Head Circular trail is a popular walking route which takes around 3 hours.
9. Go hiking in the Preseli Hills
If you fancy trading in the cliff views for some greener terrain, the Preseli Hills are right on your doorstep from Fishguard.
There are plenty of walks to choose from in the Preselis, but the most famous is the Golden Road which is a 7-mile walk from Bwlch Gwynt to Foel Drygarn encompassing the highest point in the hills, as well as archaeological sites such as the burial site at Foel Feddau and two quarries where it’s suggested that the bluestones for Stonehenge came from.
Just remember to save enough energy for the return as this is a linear route and not a circular trail. Find out more about the Golden Road here.
10. See an ancient burial chamber at Pentre Ifan
Pembrokeshire is full of interesting neolithic tombs and Pentre Ifan is one of the most interesting I’ve visited. There is an enormous rock perched on top of three upright rocks which would have originally been covered with an Earth mount as a tomb for the dead.
How they managed to get this gigantic 5-metre-long rock up there is beyond me but it’s certainly interesting to think about and even more impressive that it’s remained balanced for around 5,000 years
Today, the ancient monument is in the care of CADW and is free to visit. There are also beautiful views of the surrounding countryside from here which is why several groups were enjoying a picnic when I visited (the first time I’ve witnessed a picnic in a tomb).
There is a layby right outside where you can park. Pentre Ifan is located fairly near Castell Henllys so I would recommend that you visit both of them together.
11. Dyffryn Fernant Garden
Dyffryn Fernant is a huge 6-acre garden that's open to the public. It’s split into several areas showcasing seasonal plants, exotic flowers, an orchard, meadows, ponds, and more.
It's not your typical public garden since most of the ground was previously rocky or boggy land. This meant that a huge amount of work has been undertaken to create the now-beautiful garden. it was even featured on BBC Gardeners World as an example of gardening against the odds.
Entrance costs £7 for adults with children free. Keep in mind that it's only open in the afternoons and is closed on Saturdays. Find out more about visiting here.
Related Questions
Is Fishguard Worth Visiting?
Yes, Fishguard is worth visiting and makes a great place to base yourself whilst exploring West Wales. You can kayak or paddleboard around Fishguard Lower Town, see a well-known tapestry, visit an old fort, and experience some great viewpoints along the Marine Path.
Does Fishguard Have a Beach?
No, Fishguard does not have a beach. The nearest beach to Fishguard is Pwllgwaelod, however, the best beaches in the area are Poppit Sands to the north and Aberdeiddy to the south.
Can You See Ireland From Fishguard?
No, you can’t see Ireland from Fishguard, although if you hike up the nearby Preseli Hills, you can often make out Wicklow Hills in Ireland on a clear day.
Published: 9 August 2022 · Last updated: 29 September 2023