With a most picturesque coastal location, Fishguard provides an excellent base for a self catering cottage in south west Wales, on the doorstep of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

The town is divided into two parts, Lower Fishguard, usually called ‘Lower Town’ which is thought to be its original site where the River Gwaun runs into the sea, and the main town of Fishguard, which is situated on higher ground to the south.

Lower Town is a picturesque fishing village with pretty cottages clustered around the tidal quay and along the north side of the valley. Here you can watch the fishing boats come and go or explore the small beach. The village is also famous as the filming location of Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood, which starred Richard Burton.

On the hill above Lower Town there is a wonderful viewpoint at Fishguard Fort, built in 1779, but fell into disrepair after the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815. Today, visitors can see the cannon that protected the town against French invasion.

The main town of Fishguard, with its winding streets, has a good selection of independent shops, restaurants and cafes and markets are held in the Old Town Hall on Thursdays and Saturdays. This historic building also houses the Tourist Information Centre and library, as well as the famous Fishguard Tapestry; a 100 foot long tapestry, which has been compared to the Bayeux Tapestry, commemorates the last invasion of Britain that occurred when the French landed at nearby Carreg Wasted Point in 1797.

To discover this lovely part of Wales and for self catering accommodation in the area, search for cottages in Fishguard.