Garn Fawr Geology

Garn Fawr is a high point of hard volcanic rock that has been left exposed, due to the softer rock eroding around it over millions of years. The viewpoint shows a landscape that was created by dramatic geological events more than 440 million years ago. Volcanoes were active in the area, pushing out lava flows that cooled forming hard igneous rocks. In some places, the molten rock did not reach the surface but cooled slowly below the ground. These igneous intrusions have resisted erosion better than surrounding layers to become rocky crags. Garn Fawr is one intrusion, as are its neighbours to the east, Garn Fechan and Garn Gilfach.

Iron Age Hillfort

Garn Fawr is magnificently located overlooking Strumble Head and along the Pembrokeshire coast towards St David's Head. It’s neighbouring outcrop is the smaller Garn Fechan.

Garn Fawr is the high point on this stretch of coast, its old Ordnance Survey trig point standing at 213m above sea level. The builders of Iron Age forts usually chose good vantage points. At Garn Fawr they picked a hill that now commands a breathtaking view of the coast, the lighthouse at Strumble Head and Pen Caer to the north and east. The fort was constructed more than 2500 years ago, and over the years some stones have been moved, but it is still possible to make out most of the layout of its ramparts.

Garn Fawr WWI watch tower

This small stone/concrete structure below the trig point bears the names of the two men who, one imagines, sat out long lonely hours of the coastal watch in 1914 - 15 (the dates given), on the lookout for the German U-Boat threat.The same perch must have been used for an identical purpose millennia earlier when this volcanic outcrop was fortified in the Iron Age.

Garn Fawr Trig Point

There is a trig point at the top of Garn Fawr, which has been extensively photographed and provides a panoramic view point.

Garn Fawr National Trust car park

This car park provides ample parking as a base for various walks in the area, including to the top of Garn Fawr, although there are no facilities here.

Grid ref SM898389.

John piper 's artist’s studio and cottage

Just under the crags of Garn Fawr, this cottage was used as a retreat and studio by the artist John Piper (1903-1992) who discovered Pembrokeshire in the 1930s through his wife Myfanwy Evans. He made many paintings and prints of local scenes including several versions of Garn Fawr, several of which are in the Tate Gallery.

Ferry

The Stenaline ferries operate from Goodwick, Fishguard and travel to Rosslaire daily, and in fair weather can be viewed from Station A.

For timetables, see Stenaline, Fishguard-Rosslare.

Last Invasion of Britain

The road which Station A is situated on, was the route that French soldiers took in 1797 during the last invasion of Britain!

The Battle of Fishguard was a military invasion of Great Britain by Revolutionary France during the War of the First Coalition. The brief campaign, on 22–-24 February 1797, is the most recent landing on British soil by a hostile foreign force, and thus is often referred to as the "last invasion of mainland Britain". The French had devised a three-pronged attack on Britain in support of the Society of United Irishmen. Two forces would land in Britain as a diversionary effort, while the main body would land in Ireland. Adverse weather and ill-discipline halted two of the forces, but the third, aimed at landing in Wales and marching on Bristol, went ahead. After brief clashes with hastily assembled British forces and the local civilian population, the invading force's Irish-American commander, Colonel William Tate, was forced into unconditional surrender on 24 February.

The story of this event is told in an embroidered tapestry which was designed and sewn by around 80 local women. The tapestry is available to see in Fishguard Town Hall