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Maenclochog, Mynachlog-ddu and Rosebush

Maenclochog

Maenclochog is a small village in Pembrokeshire's rural heartland in the foothills of The Preseli Mountains, pronounced ‘mine-cloch-og'.

To the south west of Maenclochog is Penrhos Cottage, a tiny cottage that was once home to a family of 12! This is a typical North Pembrokeshire thatched cottage that has survived almost unchanged since the 19th Century. Built as an ‘overnight' cottage in about 1800 and later rebuilt in stone, Penrhos, with its original Welsh oak furniture, provides a unique opportunity to view the cottager's life in the past. The cottage is open by appointment only.

To visit the cottage or for more information, call 01437 731328.

Picture: Penrhos Cottage near Maenclochog

Picture: Penrhos Cottage near Maenclochog

Mynachlog-ddu

Mynachlog-ddu is a neighbouring village to the north east. The double ‘d' in the name is pronounced ‘th' so to say it phonetically, try ‘min-ach-log-thee'.

On the west side of the village is The Waldo Memorial, commemorating Waldo Williams, one of the leading Welsh language poets of the twentieth century. He was also a notable pacifist, anti-war campaigner and Welsh nationalist. His father was appointed head teacher of the primary school at Mynachlog-ddu and it was there that Waldo learnt to speak Welsh.

Picture: The Waldo memorial at Mynachlog-ddu

Just south of Mynachlog-ddu is the small stone circle at Gors Fawr. The circle has 16 blue stones and forms an egg-shaped ring. It's believed that there was once an avenue leading to the two outliers, which are found to the north east. There's another partial stone circle on The Preseli Mountains above the village at a place called Bedd Arthur.

Picture: Gors Fawr stone circle at Mynachlog-ddu

This part of Pembrokeshire is very rural and relatively remote so there isn't a great deal of accommodation in the vicinity. The nearest hotels would be in Haverfordwest or Narberth. There is one B&B in Maenclochog and another in Mynachlog-ddu . There is a Holiday Park in Mynachlog-ddu and a caravan and camping park (for adults only) at nearby Rosebush. There are some self catering cottages in the vicinity and in neighbouring villages such as Llys Y Fran.

Rosebush

Rosebush sits under the shadow of The Preseli Mountains. The village sprang up when two slate quarries started operating here, The Bellstone quarry and The Rosebush quarry. They operated between 1825 and 1891. A railway line was built to transport the slate but that has long since disappeared. The village platform, however, does still exist. It's in the beer garden of the village pub, the legendary Tafarn Sinc. The pub was originally built as a temporary structure to service the needs of the quarrymen, so was built from timber covered in corrugated zinc sheets. It must be one of the only ‘tin shed' pubs in the country and it's worth a visit. If you go at lunchtime on a Sunday in winter and you want something to eat, you need to book your Sunday lunch in advance. There is also a bistro and bar in The Old Post Office.

Picture: Tafarn Sinc at Rosebush