Milford Haven

Milford Haven (Welsh: Aberdaugleddau) is located near the River Cleddau, and with a population of around 15,000 is the largest town in Pembrokeshire. It is one of the UK's largest ports, and attracts many cruise ships. Its docks have been redeveloped for tourism and leisure activities.

Understand

Milford Haven is a town and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is on the north side of the Milford Haven Waterway, an estuary forming a natural harbour that has been used as a port since the Middle Ages. The town was founded in 1790 on the north side of the Waterway, from which it takes its name. Designed to a grid pattern, it was intended by the founder, Sir William Hamilton, to be a whaling centre, though by 1800 it was developing as a Royal Navy dockyard which it remained until the dockyard was transferred to Pembroke in 1814. It then became a commercial dock, with the focus moving in the 1960s, after the construction of an oil refinery built by the Esso Company, to logistics for fuel oil and liquid gas. By 2010 the town's port has become the fourth largest in the United Kingdom in terms of tonnage and plays an important rôle in the United Kingdom's energy sector with several oil refineries and one of the biggest LNG terminals in the world.

Milford is the second largest settlement in Pembrokeshire, with a population of 12,830; while with 13,086 people its community boundaries make it the most populous in the county. As a Welsh local government community, Milford takes in the town of Milford itself and its suburbs, including Hakin, Hubberston, Liddeston, and Steynton. The natural harbour of the Haven was known as a safe port and was exploited for several historical military operations throughout the second millennium. Campaigns conducted from the Haven included part of Henry II's Invasion of Ireland in 1171 and Cromwell's own attack on Ireland in 1649, while forces which have disembarked at the point include Jean II de Rieux's 1405 reinforcement of the Glyndŵr Rising. In 1485, Henry VII landed at the Milford Haven Waterway before marching on England. In 1802 Lord Nelson visited Milford Haven and declared it as one of the finest harbours ever seen. The Quakers developed it as a whaling port in the late 18th century, and following their departure it was used as a naval dockyard and provided the base for a large fishing and oil industry.

Get in

By train

Map of the West Wales lines

1 Milford Haven train station. (updated Jan 2024)

• Arriva Trains - there is a direct train service from Manchester via Arriva Trains. From London Paddington, travellers sometimes need to change in Swansea.
• Transport for Wales (TfW) (Trafnidiaeth Cymru) and Great Western Railway (GWR) operate trains to Milford Haven.

Milford Haven is the terminus of the Whitland-Milford Haven branch of the West Wales lines (Llinellau Gorllewin Cymru). The other termini are Swansea, Pembroke and Fishguard. You may need to change at Whitland.

By bus

First Cymru buses from Haverfordwest, Tenby and Pembroke

By car

From the east: head to Haverfordwest via M4 and Carmarthen. From Haverfordwest take the road to Milford Haven, approx 9 miles away

Get around

Pembrokeshire County Council offers great Coastal buses that travel in and around Milford Haven

• Jocks Taxis, ☏ +44 1646 698818. 

See

• 1 The Waterfront Gallery, The Old Sail Loft, Discovery Quay, The Docks, ☏ +44 1646 695699. Showcases arts and crafts by local artists. 
• 2 Milford Haven Museum, The Old Customs House, Sybil Way, The Docks, ☏ +44 1646 694496.  

Do

• Boat safari. 
• 1 Milford Maina, ☏ +44 1646 696312. 
• 2 Torch Theatre, St. Peter's Road, ☏ +44 1646 695267. (updated Jun 2017)

Eat

• The Crows Nest, Milford Marina, ☏ +44 1646 697147. 
• The Spinnaker, Milford Marina. 
• 1 The Three Crowns, Hubberston Rd. 
• Halen Mor, 2 Agamemnon House, Nelson Quay, Milford Marina, ☏ +44 1646 693017. 
• 2 The Harbourmaster, 5 orion house, ☏ +44 1646 695493. 
• Bucci bar Indian Cuisine, Units 7 & 8, Sovereign House, Nelson Quay, Milford Marina, ☏ +44 1646 692091. 
• Foam, Milford Marina, ☏ +44 1646 698985. 
• 3 Marthas Vineyard, Cleddau House, Milford Marina, ☏ +44 1646 697083. 

Sleep

There is a wide range of small hotels and guest houses in the town.

• 1 Scoveston Grove Bed & Breakfast, Scoveston, SA73 1HL, ☏ +44 1646 602554, info@scovestongrove.co.uk. 3 en-suite guest rooms in a secluded retreat, yet centrally placed for exploring Pembrokeshire. Breakfasts are made from locally sourced produce. From £56. 
• 2 Fields Lodge Bed and Breakfast, Middlekilns Lane, Herbrandsto, ☏ +44 1646 697732, info@fieldslodge.co.uk. 4 Star B&B Gold Award winning Breakfast-Finest Breakfast in Pembrokeshire-sourced from local producers £84 per double room ensuite. 
• 3 Lord Nelson, 9 Hamilton Terrace, ☏ +44 1646 695341. 

Go next

• Tenby. An attractive town located around a picturesque harbour. Tenby is about a twenty minute drive from Milford Haven.
• St Davids. The UK's smallest city - impressive cathedral.
• Skomer. An island off the west of Pembrokeshire, embarkation point being 15 minutes drive away from Milford Haven, that is home to one of the world's largest Puffin colonies. Puffins are in residence April-End of July.
• Pembroke castle.
• Sandy Haven Beach, Herbrandston