Wisemans Bridge Guide

Nestled between the villages of Saundersfoot and Amroth is the small hamlet of Wisemans Bridge with its wide expanse of beach.

Set on the South Pembrokeshire coastline is the wonderful hamlet of Wisemans Bridge between the popular seaside harbour village of Saundersfoot and the quiet shoreline village of Amroth. Being a popular holiday destination, it has all the right ingredients needed for beachgoers, sunbathers, keen ramblers and dog lovers.

What is the history of Wisemans Bridge?

Wisemans Bridge derives its name from the Wyseman family, who once owned a great deal of land in the area.

The beach at Wisemans Bridge was once used as a practice location for the Normandy landings in 1944 under the watchful eyes of Winston Churchill himself. Operation Jantzen was a rehearsal of D-Day conducted on Pembrokeshire’s beaches in July and August 1943 that saw the US Army and British and Commonwealth troops numbering around 100,000 invading the area. Churchill is said to have watched the ‘invasion’ whilst seated on the wall of the pub at the Wiseman’s Bridge Inn, drinking a cup of tea.

The history of Wisemans Bridge goes even deeper than the war. Around the time of the Battle of Trafalgar in the early 1800s, the best quality anthracite was loaded here from carts onto beached sailing ketches on the Pembrokeshire coast to be shipped to small ports all around South Wales and the Bristol Channel area. If the tide is very low, you can walk along the beach between Wisemans Bridge and Amroth. Here you can look out for remnants of mining, including entrances to tunnels which were driven under the cliffs in the 19th century to remove minerals.

Today, the coal industry has long gone, but at Wisemans Bridge, there are legacies to remind people of it. The tunnels through which the coal trams rumbled to the beach is now a popular walk known as The Tramway, which conveniently connects the villages of Saundersfoot, Coppet Hall and Wisemans Bridge. These short tunnels were excavated for a railway which connected collieries, brickworks and ironworks at Stepaside, Kilgetty and Renalton to Saundersfoot Harbour and Wisemans Bridge.

Prior to the tramroad through Wisemans Bridge to Stepaside and Kilgetty, the Kilgetty Canal was built in 1792 to link all the collieries where high-quality anthracite was carted onto beached schooners for dispatch. Only tub boats operated along the narrow channel but being poorly designed, the canal was not successful and a horse-drawn tramway to Wisemans Bridge replaced it. Little remains of the canal today, except for the canal basin and the sluice at Wisemans Bridge, which controlled the level of water.

Wisemans Bridge Beach

What activities are there to do in Wisemans Bridge?

Wisemans Bridge Beach is a fantastic spot for sea activities, such as swimming and bodyboarding. Paddleboarders and kayakers will enjoy exploring the bay and venturing around towards Coppet Hall Beach and Saundersfoot Beach, particularly when the sea is calm. Rock pooling is a family favourite activity here, especially on the rocky parts of the bay just below the path towards Coppet Hall.

The beach is completely dog friendly making it’s fantastic for dog walks. You could even take the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path from Wisemans Bridge over to its neighbouring coastal village of Amroth. Here, there are more pubs, eateries and shops as well as the beautiful Amroth Beach.

Keen walkers can head onto the Coast Path at either end of the beach and venture to Saundersfoot and Tenby in the west or to Pendine Sands and Laugharne in the east past Amroth. From the bridge at Wisemans Bridge, there is also a pathway which leads alongside the river taking you on a woodland walk in a quiet valley to the old Ironworks at Stepaside. Here, there is a free public car park, making it a handy alternative option if there are no spaces at Wisemans Bridge.

Amroth Beach nearby

Wisemans Bridge Food and Drink

The Wisemans Bridge Inn can be found in a prime spot right above the beach. Enjoy a delicious bite to eat in the conservatory restaurant or if the sun is shining grab one of the many outdoor tables to eat outside while admiring the gorgeous views over the beach and towards Saundersfoot and as far as Monkstone Point.

Along the path between Wisemans Bridge and the first tunnel before Coppet Hall, you will find Cwlbox. This seasonal food stall is open Thursday through Sunday serving mouth-watering freshly cooked seafood and street food. An ever-changing menu will keep you coming back time after time. You can enjoy a cup of coffee or something stronger with fantastic views over Wisemans Bridge and Amroth in the distance.

Alternatively, Lan Y Mor restaurant (previously Coast Restaurant) at Coppet Hall sits on the shoreline in between Wisemans Bridge and Saundersfoot, with unrivalled views of sea and sky. It boasts incredible food championing local and Welsh produce. For something more informal, there’s the small Kiosk Cafe below which serves homemade sweet treats and light lunches.

What Events take place in Wisemans Bridge?

The Wisemans Bridge Rowing Club was first established in 1993, meeting most Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The club holds many events throughout the year, but it’s also great to just watch as a spectator if visiting for holidays.

In June is the incredible Long Course Weekend based in Tenby. This unique event lasts three days accommodating some of the best triathlon talent in the UK and the world. After the 2.4-mile Wales Swim that takes place on Tenby’s North Beach, the next day the athlete's attention turns to The Wales Sportive. This 112-mile cycle involves undulating Welsh countryside lined with enthusiastic crowds. One location athletes will pass through is the beautiful hamlet of Wisemans Bridge. They’ll be greeted with loud cheers from the crowds spending their day in the beer garden of the pub. To finish the weekend, the athletes just have the small task of completing the 26.2 miles of The Wales Marathon. Shorter distances are also on offer for those who'd like to take part in any of the three distances, opening this event to all who enjoy a spot of weekend sport.

Long Course Weekend athletes passing by Carew Castle on the Wales Sportive

Later on in the year, in September, is Ironman Wales which is one of the most famous endurance events in the country. The whole three-part course has to be completed within 17 hours. The gruelling 112-mile bike course passes directly through Wisemans Bridge, making it a great spot for spectators to show their support to the athletes as they whizz past the pub before heading to Saundersfoot.

If sports events don’t take your fancy, the Wiseman’s Bridge Inn also holds regular pub quizzes and raffles throughout the year where everyone gets stuck in.

Local Top Tips

Wisemans Bridge Inn can get very busy on summer days because of the stunning beach views from its outdoor seating area, meaning parking can sometimes be limited along the beachside. If this space is full, you'll find a Pay and Display Car Park at Coppet Hall Beach just a short walk away.

What facilities are there in Wisemans Bridge?

There are free spaces along the roadside and some extend on the pebbly verge. Toilet facilities, including disabled facilities, are located near the bridge behind the beach. At the other end of the hamlet, there is a small shop next to the caravan park and a very popular pub, The Wisemans Bridge Inn. For further facilities, head to the nearby village of Saundersfoot where you'll find more restaurants, shops and grocery stores.

Saundersfoot Harbour

Is it easy to access Wisemans Bridge?

Bus service number 351 connects Amroth, Wisemans Bridge, Saundersfoot and Tenby. The nearest train station is Saundersfoot however, the station is located some way out of the village approximately a mile from the seafront centre of Saundersfoot. A footpath now connects the station to the seafront where you can join the Tramway walkway to Wisemans Bridge; this is the safest route for walking pedestrians, but does amount to a route of approximately 2.5 miles. Travellers with luggage, small children or those with mobility difficulties are advised to book a taxi.

Cyclists, however, can take a direct route through the country roads to reach Wisemans Bridge in just fifteen minutes. Car parking is limited to the roadside margin above the beach at Wisemans Bridge, which can get very busy in the summer holidays, so perhaps you might want to plan a sustainable holiday via train and bike.