Abercastle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Abercastle Welsh: Abercastell
Abercastle
Principal area	Pembrokeshire
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Haverfordwest
Postcode district	SA62
Police	Dyfed-Powys
Fire	Mid and West Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Preseli Pembrokeshire
Welsh Assembly	Preseli Pembrokeshire
List of places UK Wales Pembrokeshire 51°57′28″N 5°07′22″W / 51.957914°N 5.122736°W / 51.957914; -5.122736

Abercastle (which is Abercastell in Welsh) is a small village located in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It has a working harbour that is managed by the Abercastle Boat Owners Association. This harbour is famous for a special event in 1876. It was the landing spot for the first person to sail across the Atlantic Ocean alone, from west to east. This amazing journey started in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and was completed by Alfred "Centennial" Johnson.

Abercastle's History

Abercastle was once a very busy trading harbour. From here, people exported many local goods. These included slate, grain, limestone, butter, honey, and corn. Some coal was also shipped out. You can still see the remains of old limekilns from the 1800s. These kilns were used to turn limestone into lime.

Alfred Johnson: A Solo Atlantic Journey

The plaque honoring Alfred Johnson at Abercastle.

Alfred Johnson was a brave fisherman born in Denmark. He made history by being the first person to sail across the Atlantic Ocean alone. He arrived at Abercastle on Saturday, August 12, 1876. His journey from Gloucester, Massachusetts, took 66 days.

Johnson sailed in a small boat called 'Centennial'. It was a type of boat known as a dory. He managed to travel about 70 miles (110 km) each day. This was a very good speed for such a small boat on the open sea. He even survived a big storm that flipped his boat over!

A special plaque made of Welsh Slate is on the quay wall near the boat ramp. Alfred Johnson's grandson, Charlie Dickman, officially revealed it on October 17, 2003. A local writer named Rob Morris even wrote a book about Johnson's journey. It's called Alfred "Centennial" Johnson.

A poet from St Davids, Tony Davies, also wrote a poem about Alfred Johnson:

Sixty six days, three thousand miles,
Record breaking, Abercastle smiles,
Liverpool, trip complete,
The courage of Captain Johnson and Centennial’s feat.

Carreg Samson: An Ancient Stone Structure

Carreg Samson, an ancient burial chamber.

Carreg Samson is also known as 'Carreg Sampson' or 'Samson's Stone'. Some people even call it the 'Longhouse'. This amazing structure is a 5,000-year-old Neolithic Burial Chamber. It is believed to be the site of over 1,000 burials from ancient times.

You can find Carreg Samson about half a mile west of Abercastle. It's near the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. The main stone on top, called a capstone, is 15 feet long and 9 feet wide. It rests on three of the seven upright stones. Experts think it was a "portal dolmen," built over a pit.

There's a local story that says Samson, a very strong person, placed the capstone there with just his little finger. The whole burial chamber was once covered by a mound of earth or stones. After these were removed, people used stones to block the holes in the sides. This turned the tomb into a shelter for sheep! In 1968, archaeologists dug here and found an early Neolithic bowl.

What You Can Do in Abercastle

Harbour Facilities

The harbour at Abercastle faces northwest. This means it is protected from strong winds coming from the southwest. This makes it a safe place for local fishing boats. There is a public telephone available. You can also find free parking for a few cars. The boat ramp, or slipway, leads to soft sand. It is not suitable for vehicles that are not designed for off-road use. The local coastal bus, called “The Strumble Shuttle,” also stops at Abercastle.

Popular Activities

Fishing boats in Abercastle harbour.

Abercastle is a popular spot for fishing and diving. There are also several places nearby for rock climbing. These climbing spots are best for groups. The harbour is a great place to launch a sea kayaking trip. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path, a famous walking trail, goes right through Abercastle. It is very popular with both tourists and local walking groups.

The SS Leysian Shipwreck

On the west side of the harbour, about 50 meters from the cliffs, lies the wreck of the SS Leysian. This ship weighed 3,800 tons. It ran aground and sank in 1917, but thankfully, no one lost their life. The wreck is about 15 meters deep. This makes it a popular spot for divers. Divers often report seeing lots of wreckage and many different kinds of fish. There's even a large pollock fish that lives in the wreck! A detailed study of the wreck started in June 2019.

Images for kids

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  The harbour

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  A cottage overlooking the harbour

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  A lime kiln

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  Plants near the harbour wall path

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  Ynys y Castell

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  Looking towards the village