Melin Abereiddy

One of the most breathtaking and accessible stretches of coastline in Pembrokeshire Coast lies along the rugged North Pembrokeshire coast. I’ve spent countless hours walking and cycling these winding coastal lanes, searching for hidden cottages and working farms nestled deep within the landscape, sheltered quietly from the powerful winds blowing in from the St George’s Channel.
Among these hidden places stands The Mill at Abereiddy, historically known as Melin Abereiddy a remarkable 18th century watermill resting almost against the edge of the sea itself. Built in the 1700s to serve the local community and later recognised as a Grade II listed building, it remains one of Pembrokeshire’s true hidden gems. The Mill sits above the bay beside a cluster of striking whitewashed quarry cottages, their walls glowing softly in the changing coastal light. From here, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path opens out along the cliffs and sea beyond, offering some of the most inspiring coastal scenery in Wales.
The beach itself is wild and untamed dark sand mixed with rough pebbles underfoot, shaped by the Atlantic weather and tides. There is nothing polished about it, and that is exactly its beauty. The informal shoreline, the weathered cottages, the old Mill watching over the bay, and the shifting light across the water all combine to create a scene that feels timeless.
I often find myself drawn back here to paint.
There are moments when the evening sun drops low over the horizon and casts deep golden colours across the cottages, cliffs, and sea, transforming the entire bay into something almost unreal. Those fleeting moments of light are impossible to forget. As an artist, you wait for evenings like that when the landscape suddenly comes alive and every shadow, stone, and reflection feels like part of a painting already waiting to happen.