In South Pembrokshire, south of the town of Pembroke.
Site description
Castlemartin Range covers an area of 2400 hectares on the South Pembrokeshire coast within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
A beautiful area, it contains a wide variety of flora, as well as some of the finest limestone coastal scenery in the National Park. It also has significant archaeological and geological interest, with the fossil record of international significance.
Castlemartin has the highest concentration of seabirds on the Pembrokeshire mainland, including guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes. Most important of all, it provides an ideal habitat for the nationally-rare chough. The coastal heath and unimproved grassland also supports birds such as wheatears, skylarks, meadow pipits and stonechats.
Larger predators such as ravens, buzzards and peregrines can be seen, and there is a breeding population of barn owls. Many rare insects are found - the secluded shore even provides a habitat for a rare beetle, which shelters under driftwood and discarded plastics.
Access Opportunities
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path, a National Trail, crosses Range East (during non-firing periods) and inland along 8 km of roads past Range West. When firing is in progress the road diversion through Bosherston provides a longer walk.
Vehicle access is available to Stack Rocks and St Govan's Chapel. Both of these are popular with sightseers, climbers and fishermen. The sea cliffs provide some of the best cliff climbing in the UK.
Range West and the inland part of Range East are generally not open to the public. However, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority/Defence Estates organises regular accompanied walks into this area. Many other groups are also catered for through annual safety and conservation briefings. These access opportunities are only available during non-firing periods.
See "Related pages/documents" for details of the Pembrokeshire Walk.
Further Information from...Information on live firing times can be viewed at the DTE Pembrokshire website via the link under "Related links". Live firing notices are also issued to the local police and the coastguard as well as being published in local newspapers and at the entrances and exits to the Range.
For further information on live firing times, contact 01646 662336 (manned during firing), 01646 662367 (recorded message) or from the gatehouse 01646 662280 (manned 24 hours a day).
Details about the walks organised by the National Park Authority can be viewed at the Pembrokeshire Coast website under "Related links". and are also published in their bulletins. Information is also available from their Visitor Centre at Haverfordwest Tel: 01437 720392.
OS Map ReferencesOS Landranger Sheet 158
(Tenby & Surrounding Area) 1:50,000
OS Outdoor Leisure Sheet 36
(South Pembrokeshire) 1:25,000