Float your boat
Portia Jones takes a peek inside the luxury floating glamping cabins in Milford Haven you can now stay in
FROM a 17th-century whaling town to a modern marina, Milford Haven has developed into a vibrant waterfront destination in Pembrokeshire with its impressive commercial quayside. As part of a multi-million-pound redevelopment programme, Milford Waterfront and Milford Marina are fast gaining a reputation as an exciting and emerging tourism destination with plenty to offer. And now visitors can book a stay in four floating cabins among the boats moored in the marina.
Each of the four luxurious cabins has been named to celebrate the many local stories of these historic shores. Sybil is the name of the first fishing trawler that entered Milford Docks in 1888, while dog-friendly Morlo is the Welsh word for “seal”, creatures which are commonly spotted along the Pembrokeshire coastline.
Then there’s the Nantucket cabin, named after an isolated island off the coast of Massachusetts where some of Milford Haven’s forefathers establised a whaling station. The Tembek cabin is named after the first ship to arrive at South Hook LNG’s new gas terminal in 2009.
It’s an adults-only stay here as each cabin sleeps two and comes with an en-suite shower room, swish furnishings, private balcony and floor-toceiling windows so you can enjoy the best views of the water and spectacular sunsets.
The unique feature is that the cabins are right on the water, so you can step out on to your balcony with your morning coffee and be greeted with marina views and the salty sea air all around you.
The Tembek cabin, for example, sleeps two in a comfy king-size bed with crisp, white linen and there are also blackout curtains for a restful night’s sleep on the water.
A local interior designer curated the fit-out of each cabin, making clever use of the space to incorporate functional and contemporary furniture and local furnishings, as well as some nifty finishing touches inspired by luxury cruise ships. The pretty cushions and throws in the cabin are woven at Melin Tregwynt, which is between Fishguard and St Davids.
There’s an en-suite shower room with a decent shower and some complementary, upscale toiletries and towels to use during your stay. Inside you’ll also find a range of holiday essentials including a smart TV, Wi-Fi, coffee and tea facilities, a small fridge, fluffy dressing gowns and a welcome gift of chocolate truffles made at Trwffl, located on Milford Waterfront.
One of the stand-out features in the cabin is the private balcony that overlooks the water. At night,
The cabins are right on the water, so you can step out on to your balcony with your morning coffee and be greeted with marina views and the salty sea air all around you
the marina lights up with the glow of the surrounding restaurants, boat lights and string lights that adorn the marina. Wrap up and enjoy the nighttime atmosphere and changing dusk colours right on your water-level balcony.
Check-in is contactless and very straightforward and access is via the secure pontoon on the marina. You’ll receive a text message around two days before arrival with the necessary codes to access the key safe and the marina gate.
There’s a car park for unloading your luggage with a three-hour stay time and then free parking is also available further along the marina. Prices start from £80 per night for a cabin and can be booked directly through the website.
The cabins are a great base for exploring Milford Haven and the wider Pembrokeshire area. On the marina, you’ll find plenty of bars, shops and cafes to explore, as well as history and heritage in the form of walking trails and the volunteer-run Milford Haven Museum.
Milford Haven has an ongoing story of reinvention, while still maintaining its proud marine heritage. Formed by a ria, or drowned valley, the waterway is known for being one of the deepest natural harbours in the world and is home to the UK’s largest energy port.
The town itself was originally established as a Quaker whaling station in the 17th century, before evolving into a Royal Navy dockyard and busy fishing docks. Today, it’s still a fishing port but it’s now a mixed-use space for locals and tourists.
Development is still under way with the new Ty Hotel Milford Waterfront, which is due to open in spring and will be operated and managed by the team behind the iconic Celtic Manor Resort.
Outside the marina area, local shops and high-street stores can also be found, as well as art galleries and the impressive Torch Theatre.
Thanks to the ongoing development work, cabin guests and visitors to the waterfront can now enjoy a brilliant range of restaurants, cafes, delis and bars. There’s vegetarian and vegan bistro dining at the dog-friendly Green Genie – a 1920s and 1930s vintage-style restaurant – and there’s also a “speakeasy” experience at Madison’s Bar & Restaurant and you can feast on pasta and delicious hand-thrown pizza at Impasto.
Other new foodie offerings in the marina include locally-produced artisan bread and baked goods from Sugar Loaf Deli & Bakery and artisan chocolates from Dilly’s Chocolates.
Further along the waterfront, you’ll find dinner and drinks at quayside restaurant Coco’s, housed in the Grade II-listed “Sail Loft” building. Pembrokeshire produce features where possible on their menu and local tipples are also available at this upscale venue.
While breakfast is not provided at the “floatel” cabins, they do supply tea and coffee for your morning brew. There are several cafes along the Waterfront that serve breakfast, though, including the Spinnaker Cafe, Foam and the Crow’s Nest Cafe, where you can get a proper fry-up.
Milford Haven is still Wales’ largest fishing port, and home to the local in-shore fleet, as well as Spanish and Belgian trawlers. The town was built on fish and this is reflected in the many fish dishes and seafood offerings on the menus at Milford Waterfront restaurants. Try the seared scallops, prawns or pan-fried hake fillet at Martha’s Vineyard, a family-run bar and restaurant with glorious views over the Milford Haven Waterway.
What’s near Milford Haven? Discover coastal hikes, sandy beaches, indie cafes, wildlife and exhilarating watersports. Around 25 minutes from Milford, you can explore the Marloes peninsular for spectacular views, wildlife and bracing sea air.
A short drive from Milford Haven is Neyland, a small town that was once the terminus of a railway constructed by Brunel. These days, there’s a smart marina to visit and you can walk along the old railway line, which is now a popular cycleway.
The unspoilt village of Dale is also close by and offers watersports and several cafes. Make sure to have a drink on the roof terrace of the traditional and award-winning Griffin Pub for stunning sea views with your evening drinks. They have a great selection of Welsh ales and a delicious, seafoodheavy menu to sample.
■ Find out more or book at www.milfordwaterfront.co.uk