Geology of the Fishguard district : a brief explanation of the geological map Sheet 210 Fishguard

This Sheet Explanation provides a summary of the geology of the area covered by geological 1:50 000 Sheet 210 Fishguard. The map was published as a single combined bedrock and superficial deposits edition in 2010. The greater part of the district lies within the county of Pembrokeshire, with a small area in the south-east within Carmarthenshire. It is bordered to the north by the picturesque coast of Cardigan Bay and includes the scenic uplands of the Mynydd Preseli with their distinctive rock tors or ‘carns’, which rise to a maximum height of 536 m OD at Foel Cwmcerwyn [SN 094 311]. The main rivers are the Afon Nyfer and Afon Gwaun, which drain the northern flanks of the Preselis into Cardigan Bay, and the Eastern and Western Afon Cleddau which, together with the Afon Syfynwi and Afon Taf, drain the southern flanks of the range into the Daugleddau estuary. Livestock-based agriculture remains a significant part of the local economy, although tourism is increasingly important for the principal towns of Fishguard and Newport. Both were important 19th Century ports, and the former is now a major terminal for passenger ferries to Eire. In 1952, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park was established to conserve the county’s spectacular scenery. About half of the district, including the coast and the Preseli Hills, lies within its limits.