The River Cleddau flows through the centre of the market town of Haverfordwest. Historically it was the lowest place on the river that afforded a safe opportunity to ford the Western Cleddau -hence its name which is derived from the old English word haefer, meaning buck or he-goat. It was the place where goats crossed the river
Access
There are two road bridges, the old road bridge has been pedestrianised, while the new road bridge (Picton Place, also referred to as part of High Street) is a main part of the one-way system of Haverfordwest. There are also two footbridges over the Western Cleddau - one joining the two retail areas between old and new bridges, and the other crossing the river below the weir and linking Quay St to the Council Offices.
Wheelchair access is available alongside Cartlett Road, which leads to Picton Place; cross at the pelican crossing to the Council Office side of the street then access the riverside site down a ramp. Access to Picton Place is also possible via steps near Boots Store.
Features of Interest
The ruins of the Priory are to be seen further down river on right bank. Between the two road bridges used to be rowing boat hire. Both shopping centres on the river banks have been built within the last 30 years. Quay St is the site of the old railway line. The Riverside Quay and Riverside Market shopping areas have been built very recently. The highest tidal point of river is marked here by the weir, which has recently had a fish pass added to it.
This is the highest tidal point of the Western Cleddau, historically navigable by trading vessels giving rise to a thriving port until the railway line was established. It was frequented by coastal and foreign vessels with cargoes such as: salt, slate, iron, butter, wines, oats, apples, wheat, coal, barley, hides and wool.
The site is a mature, but highly modified part of the river, illustrating interaction of the river with large scale human activities.
The fish pass built on weir was completed summer 2004 at a cost of £250,000 to help migratory fish such as salmon and sea trout to travel as much as 30 km from the sea to the upper reaches of the Western Cleddau River to spawn. This helps to maintain natural populations of these fish and increases the angling potential of the river.
Parking
There is a multi-storey car park an the Riverside Quay Shopping Precinct side of river, with disabled access and public toilets. Castle Lake car park', off Church Street, has disabled access and toilets and access to the High Street and Castle Square. There is also a free car park at St Thomas Green, with a footpath down steep steps through an attractive wooded area leading to Quay Street. From Quay Street there are two passages between buildings to the riverside and a footbridge over the river.
Walks
There are riverside walks accessible from the bridges. northwards on both sides of river from the council buildings to the old road bridge and southwards on the town bank, from the new bridge to the historical monument site at the Priory. There is also a good path through parkland on the county offices side, which stops following the river by Freemans Way road bridge. There is a rougher path and steps on the right side from Victoria Place section of the New Bridge. Disabled access (gentle sloping ramp) from Picton Place past council buildings.
The Marsh - no longer marshland but a public park - is an attractive open green area with benches. This area is popular with walkers and dog owners, and the river banks adjacent to the park are more natural than those closer to the town centre.