Caerhafod Lodge

Location

Caerhafod Lodge lies in the countryside between Fishguard and St. David's, and not far from the Pembrokeshire coast. The hostel owners recognize it could be hard to find and have posted detailed directions on their website. Basically get to the village of Croes-goch at the intersection of A487 and B4330 and head northwest on the Llanrhian Road down to the sea. When you get to the village of Llanrhian, turn right and head about half mile towards Trefin. The hostel is on the right, up a hill a ways on a gravel driveway.

Common Areas

If you have reserved ahead of time the hostel will be expecting you regardless, and as such will "leave a light on" for your later arrival if need be. All rooms in the hostel certainly fit the description of clean and comfortable and will probably be at the top of this category for your entire trip. The kitchen is well-outfitted and tends to have a decent supply of food in the "left-behind" cupboard, just in case. The laundry room is a limited bonus because it only contains a washer -- items must be air-dried on the lines inside. And in the Welsh climate, that can mean a lot of clothing on the line.

Due to its countryside location, the hostel can have a quieter atmosphere than urban hostels. It is more the domain of friendly groups of walkers, cyclists, coasteers, and history buffs. The last category will be especially pleased at the owners' extensive knowledge of their local history.

Summary

If you're interested in taking in Pembrokeshire's history and rugged coastlines on a budget, then the Caerhafod Lodge is definitely worth your consideration! The hostel's rates are competitive with other hostel accommodations in Britain, and countryside hostels and Wales in general seem to be a bit easier on the pocketbook. Rest assured, this one won't break the bank.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
January 2009