Stepaside Ironworks

Stone ruins scattered through woodland mark where iron once flowed like water. The Stepaside Ironworks operated from 1849 to 1877, feeding the industrial revolution's hunger for Welsh iron, and what's left today tells a proper story if you know how to read it.

Walking through the site, you'll spot the remains of furnaces, casting floors and the old tramway that carried materials down from the quarries above. The interpretation isn't brilliant - expect to do your own detective work among the moss-covered stones. History buffs will love piecing together how this remote spot once employed hundreds, while families might find the kids lose interest after twenty minutes unless they're the type who enjoy scrambling over old walls.

It's free to wander around and you can easily combine it with the nearby coastal path that leads down to Saundersfoot. The village is just a short walk away, making this a decent pit stop if you're staying at one of the holiday parks like Folly Farm or Woodland Vale. Allow an hour at most unless you're really into industrial archaeology.

Best visited on a dry day when the paths aren't slippery. The ruins have more atmosphere in autumn when the trees drop their leaves and you can see the full scale of what was once here.