Place Name

Shag Hole Bay, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Where the Shags are Salty and come in Waves!

Introduction:

Shag Hole Bay. Say it out loud and you can almost hear someone choke on their tea. It is one of those Pembrokeshire names that sounds like a dare, a joke and a navigational hazard all at once.

Folk hear it and instantly imagine something scandalous, only to discover it is named after the humble shag, a cormorant with a hairstyle that screams “I woke up like this.”

Truth is, the bay is older than any innuendo, any sailor’s tale and any raised eyebrow. But that has never stopped the name from bringin joy to every visitor who reads the sign.

Toponymy:

Let’s break down this name:

Shag – Refers to the shag, a sleek, dark‑feathered seabird common around Skomer’s cliffs. Their name is innocent, even if modern ears insist on giggling.

Hole – A traditional coastal term for a small inlet, cove or hollow in the cliffs, often sheltered and often dramatic.

Together, they form a name that makes visitors pause before saying it aloud, then laugh when they realise it is perfectly literal.

Historical Context:

The name Shag Hole Bay has been used by sailors, wardens and birdwatchers for generations. Skomer’s coastline is full of coves, cliffs and nesting sites, and names like this helped locals identify safe landings and wildlife hotspots long before modern maps.

Some say the name was coined by early naturalists. Others reckon it was a sailor’s joke that stuck harder than barnacles on a buoy.

Whatever the truth, the name has survived storms, seabirds, tourists and countless puffins waddlin past like they own the place.

Points of Interest:

If you are wanderin about, have a nose at:

• Skomer Island – Puffins, seals and more feathers than a pillow factory.

• Marloes Sands – Waves, cliffs and sand that gets everywhere.

• Haven Waterway – Kayaks, wildlife and cracking views.

• St Brides Haven – A quiet cove with postcard‑worthy scenery.

• Pembrokeshire Coast Path – Clifftop views that make your heart thump.

Notable Figures:

Folk tied to the region include:

• Gerald of Wales – Chronicler of Welsh life and landscape.

• David Lloyd George – Welsh political firebrand.

• R. S. Thomas – Poet of Welsh land and soul.

• Roald Dahl – Welsh‑raised storyteller with a wicked imagination.

• Sir John Rhys – Scholar of Welsh language and lore.

Conclusion:

So next time you find yourself near Shag Hole Bay, take a moment to watch the waves crash, the shags dive and the cliffs glow in the Pembrokeshire light. It is a place where nature performs, the sea sings loudly and the name alone is worth the journey.

For more wonderfully odd place names, wander over to www.strangeplacenames.com where the UK and Ireland are full of names that will make you laugh, blink and wonder what the mapmakers were thinkin.

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