Manorbier on the Pembrokeshire Coast. Photo: David Purchase CC-BY-SA-2.0

Walkers will have a rare chance to visit a forbidden part of a national park next week.

The Manorbier Range in the Pembrokeshire Coast national park is usually out of bounds to the public.

But on Wednesday the Ministry of Defence will open the gates to a guided walk led by the national park authority’s ranger Lynne Houlston.

The range, 7km (4 miles) west of Tenby, lies next to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path and normally walkers have to circumnavigate the perimeter of the range,

On 8 August, members of the public will be allowed through the gates for a guided walk around the base, which is used for testing surface-to-air missiles. There will also be a presentation by range commandant Major Peter Sulman on the military history and use of Manorbier since its creation in 1938.

Archaeologist Pete Crane will also be on hand during the walk.

A spokesperson for the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority said: “The annual guided tours have proved popular over the past seven years, when visitors have had the opportunity to learn about the use of this military training estate.

“This year’s event starts at 10am and will offer an insight into Wales’s military heritage.”

The event is open to those over the age of 16, but booking is essential as numbers are limited.

The range is the only one in mainland UK from where the High Velocity Missile, an anti-aircraft weapon, is fired for testing.

Manorbier is also used for a variety of aircraft trials as part of its role as Air Warfare Centre.

During firing, an exclusion zone of 570 sq km (220 sq miles) to the south of the rangehead, out to 21km (13 miles) and up to a ceiling of 40,000 feet (12,190m) is enforced.

Bookings can be made and more details obtained from Ms Houlston on 01646 662213 or 07866 771188.