Walk 26: Manorbier to Broad Haven South Beach
The walk from Manorbier to Broad Haven South Beach was the first of a February half term trip to Pembrokeshire in 2023, and it was a beauty! We based ourselves in Pembroke Dock for the week, and on the day of our first walk, parked at Broad Haven South Beach and grabbed a taxi to Manorbier, where we began. Much like on our previous walk, we were dropped off at Manorbier Beach Car Park and walked to the beach, but this time, we turned right and headed west.
Although we were walking on a February day, we enjoyed blue skies all day and a largely dry walk underfoot, alongside stunning views. The walk began with a gentle incline from the beach, on a nice, sturdy path. We continued along for a while, gradually ascending upwards, before we eventually turned a corner and were greeted with a breath-taking view of Swanlake Beach.
We continued past Swanlake Beach, with some gentle ups and downs, and, after a little while, spotted another stunning sandy beach in the distance – Freshwater East. The path took us down towards the beach, where we walked along the dunes, with occasional glimpses of the sea.
On the Wales Coast Path, with every descent comes with another ascent, and it was soon time to head back up into the cliffs – thankfully, we were rewarded for our huffing and puffing up a lot of steps with stunning views back towards Freshwater West (I say ‘we’ – out of myself and my partner, only I huff and/or puff).
One of the drawbacks of walking in February is the significantly reduced daylight hours – which definitely caught us out on this walk – but the benefit is a stunning golden hour, which had begun at this point. The already beautiful views were further enhanced by the golden light, but we were keen to ensure we got back to the car before dark!
After continuing along the path for a while, we descended into Stackpool Quay – a rocky cove with a stone jetty – before heading straight up some steps and onto the cliffs. After a short distance, we reached the iconic stone entrance to Barafundle Bay. Barafundle Bay is often featured in lists of the best beaches in Wales, the UK, and even the world, and the Good Holiday Guide has described it as ‘the best beach in Britain’. The beach is only accessible on foot, and as such, can be pretty quiet, despite its status as a beauty spot, and in the early evening on a February day, we were lucky enough to enjoy a private visit!
We eventually reached Broad Haven with one final challenge – to get down onto the beach and back up the other side to the car park! The path took us inland towards Bosherston Lily Ponds, and then onto the beach and over a bridge, which crossed a stream. I’m not sure the bridge is always crossable, but with the light levels as they were, if it hadn’t been, I think we would have just had to swim!
We made our way up the sand dunes – by this point it really was dark, and the dunes made for a pretty tiring end to the walk, but we finally reached the car safely, with a lovely February walk completed!
🥾 Distance: Around ten miles. ⭐ Highlight: This was a beautiful walk, taking in some lovely beaches including the renowned Barafundle Beach. 👎 Less Good: Trying to outwalk the daylight! 🚗 Transport: We parked at Broad Haven South Beach and took a taxi to Manorbier Beach. 🛏️ Accommodation: We stayed in Pembroke Dock for a week, in two different Airbnb properties – The Coach House and Nyth Bach – both of which were lovely. 🌱 Food: We had dinner at our Airbnb. 🗺️ Map: This route is featured in the official Pembrokeshire guide. |
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