Pembrokeshire Coast Path

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Pembrokeshire Coast National Park (Arfordir Penfro)

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Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 30.0 miles / 48.3 km
Duration: Multiple days

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Overview: The first port of call has to be the Green Bridge of Wales which, for a first glimpse of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path takes a bit of beating.

Then enter the Castlemartin firing range and head east. It would be unfair to pick out any particular bay which stood out as spectacular as each time we came across another bay we just stood and stared in wonder, however of particular and scary note was Huntsman Leap.

St Govan's Chapel on St Govan's Head is well worth a visit.
Drop down the 60 odd steps and examine the single room building then descend further onto the rocks (good spot for lunch).

Then on to Broad Haven; take a tour round Bosherston Lakes and then continue rounding Stackpole Head and descend onto the beach at Barafundle Bay.

The coastline is now more undulating and the path narrow and at times was very close to the edge of the cliff. Pass through Stackpole Quay and continue east to Freshwater East caravan park, eventually ending up climbing out and up West Moor Cliff to Swanlake Bay.

Then up East Moor Cliff where Manorbier Bay guarded by Manorbier Castle reveals itself.

Precipe Bay is a delight and the 165 steps down should not put you off.

The path skirts Manorbier Camp and heads via Skrinkle Haven to Lydstep Point then drop down and go through Lydstep Haven Caravan Park; past Proud Giltar and through the gates onto the firing range on Giltar Point which affords fine views of Tenby and Penally.

Take the long descent and come out on South Beach and walked towards the forbidding Fort St Catherine at Tenby; climb up on to Castle Hill; pass the harbour and walk along the sands of North Beach and climb again to First Point, Second Point and Bowman's Point.

From this point the path becomes even more undulating mostly in woodland with the occasional path along the cliff top. Finally round Monkstone Point and the final descent to the beach of Saundersfoot Bay and walk along to the Saundersfoot harbour.

Tips: Before embarking on a walk from Stack Rocks check access arrangements on the Castlemartin Range – 01646 662367 (The 3 mile section of range is closed to public access when firing is taking place)

Points of Interest

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The Green Bridge of Wales

The Green Bridge of Wales is a natural arch carved by the waves and is a priority viewing then arriving at Stack Rocks. There is an elevated viewing platform to the west of the arch

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Elegug Stacks

Stack Rocks or more correctly Elegug Stacks (elegug is Welsh for guillemot) are two tall detached pillars of limestone formerly another arch which has now collapsed.

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Huntsman's Leap

Huntsman's Leap is a narrow steep sided inlet formed by sea erosion along a fault line. Legend has it that a huntsman urged his horse over the chasm, landed safely, then looked back and dropped dead from shock when he saw the distance he had jumped.

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St Govan's chapel

St Govan's chapel is a tiny 13th century single-chamber stone cell (it could possibly date all the way back to the 6th century) and nestles into a rock fissure at the foot of the cliffs. It's reached by a steep, uneven flight of about 60 steps which can be slippery. After visiting the chapel a few further steps down takes you onto the rocky beach.

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Broad Haven Sou

Broad Haven South is a golden sandy bay backed by sand dunes which are an important habitat for wildlife. Offshore is a dramatically-shaped limestone stack known as Church Rock - which resemble a church when the tide is in.

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Bosherton Lakes

The fresh water stream running down to the beach drains from the Bosherton Lakes or as they are known locally the Lily Ponds and is part of a National nature reserve managed by the National Trust since 1977.

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Barafundle Bay

Further east the beautiful beach at Barafundle Bay sometimes described as the 'Jewel in the Crown' and voted by many publications including The Times and Country Life, as one of the top 10 most beautiful beaches in the world.

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Stackpole Quay

Stackpole Quay was built in the 18th century, to ship out limestone from the nearby quarry and bring in luxury goods for Stackpole Court including coal.

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Greenala Point

In the next bay, the limestone gives way to the multi-coloured mudstones, siltstones and sandstones of the Old Red Sandstone. From the bay's northern headland you can see the impressive profile of Greenala Point

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Freshwater East

Freshwater East has a sandy beach and has long been a popular leisure spot. The dunes have been extensively restored and replanted to counter the effects of erosion, and there are pathways through them to the beach.

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Manorbier Bay and Manorbiere Castle

Manorbier Bay is guarded by Manorbiere Castle the oldest part of which dates from the 12th century. South east of the beach, the Coast path passes the King's Quiot, a Neolithic burial chamber dating from around 3,000 BC.

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Skrinkle Haven

Skrinkle Haven bay contains a sandy beach and a rocky cove, separated by a narrow rib of limestone known as the Church Doors, because of its great arched cave entrances. Skrinkle Haven marks the reappearance of the boundary between the Old Red Sandstone and the Carboniferous Limestone.

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Lydstep Point

Lydstep Point has a well defined path which follows the cliff tops in a closed loop.

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Giltar Point

Giltar Point, which overlooks Caldey Island on one side, and Penally, Tenby and Fort St Catherine on the other.

South Beach is backed by sheltering sand dunes known as the Burrows and faces Caldey Island which lies to the south of Tenby, about a mile off Giltar Point.

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Tenby

Tenby is an ancient walled town and is famous for its beaches and picturesque harbour with many interesting old buildings, a ruined castle, good beaches and fine views across to Caldey Island and the Gower Peninsula, where Worm's Head can be clearly seen in profile.