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Bosherston Lily Ponds, Broadhaven South, & Barafundle Bay | Pembrokeshire's best walk
This 10km loop encompasses some of the finest coastal scenery that Pembrokeshire has to offer.
The walk passes through the magical Bosherston lily ponds, skirts along dramatic coastal cliffs which plunge vertically into the sea, and visits two of Pembrokeshire finest beaches
The beauty of scenery which you pass though alongside the variety of landscape it encompasses makes this my favourite walk in Pembrokeshire National Park.
Key Information
Type: Loop
Distance: 6 miles /10km
Duration: 3-5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Car park & start point: National Trust Car park in the Village of Bosherston
Where to park?
If you want to start and finish your walk at Bosherston Lily ponds, you will want to park in the large National Trust Car park in the Village of Bosherston. Free for National Trust members, it costs £3 for 3 hours or £6 for all day parking. There are also toilets located in the car park.
Alternatively you can park in the car park which overlooks Broadhaven South beach, which costs £5 all day, or at the National Trust car park in Stackpole Quay.
The Route
The route is extremely easy to follow and is well signposted throughout. I have included a map which is shown in the car park for reference.
From the National Trust car park in Bosherston follow the path past the toilets and down into the lily ponds. Once you’ve dropped down a short ramp into the lily ponds, turn left and head towards the stone bridge which crosses over the western arm of the lily ponds.
Bosherston Lily Ponds
Cross over the bridge and follow the path as it climbs gently alongside the western arm of the lakes. There is a slight detour at the highest point of the route which gives you a great view over the lily ponds.
The path will then drop down to the second and longest of the stone bridges which crosses over the central arm of the lily ponds.
This narrow bridge is around 50ft long and can get accumulate a backlog of traffic during the busier times of year.
Once you have crossed the second bridge continue to follow the path and after around 200 meters you will reach a third bridge which is much wider and covered in grass.
Once you have crossed over the bridge follow the path for around 250m before either heading straight and crossing over wooden footbridge onto Broadhaven South beach, or turning left and heading up through the sand dunes to the cliffs.
Broadhaven South
Located on the edge of the Stackpole Estate , Broadhaven South is a wide golden sanded beach nestled in front of a sea of sand dunes. The bay is instantly recognisable by church rock, a large limestone monolith which protrudes from the middle of the bay.
As well as being popular with walkers and tourists, Broadhaven South is an extremely popular bodyboarding beach, which under the right conditions creates notorious barrelling wedges which people travel up from Cornwall to surf.
Once up on the cliffs overlooking Broadhaven south you have two options.
You can head straight for Barafundle bay. The direct route is 2km in length and partly skirts along the cliff path, passing by several hidden bays and giving you a taste of the magnificent coastal scenery.
However I would recommend taking the time to skirt around some of the headlands which sit between the two beaches, including Saddle point and Stackpole head.
These sections of coastline are some of the most dramatic and impressive in the UK, with hidden beaches and Limestone cliffs which drop vertically into the turquoise waters some 30m below.
Saddle Point
Saddle point sits at the eastern end of Broadhaven South and looks directly towards Church rock. Here you’ll find a magnificent circular pool which sits 30m below the cliffs.
Stackpole Head
From Saddle point continue to follow the coastal path as it skirts past two secluded bays which are only accessible by boat, kayak, or paddleboard.
Several sea stacks marks the point where Stackpole head begins.You again have the option to walk the clifftop around the lobster shaped headland or instead head direct towards Barafundle bay
Barafundle Bay
The crown jewel of Pembrokeshire beaches and one which regularly is voted as one of the best beaches in both the UK and Europe
Backed by an extensive dune system, Barafundle bay is a pristine stretch of sand which is often likened to a Caribbean beach due to its golden sand and clear waters.
The beach is dog friendly year round however it doesn’t have any lifeguards or facilities. the nearest toilets and cafe are located at Stackpole Quay located half a mile east along the cliff path.
The return trip via Stackpole Quay and Eight Arch Bridge
From Barafundle bay you can either turn around and retrace your steps back to the car park, or continue along the coastal path to complete a full loop.
If continuing, climb up the steps at the far end of Barafundle bay and follow the coastal path for half a mile until you reach Stackpole Quay. Here you will find toilets alongside a National trust cafe which serves snacks, hot food, and drinks
From the café, head to the top of the car park, pass through the swing gate and follow the the wide path which is lined by two sets of electric fences for 1.2km
The path is very uninspiring and there is nothing to see.
However….
Once you get to Eight Arch Bridge the true beauty of the Lily ponds once again becomes evident.
Cross the bridge, turn left and follow the path for 1km through the lily ponds back to the first stone bridge.
The route back should significantly quieter than the initial section of the walk and you may even spot the resident otters which occupy the lake.
Once at the stone bridge simply retrace your steps back over the two wooden bridges through the lily ponds and back to your car.
Final thoughts
I absolutely love this walk. Not only do you pass by a plethora of stunning landscapes, but you also stop by two of the best beaches in Pembrokeshire.
Pack some lunch and plenty of water so you can take your time with this walk and explore the hidden gems dotted around the cliff path.
Also dont forget to pack a towel as you will definitely want to jump into the turquoise waters of Barafundle Bay.
The majority of the walk is family friendly, although the pushchairs will need to be lifted during some sections and they may cause a bit of a queue on the narrow bridges in the lily ponds.
What I also love is that you can turn around at several points of the walk if you’re feeling tired, be that at the Lily ponds, Broadhaven or at Barafundle.
Once you have completed the walk make sure you take the time to visit St Govan’s Chapel and The Green Bridge of Wales.
Both are two incredible coastal features which are a must visit. They are within a 10 minute drive and are less than a 200m walk from the car parks.
You can check out all the information about those two location in the guides below
A guide to the Green Bridge of Wales
The Green Bridge of Wales
So there we have it, my guide to Bosherston Lily ponds, Broadhaven South, and Barafundle Bay.
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For more travel, hiking, & photography inspiration around Wales check out my in-depth guides to each of my favourite Welsh regions below.
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