Stackpole Head

DISTANCE/DURATION: 4.9 miles (7.9 km) 2 hours 30 minutes.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Service bus Stackpole 364/365, Service bus Bosherston 387, Coastal Cruiser.
CHARACTER: Rugged coast, stiles, fields and livestock, gradients.
LOOK OUT FOR: Sandy beaches, lily ponds, choughs, eight arch bridge and National Nature Reserve.
CAUTION: Permissive path between eight arch bridge and Stackpole Quay may be subject to closure.

A walk where you’ll see lakes, lush woodland and dramatic quarries.

The steep-sided valley in which the eastern arm of Bosherston Lily Ponds lies is swathed with trees and the floor of the wood is covered with wild flowers such as bluebells, violets and primroses in spring and early summer.

June is the best time to see water lilies on the ponds, and the eight arch bridge across the pond is beautiful.

The woods are particularly good for birds with treecreepers, nuthatches, tawny owls, great spotted woodpeckers and jays.

The limestone cliffs on and around Stackpole Head (between Broad Haven South and Barafundle Bay) are spectacular.

The sea has sculpted stacks, caves, arches, inlets and headlands, and razorbill, guillemot, chough, peregrine falcon and raven live here.

Barafundle Bay is relatively inaccessible and is usually quiet there are beautiful dunes behind the beach, and woods beyond.

Stackpole Quay, formerly a limestone quarry, is now a tiny harbour – look out for the square limekiln.

Libby Taylor, South Sector Senior Ranger for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority has done this walk. She says: “The beautifully remote Barafundle Bay is my favourite beach. There’s no vehicular access, which adds to its quiet charm. With the fabulous limestone cliffs and the eastern section of Bosherston lily ponds on a quiet, tranquil stretch of path, this walk is a definite favourite amongst the South Rangers!”

Text provided by the BBC