Village café-bistro at Bosherston, steps from the lily ponds path — the refuel between St Govan's and Broad Haven South.
Hygiene 4/5Outdoor seating
Photo: Gordon Hatton (CC BY-SA 2.0)Barafundle Bay
The golden cove with no road — half a mile's clifftop walk from Stackpole Quay, and regularly voted among Britain's best beaches.
Barafundle's magic is its inaccessibility: there is no road, no café, no toilets — just a half-mile walk over the headland from Stackpole Quay (steps at both ends), then golden sand between pine-topped dunes and clear green water. Arrive before ten or after four in summer and you may share it with a handful of people; midday in August is busier but never resort-like, because everything must be carried in.
Swimming is good on calm days (no lifeguards — judge conditions yourself), the southern rocks give snorkelling in clear water, and the dunes at the back hold the warmth on bright spring days. Combine it with the lily ponds at Bosherston or tea at the Stackpole Quay café for the classic Stackpole day. Take your litter home — the beach's condition depends entirely on its visitors.
Where to eat and drink near Barafundle Bay
The nearest pubs, cafés and restaurants, closest first. Walking times are rough estimates on lane and cliff path — check opening hours before you rely on one.
1.3km away · about 20 min walk
1.3km away · about 20 min walk
Photo: Gareth James (CC BY-SA 2.0)SA71 5DF
Destination dining pub in Stackpole village — the natural refuel after Barafundle and the lily ponds.
Hygiene 5/5Dogs welcome
- Opening hours
- Today 12:00–14:30, 17:30–20:00
1.3km away · about 20 min walk
Tea rooms in Bosherston village — outdoor tables for the lily-ponds crowd.
Outdoor seating
1.4km away · about 20 min walk
The tearoom at Stackpole Quay — crab sandwiches and cake in the National Trust courtyard where the Barafundle walk begins. Location, perfected.
Hygiene 5/5Outdoor seating
1.6km away · about 25 min walk
Things to do near Barafundle Bay
- Stackpole National Nature Reserve — 0.3km
- Bosherston Lily Ponds — 1.1km
- The Harold Stone (Bosherston) — 1.5km
- St Govan's Chapel — 2.2km
- Greenala Point Iron Age Fort — 3.3km
- Green Bridge of Wales & Stack Rocks — 4.6km
- Elegug Stack Rocks — 5.2km
The next few hours
Nearest forecast point: The Haven
dry for the next few hours, around 13°C, gusting to 26 mph — hold on to the windbreak.
01:00
13°
Fair
W 26 mph
02:00
12°
Clear
W 26 mph
03:00
12°
Clear
NW 25 mph
04:00
12°
Clear
NW 24 mph
05:00
12°
Clear
NW 24 mph
06:00
12°
Fair
NW 23 mph
07:00
12°
Clear
NW 23 mph
08:00
12°
Clear
NW 24 mph
Forecast from MET Norway, used under CC BY 4.0. It's a forecast for the nearest of six points across the county, not for this exact spot — on a coast this shaped, one headland can be in sun and the next in rain.
Light today at Barafundle Bay
- Sunrise
- 07:34
- Sunset
- 18:42
- Daylight
- 11h 8m
The light goes gold from about 17:56.
Calculated for these coordinates, accurate to a minute or so. A cliff or a headland to your west will take the sun sooner than this suggests.
Tides near Barafundle Bay
Stackpole Quay · about 1 miles away
High water
06:57
Sat 10 Oct · 7.9m
Low water
12:47
Sat 10 Oct · 1.0m
High water
19:15
Sat 10 Oct · 8.1m
Low water
01:09
Sun 11 Oct · 1.0m
Predicted times from the UK Hydrographic Office. Wind and pressure shift real water levels, and the tide at a specific cove can run earlier or later than its port. Never plan a tidal crossing on this alone.
Bathing water quality
Natural Resources Wales
ExcellentLatest annual classification for the designated bathing water at Broad Haven (South)
This is a designated bathing water, sampled by Natural Resources Wales through the May–September season. Official record (Open Government Licence v3.0, © Natural Resources Wales). Classification as published when we last checked, 2026-08-21 — the official record always has the latest.
Before you go
The practical answers, from the people responsible for them, checked 2026-08-23.
Parking: Stackpole Quay
£4 for up to three hours, £8 all day.
Free for National Trust members — scan your card on arrival — and for Blue Badge holders and motorcycles. Barafundle has no car park of its own: this is the half-mile walk-in from Stackpole Quay.
Run by National Trust.
Source: National Trust, Stackpole Estate
Lifeguards
Barafundle Bay is not on the RNLI’s list of patrolled beaches, so there is no lifeguard service at any time of year. Judge the water yourself, and if you are at all unsure, swim somewhere that is patrolled.
Source: RNLI, 2026 patrol dates
Parking at Barafundle Bay
OpenStreetMap
4 car parks within a mile of the sand, 1 of them free. The nearest is about 1.1km (0.7 miles) away — roughly a 20-minute walk if you park there and carry everything in.
- 1.1km (0.7 miles)
Charges apply · National Trust
- 1.3km (0.8 miles)
Unnamed car park (Stackpole Walled Gardens)
Free · Stackpole Walled Gardens
- 1.4km (0.9 miles)
Charges apply · National Trust
- 1.5km (0.9 miles)
Overflow Parking
Charges apply
All parking around Bosherston & Stackpole →
Distances are straight-line from the beach, so the walk is usually longer — and on this coast it is often downhill on the way there. Charges and space counts come from OpenStreetMap contributors and can go out of date; we don’t print prices, because the map records whether a car park charges, not how much. In July and August the popular ones fill by mid-morning.
Visitor reviews
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Barafundle Bay: common questions
Can I take a dog to Barafundle Bay?
Dogs welcome all year — no seasonal restriction under Pembrokeshire County Council's summer beach bans. Leads near the grazed clifftops on the approach.
Where do you park for Barafundle Bay?
The nearest car park we map is Broad Haven, about 1.1km (0.7 miles) away (charges apply). There are 2 more within a mile.
Are there toilets at Barafundle Bay?
Yes — public toilets are mapped about 1.0km (0.6 miles) from the beach. Seasonal opening is normal on the Pembrokeshire coast, so treat winter as uncertain.
Answers are generated from what we actually hold in our database and refreshed as it changes. Opening hours, dog rules and prices move — check with the venue before you travel.
Stay near Barafundle Bay
Hand-picked places to stay in and around Bosherston & Stackpole, nearest first. Our picks are data-driven — we haven’t stayed — and we earn a commission when you book through a partner link. How that works.
Bosherston & Stackpole · Sleeps 4 · 2 beds
Log burner
- In Bosherston & Stackpole
- Best for: Climbers · lily-pond walkers
from £502/week
View stay →Bookable via holidaycottages.co.uk
Freshwater East · Sleeps 4 · 2 beds
- 3 miles away
- Best for: Families with young children · budget beach weeks
from £369/week
View stay →Bookable via holidaycottages.co.uk
Freshwater East · Sleeps 4 · 2 beds
- 3 miles away
- Best for: Two couples · friends
from £473/week
View stay →Bookable via holidaycottages.co.uk