Photo: Gordon Hatton (CC BY-SA 2.0)Lily ponds, limestone cliffs and Barafundle Bay — the Stackpole estate packs Pembrokeshire's most photographed corner into one parish.
Bosherston is a tiny village with an outsized portfolio. The famous lily ponds — flooded limestone valleys, at their flowering best in June — wind down to Broad Haven South's white sand; otters live here and are seen surprisingly often at quiet times of day. Over the headland lies Barafundle Bay, the golden cove with no road, reachable only by the half-mile clifftop walk from Stackpole Quay, and perennially voted among the best beaches in Britain.
Beyond, the Castlemartin limestone runs west past the Green Bridge of Wales and Stack Rocks (check range opening times) and St Govan's Chapel, a hermit's cell wedged impossibly into the cliff — count the steps down and up; legend says the totals never match. The Stackpole Inn is a destination dining pub, and the St Govan's Country Inn does honest pints under climbing photos. Staying in the parish means you can reach Barafundle before the day-trippers.
Cottages in Bosherston and Stackpole villages are few and precious; nearby St Petrox, St Twynnells and Castlemartin farms widen the net. Freshwater East and Pembroke are the fallback bases, 10–15 minutes out.
Bosherston & Stackpole · Sleeps 4 · 2 beds
Bosherston may be a tiny village but it s the epicentre of the Pembrokeshire climbing scene with the limestone cliffs crisscrossed by up to a thousand hard climbing routes including some of the most taxing routes in the UK. Explore The National Trust Bosherston Lily ponds which a
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Not after a cottage? 4 campsites in and around Bosherston & Stackpole — every one we hold a record for, from open data.
Dogs all yearThe golden cove with no road — half a mile's clifftop walk from Stackpole Quay, and regularly voted among Britain's best beaches.
Dogs all yearWhite sand, Church Rock offshore and the lily ponds behind — Bosherston's beautiful back door to the sea.
Dogs all yearReputedly Britain's smallest harbour, with a National Trust car park, café and toilets — and the start of the walk to Barafundle.
Dogs all yearA sheltered, dune-backed crescent facing south — easy parking, safe paddling and far fewer people than Tenby.
Dogs all yearA sandy bay between Freshwater East and Manorbier with no road access at all — usually empty, and entirely tide-dependent.
Compare all 5 beaches near Bosherston & Stackpole — distance, dogs, lifeguards, parking →
Pubs, restaurants, cafés, attractions and activities in and around Bosherston & Stackpole.
Everything to do in and around Bosherston & Stackpole, in one place →
Flooded limestone valleys of water lilies (best in June) winding down to Broad Haven South — otters at quiet hours.
The limestone showpiece: Barafundle, Stackpole Head's blowholes, Broad Haven South and St Govan's Chapel — 6 miles of the park's finest.
Wales's grandest natural arch and the guillemot-packed Elegug Stacks — on the Castlemartin range road (check opening).
A hermit's chapel wedged into the sea cliff — count the steps down and up; the totals famously never match.
Photo: Gareth James (CC BY-SA 2.0)Destination dining pub in Stackpole village — the natural refuel after Barafundle and the lily ponds.
Village café-bistro at Bosherston, steps from the lily ponds path — the refuel between St Govan's and Broad Haven South.
The best short walk in south Pembrokeshire: a cliff path to Barafundle, then inland along three flooded limestone valleys full of lilies.
5 miles · 2½–3½ hours · Moderate
The showpiece of the south coast — Elegug Stacks, Huntsman's Leap, the chapel in the cliff at St Govan's, Broad Haven South, Barafundle and Stackpole Quay in six and a half miles.
6.5 miles · 3–4 hours · Moderate
Flat clifftop limestone at the southern tip of Wales, with the best sea arch in the country and a 13th-century chapel wedged in a cleft.
4 miles · 2 hours each way · Easy
Every walk starting near Bosherston & Stackpole — distance, ascent, parking →
6 car parks within about 3 km of the centre — 3 recorded as free, 3 as charging. Space counts and operators where they are recorded, and no invented prices.
Every car park in Bosherston & Stackpole, sorted by distance →
MOD firing notice · GOV.UK
| Date | St Govan's road | Stack Rocks road |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 12 Oct | Closed 7:30am to 4:45pm | Closed 7:30am to 4:45pm |
| Tue 13 Oct | Closed day and night (24 hours from 7:30am) | Closed day and night (24 hours from 7:30am) |
| Wed 14 Oct | Closed 7:30am to 4:45pm | Closed 7:30am to 4:45pm |
| Thu 15 Oct | Closed day and night (24 hours from 7:30am) | Closed day and night (24 hours from 7:30am) |
| Fri 16 Oct | Closed 7:30am to 4:45pm | Closed 7:30am to 4:45pm |
| Mon 19 Oct | Open | Closed 7:30am to 4:45pm |
| Tue 20 Oct | Open | Closed day and night (24 hours from 7:30am) |
From the MOD's Castlemartin firing notice October 2026 (Crown copyright, OGL v3.0). Firing times and road closures can change without notice — check on the day before travelling.
Barafundle Bay is the nearest we list, about 1.2km (0.8 miles) away, followed by Broad Haven South (1.6km (1.0 miles)) and Stackpole Quay (2.2km (1.4 miles)). Distances are straight-line from the centre of the village, so allow more by road.
We list 2 pubs in and around Bosherston & Stackpole. There are another 2 places to eat and drink nearby — cafés, restaurants and bars.
We map 4 car parks in and around Bosherston & Stackpole, 2 of which charge. Coastal car parks fill early in July and August — arriving before 10am or after 4pm makes a real difference.
Yes — we have 3 written-up routes starting at or passing through Bosherston & Stackpole: Barafundle Bay and the Bosherston Lily Ponds, Stack Rocks to Freshwater East and Stack Rocks, the Green Bridge of Wales and St Govan's Chapel. Each one has distance, ascent, parking and the bits that catch people out.
We currently list 5 places to stay in and around Bosherston & Stackpole. We show prices and availability from the booking provider rather than holding our own, so what you see is what they have.
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.
Pembrokeshire's postcard town: pastel Georgian houses above three superb beaches, a working harbour and medieval walls — the classic Welsh seaside holiday.
Big sandy beach, busy little harbour and a proper seaside village centre — Tenby's more relaxed neighbour, three miles up the coast.
Britain's smallest city — a cathedral in a hollow, Whitesands Bay up the road, and the wildest, most beautiful corner of the national park all around.