Walking the Wales Coast Path - Pembrokeshire - Stackpole Quay to Freshwater East
I am trying to do at least one Wales Coast Path walk each week at the moment, and despite the Carmarthenshire section being decidedly closer to home and shorter, I just can’t seem to go anywhere but Pembrokeshire right now and this walk from Stackpole Quay to Freshwater East did nothing to persuade me otherwise.
A relatively short section of the coastal path, at just 3 miles each way, but a gap that I needed to fill in having already walked to Freshwater East from Manorbier, and from Stackpole round to Broad Haven south on many occasions, before I even started this challenge. (As a side note there is an amazing 5 mile circular walk from Stackpole to Broad Haven South via Bosherston lily ponds if you haven’t done it yet!)
This was another walk I did solo, and one where I needed to walk there and back, so a 6 mile walk in total. The walk was relatively easy going, as Pembrokeshire coastal walks go. There were still a good few sections of up and down hill, but none particularly steep. If, like me, you’re not the biggest fan of hills, and you want to do this walk in one go, rather than there and back, then walking from Freshwater East to Stackpole Quay did seem slightly more downhill, but that could have just been psychological. I always seem to find the walk back easier, I think because I know where I am, and what to expect.
As for views, this walk definitely delivers. The whole stretch is non stop jaw dropping beauty, and you are actually on the coast the whole time too. No detours into woods, or to bypass private land, it is a truly coastal path and it is really beautiful.
I parked in the National Trust car park at Stackpole Quay. I’ve been there many times before, but have always walked in the direction of Barafundle. I had no idea how stunning the coast was in the other direction. I definitely won’t be neglecting it again. I think most other visitors were making the same mistake I used to, as the path to Freshwater East was really quiet. Knowing there was an amazing national trust cafe waiting for me on my return definitely helped spur me on for the walk back too. I also couldn’t resist popping to Barafundle briefly before I drove home, always a beautiful sight to behold.
Completing this section of the coastal path did actually mean I was able to check off another section in my Pembrokeshire passport, from Stackpole Quay to Manorbier. I’ve update my progress on the map below. Not much of an update, but my next walk covers a good 10 miles of the coastal path, so watch this space!
My progress on the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path as of 7/5/21.
