Barafundle Bay Beach is a beautiful sandy beach located near the village of Stackpole, on the south coast of Pembrokeshire in Wales. Here is a complete guide.
How To Get To Barafundle Bay Beach
Barafundle Bay Beach is regularly listed as one of the top beaches in Britain and the world. This makes it a favourite with locals and tourists, who visit all year round.
On Foot
Barafundle Bay Beach is on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path and makes a great stopping point if you’re walking between Bosherston and Freshwater East.
Bus
Buses number 387 and 388 stop near Barafundle Bay.
Car
The closest you can park to Barafundle Bay Beach is at Stackpole Quay car park which is about 0.5 miles (0.8km) from the beach.
Once off the main roads, the lanes to access Stackpole Quay car park are quite narrow single lanes with passing places, so drive carefully.
This is a National Trust pay-and-display car park (SA71 5LS). Charges are £2 for 2 hours up to £5 for the day. (£2 after 2pm)
Take some change with you as the parking machines do not accept cards.
There are public toilets in this car park.
The walk from Stackpole Quay to Barafundle Bay Beach is only half a mile but you walk over quite rugged headland and there are some steep steps to climb, so it can take 10 to 20 minutes to get to the beach.
For those short on time, or that prefer everything to be organised for them, there are some awesome tours on Get Your Guide available to book in advance.
Barafundle Bay Beach Entrance Fee
Barafundle Bay Beach is free to visit.
Barafundle Bay Beach Opening Times
Barafundle Bay Beach is open all day, every day.
Best Times To Visit Barafundle Bay Beach
This beautiful beach can get busy during the school holidays and at weekends, especially when the weather is warm. So if you like it a bit quieter, visiting outside of these times would be advisable.
Remember to take everything you need with you as there are no facilities at the beach.
Use the public toilets in the car park before heading off to the beach.
It’s a bit of a hike to get to the beach, so save some energy to get back!
The walk is fine for children but not pushchair or wheelchair friendly, as there are lots of steps and fields to get across.
Check out the tide times before you visit to make sure you have plenty of beach to play on and that you don’t get cut off by the incoming tide.
Don’t forget a picnic
What To Pack
What To Expect At Barafundle Bay Beach
A truly natural wonder, Barafundle Bay Beach with its soft golden sand and crystal clear waters, is regularly listed as one of the top beaches in Britain and the world.
Similar to Llangrannog Beach, it’s definitely worth a visit on any day of the year. Come summer Barafundle Bay Beach on a warm day, has even been likened to being in the Caribbean!
Sandwiched between two cliffs and backed by dunes and pine trees, Barafundle Bay Beach is quite sheltered. This makes it a bit of a sun trap and ideal for beach activities like sunbathing and swimming.
There are no pebbles on this beach so it is perfect for children who can enjoy running around, playing games on the soft sand and making sandcastles.
Activities
Other activities you can enjoy at Barafundle Bay Beach are surfing, when there are waves, paddle boarding and kayaking.
This is a dog friendly beach all year round and beach loving dogs will absolutely love it here.
This pristine beach is quite isolated which means there are no facilities. So remember that everything you take has to come back up over the cliffs!
A visit to Barafundle Bay Beach is definitely worth a visit and makes for a great family beach day if visiting this area.
We visited on a rather cloudy day, following our trip to St Govan’s Chapel. So although the weather wasn’t great, it was much a quieter than trip than it would be in the peak of summer.
I even took a venture out to the left hand side of the rocks and spotted a seal swimming close to the shore.
If you do go exploring the rocks and caves please be careful and wear safe footwear.
Next stop on the Wales itinerary was Freshwater West Beach and an amazing food truck!
Where To Stay In South Wales
Luxury
Swansea Valley Holiday Cottages
Just 2 miles from Pontardawe, Swansea Valley Holiday Cottages feature family-run, self-catering accommodation on a farm, 10 miles from Gower Peninsula and 8 miles from Brecon Beacons National Park.
Free Wi-Fi and free private parking are provided.
Set in traditional stone buildings, the cottages sit in a 100-acre property offering panoramic views of the Welsh countryside.
They all come with a fully equipped kitchen, an outdoor dining area with BBQ facilities and a living room.
Some cottages also offer a washing machine and tumble dryer. They either have river views or courtyard views. One also has a private garden.
Mid-Budget
In Swansea’s historic Maritime Quarter, Morgans Hotel provides luxurious rooms with free Wi-Fi, 5 minutes’ walk from the city centre.
This grade II listed building also has a relaxed restaurant and a stylish bar.
Equipped with a flat-screen TV and a sleek private bathroom with toiletries, each air-conditioned room also has Egyptian cotton bedding. Rooms in the separate Townhouse all boast elegant hardwood floors and some rooms are air-conditioned.
Guests dine in the boardroom of this former home of the Port Authority. A modern European menu is on offer, whilst Morgans Bar has sofas, cocktails, chilled beers and wines from around the globe.
This property is 10 minutes walk from the beach.
Budget
Neon 160 is set in Swansea, 0.6 miles from Swansea Marina and 1.1 miles from Cathedral Church of St Joseph.
Among the facilities at this property are a shared kitchen and a shared lounge, along with free WiFi throughout the property.
The property is close to popular attractions like Loughor Castle, Gower College Swansea and Swansea Crown Court.
Selected rooms also offer a kitchen with a microwave, a fridge and an oven.
For more places to stay in Wales, you can check the latest prices on Booking.com.
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