Barafundle Bay has been voted not only the best beach to visit in Pembrokeshire but as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and therefore it has to be one of the beaches in Pembrokeshire that you visit!
I love Barafundle Bay because of its remote location and cove beach.
How To Visit Barafundle Bay Beach
Here’s all the information you need to know on how to get to Barafundable Bay Beach in Pembrokeshire, Barafundle Bay parking and tips for visiting because you have to walk a bit to get to the beach and there are no nearby facilities!
Barafundle Bay Parking
Barafundle Bay is a secluded beach and doesn’t have a car park or road leading to it which makes it hard to work out how to get to when you are researching ‘where is Barafundle Bay’ and ‘how to get to Barafundle Bay!’
Therefore to get to Barafundle Bay you need to drive to Stackpole Quay!
Stackpole Quay Car Park
I used SA71 5LS as the Stackpole Quay postcode to find the Stackpole Quay car park or you can type Stackpole Quay car park into Google Maps.
Look out for the below sign which leads you down a small lane from the main road. This lane takes you to Stackpole Quay whether you are going from Tenby to Barafundle Bay or Bosherston to Barafundle Bay.
The lane is very narrow with enough room for only 1 car to pass in many places so make sure you drive slowly and carefully.
After Barfundle Bay, check out these 3 nearby hidden gems! Bosherston Lilly Ponds, St Govans Chapel, and Stack Rock Fort!
When you are close to arriving at the car park in Stackpole Quay for Barafundle Bay you’ll pass by a building with a car park first and you need to follow the road right around the U bend until you reach the main car park (this way you won’t go back and forth 3 times like I did thinking I had missed it!).
You’ll feel like you aren’t going the right way, but you are, just keep going around to the right.
Stackpole Quay car park is actually quite big and even on a busy Summers day in August, we managed to find parking so this shouldn’t be a problem for when you visit.
You need to pay for parking in cash only, the machine does not take card unfortunately and without cash, you aren’t going to be able to park anywhere. The car park fee for Barafundle Bay us £3.00 for 3 hours.
- More of my Pembrokeshire posts to help you see the best of the area:
- How to visit St Govan’s Chapel! A Hidden Chapel in Pembrokeshire!
- Amazing Glamping Pods in Pembrokeshire!
- How to see 5 Pembrokeshire Beaches in One Day!
- How To Visit the Bosherston Lilly Ponds!
- Things to do in Saundersfoot!
- How to Walk from Tenby to Saundersfoot!
Barafundle Bay Walk from Stackpole Quay
From the car park, there is a path to the right which goes past the toilets and The Boathouse Tea Room.
Barafundle Bay is not in Stackpole Quay though, you need to walk for a bit until you reach it and I’d say that the extra effort involved is why the beach is so beautiful and named as one of the best beaches in the world!
Google Maps says that the walk from Stackpole Quay to Barafundle Bay is just 0.5 miles each way. It is a bit up and down but is generally an easy walk and only took me 10 minutes or so.
The walk is fine for children, I saw a lot of children doing it however it is not pushchair friendly as there are a lot of stairs and the walk is over fields.
First you take some steps to the right which lead you into a field, you cross this field and the next which both have incredible views over the coastline. On a clear day you can see the coast the other side.
After the walk along the top of the fields, Barafundle Bay Beach will start coming into view.
Another reason I love it is because of the doorframe that you have to walk through before walking down the steps, I think this is really unique to Barafundle Beach. I’m not sure why it was built but you can imagine there’s a lot of history here!
The National Trust Sign at the top is also a great photo opportunity.
After Barfundle Bay, check out these 3 nearby hidden gems! Bosherston Lilly Ponds, St Govans Chapel, and Stack Rock Fort!
Barafundle Bay Things To Do
Barafundle Bay Beach is a perfect sand beach so it’s great for children to play on and great for sunbathing, there’s no rocks or pebbles here!
Swimming
From what I could see the water is also fairly calm and I’d say that because it is the bay it is protected from the wind which is why it seems so safe to swim in.
Water Activities at Barafundle Bay
Things to do in Barafundle Bay include surfing when there are waves, paddleboarding when there are no waves and kayaking. You’ll see people here all year round in their wet suits ready to get in the water at Barafundle Beach.
From Stackpole Quay, there are kayaking tours that leave and take you all the way around to Barafundle Bay and further on. I saw a lot of kayaks out and it’s likely you’ll see a seal or two in the water! Here’s some information on Kayaking and Coasteering at Stackpole.
Barafundle Bay is a perfect beach in Pembrokeshire to visit all year round. In the summer you can sit on the beach and enjoy the weather but even if you visit on a non-beach day, it’s still great to do the walk from Stackpole Quay to Barafundle Bay, walk down to the beach and then back again.
If you are feeling extra adventurous and want a really big walk, you can also walk along the top of the fields towards Bosherston and Broad Haven South Beach and back again.
Barafundle Bay FAQ’s
How long is the walk to Barafundle Bay?
The walk from Stackpole Quay Car Park to Barafundle Bay is just 0.5 miles and takes 10-15 minutes up some stairs and through fields on the cliff top. It is a relatively easy walk.
How do you get to Barafundle Bay in Pembrokeshire?
To get to Barafundle Bay you should follow signs to Stackpole Quay, park in Stackpole Quay car park and walk 10-15 minutes from the car park to Barafundle Bay Beach.
Are dogs allowed on Barafundle Bay?
Yes, Dogs are allowed on the beach and it’s a really good walk for dogs.
How far is Barafundle Bay from Tenby?
It’s a 30 minute drive from Tenby to Barafundle Bay car park which is in Stackpole Quay and then a 10-15 minute walk. So 45 minutes in total. It is a good idea to visit Tenby and Barafundle Bay on the same day.
Is Stackpole open?
Yes, the car park in Stackpole is open for visitors to park and walk to Barafundle Bay from.
Tips for Visiting Barafundle Bay
No Facilities at the Beach – The nearest toilets and cafe are at Stackpole Quay, once you are at Barafundle Bay there is nothing. This is one of the reasons why it’s so nice but something to keep in mind.
Ok for dogs – Dogs are allowed on the beach and it’s a really good walk for dogs.
Not wheelchair or pushchair accessible – Due to two sets of stairs the walk to Barafundle Bay is not suitable for wheelchairs. I did see one couple with a pushchair but I would advise against taking one for the same reasons.
Dress Appropriately – In the summer if it hasn’t been raining the track os dry and easy to walk along in sandals, however if you visit in the winter and in the wet and cold months I would recommend better walking shoes and warm clothing as you are walking right up on top of the cliffs and it will get very windy and cold!
Take Change for Car Parking – The car parking machine only takes cash, its currently £3.00 for 3 hours.
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