Barafundle Bay

FreeoutdoorStackpole, Pembrokeshire

A south-facing cove accessible only on foot, white sand, clear water, and the cliffs of the Pembrokeshire coast.

Free entry

Barafundle Bay has no road access. You park at Stackpole Quay and walk 20 minutes along the cliff path to reach it, which means it retains a quality that most beaches in Britain have lost. The sand is pale, the water is exceptionally clear, and the cliffs on either side are National Trust managed, no development, no beach infrastructure beyond what nature provided.

Various guidebooks have called it one of the top ten beaches in the world. That framing is travel writing doing what travel writing does, but the beach is genuinely extraordinary. Come in May or September for the best weather-to-crowds ratio.

Address

Stackpole, Pembroke SA71 5LS

Weather

Best on dry days

Vibes