Pembrokeshire Coastal Path Section 2- Tenby to Freshwater East
By Dave Roberts
on September 11, 2011 4/5 (1)
Posted as a walk in – Europe, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales, Wales Coast Path
Pembrokeshire Coastal Path Section 2- Tenby to Freshwater East
Route Essentials
Route Summary
See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.
Distance
20.03 kmAscent
386 mTime
Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.
Start Location
Difficulty
Moderate Walk
Hazards
Weather Forecast:
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Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.
Pembrokeshire Coastal Path Section 2- Tenby to Freshwater East Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download
Pembrokeshire Coastal Path Section 2- Tenby to Freshwater East
Day 2 of the Pembrokeshire Coastal path takes you from Tenby to Freshwater East. Make sure you’re up to date with the firing times at the firing range, or you might find this walk more exciting than expected.
Route Start | Dinbych y Pysgod | OS Map Required | Public Transport | Bus Services | |
Route End | Cyffylliog | Difficulties? | n/a | Facilities | Plenty en route |
I found myself at the wrong side of this town, so i had to walk through it again to get to the coastal path. I didn’t find it particularly touristy, but busy. It’s definately a well presented town despite the tourism, and was pleasantly surprised. Beware though that there are no indicators I found in the town of where the coastal path goes. So making for the promontory the castle lies on, i eventually made it to the North Beach. Second mistake of the day was made by following the path alongside the railway and then a section of main road before returning to the shore. Walking the beach would have been much better.
Like Rhode Wood yesterday, it was on leaving this beach that the walk proper started. Giltar Point is an excellent viewpoint back to Tenby, and you need to scramble a little to get to the actual point. This is also a rifle range, Penally, which has a number that you can ring 01834 845950 to see if they are firing. Some rather large red flags are placed at entry points on firing days, so it should be pretty obvious that they’re active.
The coast here isn’t dramatic, but the views are good. Lydstep Haven is a large park for chalets, with a private bar for residents, so move on. Towards the end of the beach, take steps right and up the hill. The path junction left is pretty obvious, and the path continues in an up and down roller coaster over to Skrinkle Haven. There are steps leading down to this beach, and would be an ideal place to stop for a break. There’s also a youth hostel here (Manorbier), where peole were today playing many hand drums.
Further military presence must be passed, the Marorbier Camp, but again it’s all clearly signposted, and following a pleasant coastal path youre soon in Manorbier. It’s meant to be a quiet beach, but was packed today (the curse of the School holidays). A small diversion leads to the carpark noted on the map and there was fortunately a van selling welcome drinks, though expensive.
Pull up the hill, and through someone’s garden before continuing on to Freshwater East. There’s only Swanlake Bay, where I had to stop to tend to burning feet. It was something to do with buring my insoles on a woodburner the previous night, and having to use bog standard insoles wasn’t bearing well for my feet. It was a quiet beach, with plenty of jetsam washed up making it a little tatty. A final up hill took me up and over West Moor Cliff and then down to Freshwater East’s wide beach.
It was a little busy here, but my feet appreciated a cooling paddle. It was a much better walk than the previous day, and a quick look at the ongoing route shows that it gets much quieter from this point onwards. This initially busy section would certainly make you appreciate the wilder parts a lot more.
Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks
Route Summary:
Route Start Location:
Distance |
Ascent |
Time |
20.03 km | 386 m |
Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.
Activivity Type: Moderate Walk
Summits and Places on this Route
Facilities
Check out the businesses nearby for more places to stay and drink.
Hazards
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.
Parking :
Public Transport:
Weather Forecast:
Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Guidebooks: