Winter day trip to West Wales

It was a beautiful frosty sunny Sunday, so we decided to head West for a day out.

We left Swansea at 10am and after a pretty smooth, easy drive we arrived in Castlemartin, Pembrokshire at 11.20am. Castlemartin is a pretty unique place, as it is home to a MOD firing range, so you will need to check the website for range opening times.

If you arrive on a day when the range is closed, you can always go to the spectator area to watch the tanks and training – take binoculars!

Castlemartin is also home to Stack Rocks and The Green Bridge of Wales, the reason we were there. These are remarkable and spectacular natural rock formations on the Pembrokeshire coastline. It’s only a short walk from the car park to the viewpoints, and so well worth it.

From here, we headed to Freshwater West, where we had a picnic in the car (it was pretty cold!) and then had a refreshing walk on the beach. If you’re lucky you may see work by natural sculpturist @scultptheworld. This beach was also a location in the Harry Potter films, and where Dobby was buried. You can find Dobby’s grave in the sand dunes, where fans from all over the world have paid their respects by decorating pebbles and leaving socks for the popular House Elf.

We then jumped back in the car (to warm up!) and head to Bosherston Lily Ponds. There are a few routes you can take around the ponds and all are spectacular. With Broadhaven South Beach, Eight Arch Bridge and The Stack Pole Estate, you are quite spoilt for choice. There is a chance you will be lucky enough to spot otters and other wading and sea birds.

It was most definitely time to pop into St Goven’s Inn only a 2 minute walk from the Lily Ponds car park, for a warm drink and bowl of Cawl before heading home.

We didn’t on this occasion, but if you have time, it is definitely worth visiting St Goven’s Chapel too!