Swanlake Bay and East Moor.

Start. Manorbier.

Route. Manorbier - Dovecote - The Dak - Atlantic View - East Moor - Swanlake Bay - Long Cave - East Moor Cliff - The Dak - Manorbier Bay - Manorbier.

Notes. Swanlake Bay something of a hidden gem, unlike most of Pembrokeshire’s beaches it takes a little effort to reach, hence it’s quiet, you may even have it to yourself. Turn up at high tide your welcomed by a shingle bank backed by cliffs, but low tide reveals golden sand and rock pools, just check the tide times first.

Manorbier is a fine sea side village with an exquisite sandy cove and bloody great medieval castle overlooking the bay, beneath the fortress walls a large car park pays testament to the popularity of the place.

We set out from said car park the tarmac access road under foot, we soon found ourselves on a short diversion to visit a medieval dovecote, one of the best preserved domed dovecotes in Wales, apart from a fresh food source the droppings (guano) were used as fertiliser to freshen the soil. Soon back on track we ascended the tarmac lane, now climbing it was steep and we were hot, the last few days had been the hottest on record but today broke all records, with high humidity it was hard to keep cool. We climbed passed a bungalow with a strange name, The Dak, we wandered passed Atlantic View before joining a footpath that guided us between hedge rows and fence lines, passed East Moor Farm then down a steep descent, at the foot of which the welcome site of Swanlake Bay, we stumbled onto the shingle completely worn out.

We sat ages cooling in the sea breeze, drinking lots of water, watching dark storm clouds bubbling up over the horizon, when the first rumbles of thunder echoed across the bay we thought we ought to move. So move we did back up the cliff the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path now under foot, above Long Cave we climbed, as we passed above East Moor Cliff the rain started, to hot to don waterproofs wet we got. With lightning flashing across the bay and heat exhaustion almost getting the best of us (me) we soldiered on, after what seemed ages we passed The Dak on the seaward side then descended to Manorbier Bay.

There’s been warnings on the TV all week about bathing in cold water when hot, did I heed any of them, not a chance I needed to cool, into the water I went. This walk was supposed to continue over the next headland but thunder and lightning was an omen not to be ignored, so we followed a small stream the short distance back to the car park.

view route map.

home.

A Norman knight Odo de Barri was granted land in the 11th century, he erected a wooden hall on the site of the castle, his son built this imposing construction a number of years later.

The domed building sitting in the trees is a medieval dovecote, one of the best preserved in Wales.

A door allows access, apart from a fresh food source the droppings (guano) were used for freshen the fields.

Ascending towards Atlantic View soaking up views over Manorbier Bay to the Priest's Nose.

Viewing East Moor and West Moor Cliff from near Atlantic View.

Swanlake Bay, one of the quieter beaches on the Pembrokeshire coast.

The tide's in so we don't get to walk across the bay, but we do have the beach to ourselves.

Looking to East Moor Cliff with dark thunder clouds crossing the horizon.

Seen from East Moor, Swanlake Bay.

The route ahead with views to Priest's Nose and Old Castle Head.

It may be raining but the views along the jagged edge where land meet sea are still breath-taking.

Striding out over the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, approaching the beach at Manorbier.

Viewing the Priest's Nose from the edge of the beach at Manorbier.

Looking to the far horizon to the headlands of St Govan's and Stackpole.

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