A Coach Trip To The National Trust's Stackpole Estate
13th August 2022
Leader: Andrew Morgan
Swansea Ramblers have occasional coach trips to walk further afield. We needed two medium size coaches to negotiate the narrow roads of Stackpole. Fifty-three walkers signed up for the trip, despite the warnings of very hot sunny weather.
Stackpole Estate was owned by the Cawdor family. The mansion was demolished in 1963 when the family were denied permission to remodel it. The estate was transferred to the National Trust in 1967. Some history of the family and sketches of the mansion can be seen on the website of the Pembrokeshire Historical Society.
We began our walk from the Stackpole Centre and were glad of the cool sea breeze that crossed the farmland. The temperature was about 28 degrees but felt much cooler. A cool, shaded woodland kept us out of the heat until we crossed the lovely and very busy Barrafundle Beach. From there we ascended onto the cliffs for a tea stop overlooking the coast with views to Caldey Island. A sea breeze continued to keep us cool.
We turned inland for lunch above the lakes. It was too hot to sit in the sun so we decided to make for the shade of the trees. After that we visited a Neolithic Settlement where the fields eventually were abandoned to the inexorable encroachment of sand. Further along we saw The Devil's Quoit, a standing stone.
We made our way to the walled garden where the cafe made a welcome stop for coffee, cakes and ice-cream! After enjoying the break, we made our way to the flattened site of the Georgian Mansion. From the terrace, we could look down the lake to the 18th Century 8-arch bridge and beyond. Another shady, cool walk alongside the lake brought us to the lower lake and we made our way to Bosherston Village. The walk finished at St. Govan's Inn where we re-hydrated and enjoyed a post-walk social before making our way back to Swansea. Yet another successful and memorable coach walk for Swansea Ramblers. Watch out for more coach trips and socials in the future!
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Photographs
Leader Andrew Morgan
Leaving the Stackpole Centre
Looking southward down one of the lakes
And to the north
Crossing the estate bridge
Joining the broad farm track
And passing through the electric fence
Into woodland shade
Catch-up under the shade
A lovely, cool, wooded path and a fallen tree to go under
Descending towards Barrafundle
Emerging into the dunes
A few steps from Barrafundle
With Caldey Island in the distance
Here is Barrafundle Beach with lots of people on the beach
Leaving the dunes
And kicking through the sand
Across the beach to the cliffs
Onto the cliffs with more views of Caldey Island
So we had a tea stop to enjoy the view
Then we continued west along the cliffs
Time for another catch-up
It takes time to gather 53 walkers!
Church Rock in the distance
The National Trust has mown paths in the grass
Swansea Ramblers with Church Rock behind us
Raming Hole
Church Rock again
The name Stackpole comes from the Norse name for Church Rock
Inland for our first sight of the lower section of lake
Then started to climb to see the view
A lovely viewpoint over the lakes and Broad Haven Beach
And the Obelisk commands the viewpoint
A stone structure with four stone seats
Where tired walkers can admire the view
But as it was so hot, we made for the leafy shade
A Boleta Toadstool at the lunch stop
Then we headed further inland to the Neolithic Settlement
We made our way to the standing stone
The Devil's Quoit
Retraced our way past the electrified fence
Back to the bridge
Following the estate road to the Walled Garden
We had coffee and cakes in the cafe then walked though more of the garden
Onto the terrace of the demolished mansion
With the view of the bridge
Which we saw from the other side as we headed south
Single file to cross the bridge over the Lily ponds
Heading for the village of Bosherston
Which is our journey's end
And a drink in the St. Govan's Inn
Two coachloads of thirsty Ramblers descended on the pub!
Some of us sat outside with the coach drivers
We were joined on our walk by Nigel Lee from Pembrokeshire Ramblers
He has sent us this collage of flora and fauna seen on the way. Thank you Nigel
(Identification is provisional)
images left to right
Slime Mould - False Puffball - Reticularia lycoperdon (white dry state),
-- also honey fungus Rhizomorphs (black lattice bits)
Common Grass-veneer moth - Agriphila tristella ?
Meadow Brown Butterflies mating
Greater knapweed- Centaurea scabiosa
Dock Bugs - Coreus marginatus (Adult & late instar nymph)
Straw Dot moth- Rivula sericealis
Yellow Shell moth Camptogramma bilineata ?
Bolete Lurid fungi - Suillellus luridus or simular ?
Eyebright plant species - maybe Euphrasia officinalis ?
Ordnance Survey map of the route walked
Resizable and draggable (Can be reset to original dimensions by refreshing the page)
Green Swansea Ramblers logo markers where present can be clicked to provide more information
All photographs Copyright
Andrew Morgan 2022
All rights reserved
