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WALK 3

Bosherston and the Lily Ponds

Start/finish	Bosherston (SR 966 948)
Distance	1¾ miles (2.8km)
Total Ascent	445ft (135m)
Time	1hr
Terrain	Lakeside paths
Maps	Explorer OL36 South Pembrokeshire
Refreshments	Ye Olde Worlde Café and St Govan’s Inn at Bosherston
Toilets	Adjacent to car park
Public transport	Seasonal bus service to Bosherston
Parking	National Trust car park behind Bosherston's church (charge)

The Bosherston Lily Ponds are at their best in early summer when the flowers are in full bloom, and are a favourite destination for many visitors to this part of Pembrokeshire. Several paths meander through the old Stackpole estate and offer a choice of easy rambles taking in the splendid woodland of the sheltered valleys, spectacular clifftop scenery and some marvellous beaches as well as the lakes themselves. This and the following walk explore some of the best corners and can either be undertaken individually or combined to make a longer day out.

Looking up the western arm of the lakes

Begin from the National Trust car park below Bosherston's church, following a path beyond the toilets down into woodland. Keep ahead past a junction and carry on a little further to reach a causeway across the upper end of the western arm of the Lily Ponds. The ongoing path follows the opposite bank, and where the track shortly forks, either way will do (the one on the right crests a rocky prominence from which there is a splendid view across the foot of the three lakes). The ways combine and lead to a second causeway, this crossing the middle arm. Go right on the far side, signed towards Broad Haven, the path winding around to a bridge across the longer, eastern arm. The walk described from Stackpole – Walk 4 – brings you to this point from across the bridge. If you want to combine the two, turn left and follow the eastern arm up, referring to the instructions given.

The Lily Ponds comprise a trio of narrow lagoon-like inlets weaving their watery fingers inland amidst gently rolling countryside. They are man-made, and were created in the late 18th century by damming the valley behind the beach at Broad Haven to provide a decorative feature for the grand, but now demolished, house of Stackpole Court. Flowering in June, the water lilies thrive on the lime-rich waters, which support an abundance of interesting wildlife. Among the birds commonly seen are kingfishers and herons, and the swans that live here often create a splendid show as they take off or land on the water. Equally eye-catching are the iridescent dashes of dragonflies and damselflies. If you walk quietly you might spot large pike lurking in the shady waters by the bank or, if you are very lucky, even see otters splashing about as they hunt for fish.

The Lily Ponds

To return to Bosherston, cross the bridge and keep right with the waterside path towards Broad Haven. At a junction behind the beach by the foot of the Lily Ponds, turn right over a small stone bridge and continue up beside the western lake. Later, over a bridge spanning a side creek, keep right, shortly passing an abandoned brick building, an old pump house that provided water for the army camp. At a junction just beyond, go left back up to the car park.

Above the car park and standing on the site of an even earlier building is the charming Norman church of St Michael and All Angels. Inside, under the northern transept window lies a carved tomb, thought to be the Dowager Duchess of Buckingham, while on the south side is that of a 14th-century crusader knight. The font is perhaps as old as the church, but many other ancient features were lost during restoration work in the middle of the 19th century.