A new estate on a hot day - Tuesday 3rd July

Today we went further afield to visit a big National Trust estate, Stackpole, that Laura had visited a couple of years ago, and enjoyed. 

I asked Ian to drive, and tried to get us there by map - not a great idea because we got totally confused by the lack of road signs when coming off the toll bridge outside Pembroke. When we asked the satnav to find us, there was some improvement but, as the estate is so large, and comprises several sections, it was hard to know where to start. So we plumped for the walled garden where we found coffee and an estate map. 

We moved the car down to the other Broad Haven, and set off on a circular walk. It took us down the cliff and across the beach, which was lovely, baking hot sand - difficult to walk on. Up the other side with a rock scramble, and then round several headlands and down to Barafundle Bay. Later Laura told us that this is said to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Up the other side and on and down to Stackpole Quay for lunch outside in the shade. 

The next stretch was a bit of a trudge out in the open, under the sun and straight across farmland to the Bosherton lakes. It was rather lovely walking under the trees but we had no wish to go far. Soon after we found lilies, we left the lake and climbed up to the level of the walled garden, where we had tea and cake. With the weather being so hot, it was quite hard work making our way to the south end of the lakes, across Broad Haven beach and back up to the car. 

To have a swim would have meant going back down and up, which we were not up for.

The journey home was straightforward and we came back for a dish of pasta. Ian has developed a taste for gin and tonic!

6 miles