Pembrokeshire Coastal Path Day 2

Manorbier to Corston
Distance 19 miles
Ascent 620m
Weather: warm and sunny
Dunnock,  linnets, pippets, chough, house martins, osprey, guillemots.
Shiny gold bee

It was already quite warm indeed as we set off back to Manorbier beach, and there was a steady stream of people heading for the sands. We turned off up on to the undulating clifftop path, very warm, lined with spring flowers, with warblers, pippets and skylarks singing.

During the morning a sea mist came in, which obscured the distant views and maybe brought the temperature down fractionally.

The paths were lined with flowers, including scarlet pimpernel, cornflower, buttercups and ox eye daisies, forget me nots and white campion.

The going was dry and dusty, we hadn't drunk anywhere near enough water yesterday so were trying
to be good and have regular stops and drink plenty of water today.

Lunch was had in the shade at the NT boathouse at Stackpole, with well deserved ice-cream. From the cove we walked along the packed beach and up onto Stackpole Head. This is an impressive outcrop, with guillemot nesting on the cliffs, and rabbit holes eroding the tops. The walk from here was flat and grassy, although marred by Amber the dog giving everyone a heart attack by running away towards the cliff edge.

The path drops down at Broad Haven, and we had to cross to the other side of a tidal stream. Rob scrambled over the rocks, while I took off my shoes and socks off and paddled up. This was very pleasant, right up to the moment when I thought I had dropped one of my socks and had to go back and look for it. More paddling required. Turned out sock was there along.

Up on the Travellan Downs (rather more up than down) we called in at St Govens Chapel, a tiny chapel built into the cliffside with many stone steps down to it, and even more than coming back up.

The artillery range was open today as it is a bank holiday and we were able to walk through the open lands. There were other walkers and many climbers on the cliffs. On a fence post in the distance we saw an osprey, also a kestrel and buzzard. Just before left the edge of the cliffs for the day, we stopped to look at the Eligug stacks completely covered in guillemot and the natural arch the Green Bridge of Wales which is truly amazing. Especially from the viewing platform rather than peering over the edge.

The last couple of miles were on lanes, and then we turned off the PCP to get to our accommodation. We thought we would shorten the route along the wiggly road by using the footpaths across fields and up a bridleway. The bridleway was ok, a little muddy but the footpath across one field ended in a overgrown verge that involved scrambling down a slope through nettles and brambles. Eventually we made it on to the lane and into Corston and the comfort of Corston House.