As you regular readers know, we love to visit Broad Haven. Of course, the main attraction is Broad Haven Beach, however we also enjoy walking Broad Haven Boardwalk around the Slash Pond, visiting Broad Haven sunflower field and walking Haroldston Woods. Only a few weeks ago, I was saying to my mum that we needed to visit Haroldston Woods again. I continued that I’d love to visit the church there but sadly it’s closed. The next day, I saw on Facebook that St Madoc of the Ferns Church would be open as part of the Cadw Open Doors Festival so it was a sign that I needed to visit THAT weekend so we did. Read on to find out all about our walk from Broad Haven to St Madoc of Ferns church, through Haroldston Woods. I will do another post about the church in more detail.
Visiting Haroldston Woods
Park at the start of the walk Broad Haven North Beach Car Park, Milmoor Way (Sat Nav Postcode: SA62 3JH). Parking costs from £1.50 for an hour to £8 for 24 hours. I know that’s quite expensive but parking is free after 7 pm (perfect for an evening adventure) and will be free from November to March. There is also “donation only” parking available on the other side of Broad Haven. Pay by cash, card or through the PayByPhone App (car park number: 805744).
Head behind the Coastguard station to begin your walk.
Follow the footpath signs.
Some of this walk is on permissive paths owned by Broad Haven Caravan Parks and Haroldston Woods is actually privately owned and still up for sale as I mentioned in a previous blog post. Would you love to buy a woodland?
I first walked in these woods when we used to visit Broad Haven with Brownies. We used to have our pack holiday trips here in the old school. I remember walking behind the Youth Hostel and the Education Centre that used to be there ( I miss that!). I loved the boarded and little bridge areas. As I mentioned in my last post, I enjoyed the walk so much that I told my parents to walk here too and I walked around showing them all the things to see like a little tour guide. Jo came here on a school trip and one of her friends lost their welly in the mud- I wonder if this was before they boarded it!
There is a rope swing that the kids enjoyed playing on last time they came. If you’re staying in Broad Haven and just want a short nature walk, you could walk into these woods with a quick Scavenger Hunt list (e.g. Find a leaf, a twig, something red, a flower and a bug), then walk to the swing for a play and then the clearing to explore and just walk back again.
If you want a longer walk, continue with us…
Continuing the walk you will get to a wooden bridge over the stream. This isn’t the most accessible of walks. Parts of the walk are quite narrow and at an angle with tree roots covering the ground. My amazing stroke survivor sister managed it with a little help from us but I’m sure she’d confirm that it’s not the easiest. There also are not many benches to stop on for a rest. The steps to this bridge only have a rail one side, which would make it more difficult for some.
It’s become a family tradition to have a bridge selfie each time we cross! I am so lucky that my mum, in her seventies, is still enjoying these walks and adventures with us.
We walked here on the 5th September and it was beginning to look very autumnal.
I loved kicking the leaves up with my docs as I walked along. I really hope I can get get a new pair of black docs this year too. I say that every year but there’s always something we need more. They last forever once you have them though.
The berries added a lovely pop of red to the landscape.
Enjoying our walk. I’d read that it was twenty minutes from the carpark to the church but it took us a lot longer. I think everyone worried how far I was taking them.
Beautiful trees. I admit I am a tree hugger. It really does feel special to place your hands on a tree trunk. You can feel the life and energy within. This is good for grounding apparently and something I feel we all have a natural instinct to do and should do more.
A forest! The kids love running around this part. It would make a good picnic spot before returning back, or continuing on with the walk.
There are lots of natural archways created by the trees along the way.
The walk follows a streams so you can hear the relaxing trickle of water along the way. Ask a child or even yourself, what do you see, hear, smell, taste and touch? Another great grounding activity or inspiration for a piece of writing, such as a story, piece of descriptive writing or even a poem.
We eventually found a bench so celebrated with another selfie.
The trees and sunlight patterns are so beautiful.
We also came across a hanging rope swing. I wish I had the upper body strength needed to swing on this one. I also have a bad shoulder and dodgy hand at the moment (gosh, I love a moan don’t I?!) so would struggle even if I did. One day!
A beautiful larch tree. Another lovely activity for children in the woods is to identify the different trees they see.
Another natural archway.
We came across Timber Hill holiday accommodation along the way. It looks like such a peaceful, natural place to stay. I went to find them on Instagram and found I was already following them, but can put the location to it’s insta account now!
Then, we were very relieved to spot the church!
As you know, we were headed to the church on this occasion. After visiting the church, you can either return back the way you came, or return back so far and then choose the part Broad Haven Coastal Path way back to the car park or continue to the right past the farms and around the other side of Timber Hill. I haven’t walked that circular route yet, so will blog it in the future.
St Madoc of Ferns Church, Haroldston West
We arrived at St Madoc of Ferns Church. There has been a church on these grounds for over 1400 years. Sadly, due to a falling congregation, this church is now closed. Thankfully St Madoc of Ferns Community Group are preserving it. They opened it as part of Cadw’s Open Doors Festival. It was very interesting to visit. I will write a blog post about it and link it here.
It is believed that Saint Madoc founded a church at this spot around 583 AD. We presume he chose this location in the small valley as it offered protection from pirates and the weather (still an advantage in the 21st century). It’s also a beautiful land peaceful ocation for a church.
After an interesting tour of the church, we decided to walk back the way we came on this occasion. There was still lots to spot in the woods, such as the hairy roots of the mature poison ivy.
This tree is growing diagonally along the path. Mum helped to hold it up for us! She’s very strong!
We spotted Orange Pore Fungus growing on a mossy decaying log.
It’s an invasive fungus from Madagascar.
A still green Sycamore leaf. It’s interesting for children to collect leaves to either stick in a scrapbook and label or to draw around them or paint them and use as a stamper etc. They can then see how they turn brown in the coming months.
These leaves may have died from disease or drought during our recent heat wave but the dead brown leaves looked quite spooky in the woods.
This tree stump makes a natural bug house for many creatures to live on.
Heart shaped English Ivy. Ask children to look for the different shapes they see in the wood.
Another bridge selfie!
I love the sunlight shining on the stream. It’s such a beautiful walk.
We saw some interesting shapes in the tree stumps on the floor. Jo was particularly amused by this one? What do you see?
A nautical display of old buoys and a life ring. Inspiration for my coastal garden.
A white poplar tree looked beautiful against the blue sky.
The walk back, because we knew how fair it was, seemed a lot quicker than the walk to the church. We stopped and talked to people along the way too. We made it back to Broad Haven Car Park. There are free toilets close to the car park which were still open during our visit buy may be closed during the winter months.
Once here, you could walk across the beach or pop into one of the cafes for refreshments. Dave and I love enjoying a pizza at Rwts or with the family we get chips from Off the Hook Bistro– it’s not the cheapest chippy in Pembs but it does lovely vegan options like Battered Vegan Sausage and Tofu- so I love it!
Accessible Walks in Broad Haven
If you are looking for an accessible walk in Broad Haven, you could walk across the esplanade enjoying the sea views, if you can manage the slipway then take the slipway onto the beach. At low tide you can walk from Broad Haven to Little Haven on the flat sand. Another accessible walk is Broad Haven Boardwalk around the Slash Pond.
More Walks from Broad Haven
As I said earlier, in one direction you can walk to Little Haven from Broad Haven. Continuing in this direction, you will come to St Brides Haven (6 miles). In the other direction, one of our favourite walks is Broad Haven to Druidston (2.4 miles). From there, you could continue onto Nolton Haven and even Newgale. Another accessible walk is from Haroldston Chins Accessible Car Park to the Druidston Coastal Path.
Where to Stay in Broad Haven
There are lots of lovely places ot stay in Broad Haven. I mentioned Timber hill lodges above. Rwts is also a B and B. The Broad Haven YHA is situated in the suggested carpark. Interestingly, that is currently up for sale at the moment too but will still be ran as a youth hostel. See more places to stay in Broad Haven below:
I will publish a blog about our visit to St Madoc of Ferns Church soon. While you wait, here is our reel of St Madoc of Ferns Church.
Have you walked Haroldston Woods?
Watch our Broad Haven to Haroldston Woods Walk Reel:
Watch our Broad Haven to Haroldston Woods walk reel.
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