Couldn't see any thread on this one. It's a fine, very relaxed unofficial beach on the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, but we haven't been for a number of years. Has anyone been lately, and does anyone know if parking is still available at West Moor Farm with the donation box? If it's not then I suppose the walk from Manorbier will do us good.
I've never been in Swanlake beach, so I'd love to obtain recommendations about parking and access to the beach.
The photos on the internet look very promising!
Looking to make our own return to this one. The latest news I can find online is that the car park at the farm has closed, so parking at Manorbier is probably best, with a 1.5 mile walk along the coastal path.
https://www.naturist-holiday-guide.com/swanlake-bay-near-manorbier-tenby-pembrokeshire.html
Think getting there early might be important for parking this year.
Looking to make our own return to this one. The latest news I can find online is that the car park at the farm has closed, so parking at Manorbier is probably best, with a 1.5 mile walk along the coastal path.
https://www.naturist-holiday-guide.com/swanlake-bay-near-manorbier-tenby-pembrokeshire.html
Think getting there early might be important for parking this year.
I've been once to Manorbier in the summer. The car park was not busy.
Manorbier is pretty and the castle is nice.
Can only report positive news, Swanlake Bay is as fantastic as ever.
Parking is now in Manorbier, we walked a mile and half up and down and around the coastal path which is a very pleasant walk - if steep in bits - others apparently use the footpath that cuts inland, either way it's worth it.
We spent two super days there, in the sunshine and and sheltered from a cool northerly breeze by the south-facing aspect of the bay. Swimming is perfectly possible, though probably best at low and high tides, mid-tides there are some rocks you need to just be a little bit careful about, although the water is so clear you have no problem seeing them. The sand is mix from a shingle and rockpools at one end to a lovely soft sand at the other, and for those who enjoy wildlife like raven, chough and red kite patrol the skyline above.
A nice mix of naturists and textiles, at it's busiest maybe 15-20 people, so didn't feel busy one bit. Textiles were absolutely fine with our nudity, we strolled through a the shallows past dogwalkers and families, not a problem. As for the naturists, a bit more in the way of couples, young and old (not that there's anything wrong with lone males!), and not really any meerkats. We did feel like one naturist set himself up to spend about an hour watching us at one point, putting us straight in his eyeline, or maybe he just happened to be looking our way whenever we looked his, enough doubt not to feel too bothered. Otherwise, like certain other unofficial beaches I think it's probably too far for the gawpers to walk.
On our previous visit we did a stretch of the coastal path nude after we'd enjoyed the beach, this year the path felt a bit too busy for that. Absolutely fine that they could see us nude on the beach as they walked by, but on this occasion we decided not to share the path that way with them.
One of those beaches we know think of as one of ours.
Thanks for the review! very helpful.