Bosherston Lily Ponds Dog Walk | St Govan's Country Inn, Bosherston | Pembrokeshire

At a glance

• Where: Bosherston, Stackpole Estate, Pembrokeshire, Wales.
• Walk: Bosherston Lily Ponds trail, 1 mile (1.6 km) on the official National Trust eight-stage loop.
• Allow: about 30 minutes walking time, plus pauses for wildlife and a pub visit.
• Difficulty: Moderate by National Trust grading despite the short distance; steps, roots, narrow causeways and a steeper section.
• Start and finish: Bosherston Lily Ponds car park, sat-nav postcode SA71 5DR. This National Trust postcode also covers Broad Haven South parking, so follow signs for Bosherston Lakes car park, not the beach car park.
• Pub: St Govan's Country Inn, Bosherston, Pembroke SA71 5DN, a short village stop from the trail.

The walk

Descend from the Bosherston car park to the lake, cross the western and central causeways and follow the paths towards Grassy Bridge and the outlet towards the sea. Return along the western arm to the village. Waterlilies usually put on their best show in June and July, but the ponds, reeds and woodland are interesting at other times too.

Use the National Trust's mapped one-mile Bosherston Lily Ponds trail. The page includes an eight-stage route and downloadable print map. An optional beach extension is not included in this one-mile distance.

What dog owners should know

• Leads required: the National Trust specifically welcomes dogs on leads on this trail. Respect wildlife and other visitors throughout.
• Water and wildlife: the lakes are home to waterbirds and other sensitive wildlife. Don't let dogs chase birds, enter the water or disturb reedbeds.
• Causeways and steps: two narrow causeways, uneven steps, roots and a steeper section make the loop unsuitable for wheels and potentially awkward for less mobile dogs.
• Optional coast: Broad Haven South and dunes can be reached on longer outings, but don't add them while relying on the one-mile map. Check beach restrictions, tide and access notices separately.

Back to the pub: St Govan's Country Inn

St Govan's Country Inn sits in Bosherston close to the ponds. The venue listing marks it pet-friendly; Pembrokeshire visitor information and dog-walking listings indicate dogs are welcome in the bar and outside seating areas, not throughout the dining rooms. Request a dog-friendly table rather than assuming any indoor seat is suitable.

Important: published venue hours currently show Monday and Tuesday closed, and other listings describe seasonal food service. Verify opening and food availability before making the journey, especially outside summer.

Check the venue's listed opening hours and contact details and see the bar/outside-only dog policy noted by Coastal Cottages.

Before you set off

Keep your dog on a lead from the start, bring water, and use the National Trust's current route map. Check any path closures, particularly after heavy rain. For the best lily display, aim for early summer, but the walk is still a pleasant short outing at other times.

Explore more dog days out

Where: Wales · Pembrokeshire

Find similar walks: Dog Pub Walks · Short Walk · Moderate · Lakeside · Wildlife

Guide sources reviewed: 28 October 2026. Map, distance, steps, causeways, wildlife and dog-lead rule: National Trust Stackpole Estate. Pub status and restrictions: St Govan's venue listing, Visit Pembrokeshire, CAMRA and Coastal Cottages; check seasonal hours directly. This guide is a planning companion, not a substitute for the mapped route or current local notices.

Photograph: Bosherston Lily Ponds by Dylan Moore / Geograph Britain and Ireland, licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-SA 2.0. Reproduced from Wikimedia Commons; the image may be resized by Shopify for display.