The Green Bridge of Wales: What to Know Before You Go (+ How to Make a Full Day of It)

At the end of a single-track road in the south of Wales, a magnificent natural structure stands. Most people call it the Green Bridge of Wales. 

A lot of people miss it, and I almost missed it too. That is because of poor planning, as this is not a place you can visit whenever you want. No, the Green Bridge of Wales sits guarded behind an active military range, and you have to check the schedule to visit it. But luckily I made it there, and I can help you plan your trip around the area to make the most of it. 

Here’s everything you need to know about how to visit Green Bridge of Wales. 

What is the Green Bridge of Wales?

The Green Bridge of Wales is the largest natural arch in Wales, carved out of the Pembrokeshire limestone coastline by centuries of wave erosion. 

It sits at the edge of the Castlemartin peninsula, rising dramatically from the sea, and it’s still changing. A chunk of the arch broke off during a storm in 2017, a reminder that this is a living, eroding landscape rather than a permanent fixture.

Honest warning though: if you’ve been sold on the photos you’ve seen online, manage your expectations a little. 

The viewpoint puts you above and back from the arch, not level with it or underneath it, which makes it harder to fully appreciate the scale. 

More importantly, the light makes or breaks this visit completely. 

I arrived in the afternoon with the sun already moving to the other side, which left the arch in shadow, and an arch in shadow on a grey limestone cliff is considerably less impressive than the golden, glowing images you see everywhere. Come in the morning or around midday, and it’s a completely different sight. Come in the late afternoon, and you might wonder what the fuss was about.

The thing nobody tells you: You can’t access it every day

The Green Bridge of Wales isn’t accessible to visitors every day. 

Because the road that gets you there runs through the Castlemartin military firing range (you’ll see signs along the road as you’re driving closer to the area), you can only access the road on weekends and bank holidays. 

It’s important to know and plan accordingly because otherwise you will not be able to visit the Green Bridge or Wales or St Govan’s chapel. The two are accessible only by roads that go through this military exercise field, so that’s why it would be wise to visit both on the same weekend day. They are also very close to each other, and it takes only about 20 minutes by car from one parking lot ot another. 

The road has clear signs, and it will be closed when the firing range is active. Often, visitors who turn up at the gate on weekdays get turned around as they see the red flags and the closed gate. Some say that it can occasionally be closed on weekends for exercises, but I went there twice on weekends and could drive all the way to the parking lot. 

To avoid any surprises, I recommend checking the Castlemartin firing range schedule online here before planning this trip in the area. 

I admit that I didn’t check online before going, and I was a bit spooked about the military signs on the road, but I went on the weekend, so it was all good during my visits. 

On weekends, you can also walk along the coastal path around there and spend an entire day exploring the area (which I did, and I loved it).  

How to get to Green Bridge of Wales

The closest car park for visiting the Green Bridge of Wales is just a couple of minutes away from the viewing point.

See the location of the Green Bridge of Wales parking here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3MpExSHUtg4iS1rt8 

Note that the road to get here is mostly a single-track road with passing places. Be respectful, and allow others to pass when possible. There’s no need to be in a hurry; you’ll get there. The parking is quite large, and it’s free to park there. 

If you’re planning a trip to the Green Bridge of Wales and you’re about to drive in the UK for the first time, please check out my guide to driving in the UK as a foreigner, as you need to know a few things.

The visit to Green Bridge of Wales

I enjoy coastal views in all shapes and moments, so it was a nice and refreshing visit to the Green Bridge of Wales. While for me the arch was underwhelming, the coastal walk was indeed worth it if I take into account all cliff formations, not just the bridge. 

That’s why I recommend allocating extra time to this visit, about 1-2 hours, so you can explore around the area. 

Don’t come just to see the Green Bridge. Use this opportunity to explore more of the coastal walk and continue walking east to admire other cliff formations such as Elegug Stacks, The Cauldron, and Bullslaughter Bay. 

You’ll see seabird colonies on the Elegug Stacks, so bring your binoculars (it’s good to have them in your car, as you’ll see many birds on the coastal walks around Pembrokeshire). 

Even though I visited in the afternoon, when the light was on the other side of the cliffs and the bays were in the shade, it was still an impressive perspective, especially at the Cauldron. And most people don’t go there, so you will enjoy this place all by yourself, which makes the experience even more magical. 

If you come here for the stunning photographs and aim to recreate that, then you’ll need to make this a mandatory morning visit, before the light falls behind the arch. 

Dog owners will be pleased to know that it is a dog-friendly area, but you’ll need to keep your dog under close control, as there are birds around. Also, the fall from the cliffs is steep, so don’t let your dog get too close to the edge of the cliffs. I’ve read dramatic stories online. 

Overall, my dog loved exploring the area, but he isn’t into running too much, so it was more like a quiet walk for him. 

If you are planning a trip to Europe, check out my guide for travelling with your dog in Europe.

Things to do near Green Bridge of Wales

Because this is a restricted military range, I’d strongly recommend that you plan your entire day to explore this area, which is otherwise only partially accessible. 

And because of the narrow single-track roads, I recommend this particular order to visit all these places around the Green Bridge of Wales.

Stop 1: Green Bridge of Wales (early morning)

Get to the Green Bridge of Wales early in the morning to get that early sunlight on the arch and admire it in the best possible light. Set aside some time to spend here and simply admire it, as this is a special moment. Sit and admire, meditate, and breathe in the fresh coastal air. 

Then continue the coastal walk towards Est, admiring the Elegug Stacks, The Cauldron, and Bullslaughter Bay. Go back to the parking lot and drive to the next location.

Of course, you can simply walk to St Govan’s, but it will probably take about 1.5 hours, and then you would need to walk back to the same parking lot. If time isn’t a constraint and the weather is good, then this is a nice way to spend the morning and noon exploring the coastline. 

Stop 2: St Govan’s Chapel (mid-morning)

Drive to the St Govan’s parking before noon. Here’s the parking on Google Maps. This is free parking. It’s only a 20-minute drive between the two locations. 

The chapel is just a short walk from the parking, but you won’t see it until you start descending the stairs. 

The best view of the chapel is from the shore, so carefully go down the stairs, through the chapel and exit on the other side. Take a few more steps to admire the cliffs and then look back to see the chapel in this beautiful setting. 

This is a rather popular spot, so there will be people around all day.

After the chapel, continue walking on the coastal path to discover St Govans Head, and all the way to Broad Haven South Beach. The views are amazing, and the walk should take 2 hours. This is one of the best beaches in Pembrokeshire (and locals love it).

But if you are short on time and want to fit all these stops in one day, then go back to the parking lot after  St Govans Head and drive to the next stop. 

Stop 3: Bosherston Lily Ponds

This drive to the Bosherston Lily Ponds parking takes only 5 minutes. Here’s the parking location on Google Maps. 

This is a paid parking area, and you can pay via the JustPark app or on the machine there (coins only). If you don’t have an internet connection on your mobile (a common issue around the coastline of Pembrokeshire), simply park, do your visit, and you can go on the app later (no later than 48 hours) to pay for your stay. 

The lily ponds are three interconnected lakes filled with white water lilies in late spring and early summer. I was there in early June, and the lilies were in full bloom, and it was simply magical to admire the ponds. I did the circular walk, which takes about one hour. 

It’s mostly flat, with an accessible hill that offers great views from above over the ponds. It’s dog-friendly, and you cross a couple of wooden bridges on the route. 

About halfway around (so on the opposite side from the parking), you will reach Broad Haven South Beach. You can take a detour to explore the beach and even spend some time there. 

At high tide, the water is shallow, and families love this beach during summer. This is also a dog-friendly beach, and the entire area is great for bird watching. 

Discover all of the best dog-friendly beaches in Pembrokeshire here.

Continue the walk back to the parking lot and finish the circuit. 

Close to the parking is a café in Bosherston village for coffee or lunch after. This closes at about 5 PM, so plan accordingly if you want to have a snack here. While exploring Pembrokeshire, it’s always a good idea to have some snacks with you, in case you finish exploring late and all the cafes are closed. 

Timeline for this day’s itinerary

If you start this day early enough, you might still have time to explore Barafundle Bay after this, which would make sense logistically. 

The parking for Barafundle Bay is just 18 minutes away by car, and then you have to walk for about 20 minutes to reach the beach. But you can spend the rest of the afternoon there, as that’s a wider beach and the sun shines until the evening during summer days. 

I wrote all there is to know about visiting Barafundle Bay (with a dog) here. 

I think this itinerary would be a perfect sunny summer day spent on the south coast of Pembrokeshire. 

Here’s a rough timeline for this day’s itinerary: 

1. Start your day at around 9 am at the Green Bridge of Wales, and explore around until 11 AM.
2. Arrive at St Govan’s Chapel at 11:30 AM. Explore the area until 12:30. 
3. Then drive to Bosherston Lily Ponds. Do the circuit with a stop at Broad Haven South beach. You should be done by 2:30 PM. 
4. Have a snack at the cafe nearby. 
5. Drive to Barafundle Bay parking (Stackpole Car Park) and walk for 20 minutes to reach the beach. You should be there by 4:30 PM.
6. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at Barafundle Bay (bring snacks and picnic essentials). 

Is this part of the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path worth it?

Yes, it is. 

I spent 1 entire month in Pembrokeshire, and I think that wasn’t enough.

Because of my poor planning, I ended up exploring the area a few times, but I didn’t regret it, as it allowed me to take my time and really admire it from all angles.

If you’re already nearby Pembroke Dock or planning a visit to Pembroke Castle (which you must visit), then doing this day trip around the coastline is the absolute best thing to add to your trip’s itinerary, as this day trip packs beaches, coastal walks, nature walks, some of the most famous cliff formations in South Wales, and allows time to actually enjoy the places, not just rush through them. 

I wrote a detailed guide on all the best places to visit in Pembrokeshire, which you should check out if you’re spending your holidays there.

I did all of this in my beach sandals and shorts. If you want to spend time by the beach, bring your swimsuit and a towel. You’ll find toilets in some of the parking areas (paid ones), and a few cafes, but bringing water and snacks is essential if you’re going to spend the entire day exploring. 

All I wish you is a great, sunny day, and make sure to visit during the weekend to make this itinerary work.