Burry Port Harbour

Burry Port Harbour and Beach

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Cycle, walk or relax at one of Carmarthen Bay's finest historical harbours

Spend a leisurely day at this attractive harbour location, Burry Port boasts modern marina facilities and two sandy beaches! Part of the Millennium Coastal Park, it's easy to get to by bicycle (route 4 of the National Cycle Network), on foot, by car (A484) or train (the railway station is just a 5 minute walk to the harbour). Free entry, pay and display parking.

Burry Port Harbour, Carmarthenshire
Burry Port Harbour, Carmarthenshire

There's plenty of open space along the golden, sandy Burry Port beach (as mentioned previously, there are actually two beaches to choose from, east and west of the harbour!). It's an ideal place for children to burn off excess energy, great for walking the dog or simply relaxing with a picnic and taking in the panoramic views over Carmarthen Bay.

If the beach isn't to your taste, why not head slightly inland from the harbour and explore the landscaped countryside walkways. Lots of wildlife to watch out for - swan, mallard, coot, moorhen, great crested grebe, egret, heron, tufted duck and more!

Feeling energetic? Then take your bicycle along the family friendly cycle path (Route 4, National Cycle Network) and travel east to Llanelli along the Millennium Coastal Park cycle path or west to one of Wales's premier attractions - Pembrey Country Park.

Gallery

Beautiful harbour location

Burry Port Harbour, Carmarthenshire
Burry Port Harbour, Carmarthenshire
Burry Port Harbour, Carmarthenshire
Burry Port Harbour, Carmarthenshire
Burry Port Harbour, Carmarthenshire
Burry Port Harbour, Carmarthenshire
Burry Port Harbour, Carmarthenshire
Burry Port Harbour, Carmarthenshire
Burry Port Harbour, Carmarthenshire
Burry Port Harbour, Carmarthenshire
Burry Port Harbour, Carmarthenshire
Burry Port Harbour, Carmarthenshire
Burry Port Harbour, Carmarthenshire
Burry Port Harbour, Carmarthenshire

Important!

Map

Use the 'what3words' app for a precise location:
Main car park: ///stuffy.evenings.dummy

Burry Port Harbour Map East

Burry Port Woodland Walking & Cycling - Covering the eastern side of the harbour, the woodland walks are a rich haven for birds including herons, egrets, swans, oystercatchers, geese, gulls, curlews, sand martins and many more. Take a walk through the woodlands or relax on the coastal stretch overlooking the Carmarthen Bay. Parking is at the Harbour or further east along the B4311. Easily accessible for walking or cycling, the main cycle path (National Cycle Network Route 4) is a solid, mostly flat surface and there are cycle trail routes through the forest areas for off-road biking.

Burry Port Harbour Map West

The route from Burry Port Harbour to Old Pembrey Harbour - Take a walk along the West Beach in an easterly direction from Burry Port Harbour (be careful of incoming tide) or cycle along the cycle/walking route behind the dunes, towards Old Pembrey Harbour. On the Wales Coast Path route, the Harbour was created in approximately 1816 for shipping iron ore and coal, but fell into disuse in the early 1900s, being surpassed by Burry Port Harbour (more history here). On a clear day the harbour offers superb views across the bay to the Gower Peninsula and Cefn Sidan. Keep an eye out for the large flock of Oystercatchers and others such as Dunlins and Redshank.


Burry Port Map General location

Did you know?

Some interesting facts...

Pembrey Old Harbour

Pembrey Old Harbour

Just a short walk, in a westerly direction from Burry Port harbour, is Pembrey Harbour, built in the early 1800's to provide a shipping port for local coal mines. Not much of it's maritime past remains today but it's an ideal viewpoint for looking across the Pembrey Saltings to the Loughor Estuary and Gower Peninsula. Just follow the Wales Coast Path westward from Burry Port Harbour.
Pembrey Harbour history.
Kymers Canal

Kymer's Canal

Just to the side of the western approach road to Burry Port Harbour you might notice an overgrown 'ditch'. This is the remains of one of the first canals built in Wales, used to transport coal and other goods between the Gwendraeth Valley, Kidwelly, Pembrey and Burry Port. Construction originally began in 1766.
More at wikipedia.org
Amelia Earhart Monument

Amelia Earhart

On the eastern side of Burry Port Harbour you'll find a memorial to Amelia Earhart, who, in 1928 became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. She set off from Trepassey (Newfoundland, north America) on Sunday, June 17th at 2.51pm in her American seaplane "Friendship" and landed in Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, on Monday, 18th June at 12.40pm.
ameliaearhart.com
Amelia Earhart at history.com
Pembrey Lighthouse

Burry Port Lighthouse

Situated on the west breakwater, this iconic feature of Burry Port harbour was built in the early 1800s. Restored in the 1990s, it's powerful light being visible for almost 20 miles across the Carmarthen Bay and is an important landmark for local fishing boats, the marina and yacht club.
Burry Port Harbour history.
Wind surfing in the Burry estuary

Wind sports in the bay

Perfect south facing beach having long runs around the Pembrey Peninsula and Loughor Estuary. Safest to sail at slack water during low and high tides.
Gower Kite riders
Surf Tribe
RNLI Lifeboat Station

Burry Port Lifeboat Station

Originally established in 1973, this important lifeboat station is situated on the east side of the harbour. The lifeboat shop is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Educational visits by appointment only.
RNLI website

Nearby attractions

Explore a few more interesting places in this area...

Loughor Estuary

Loughor Estuary

Beautiful riverside walk, frequented by many shoreline bird species, includes children's play area and medieval castle ruins nearby.
Loughor Estuary
FREE
Parc Howard Museum

Parc Howard, museum and parkland

19th Century restored country house, now a museum of local historical artefacts, paintings and pottery collections, surrounded by beautiful gardens, parkland and childrens play area.
Parc Howard
FREE
Lliedi Reservoir, Swiss Valley

Swiss Valley

The Lower Lliedi Reservoir, 'Swiss Valley', is the perfect environment for a picturesque walk through mature woodland greenery, following a circular path around the waters edge.
Swiss Valley
FREE
Troserch Woods, Llangennech

Troserch Woods, Llangennech

A tranquil walk following the river Morlais through ancient woodland. Includes a mountain bike trail.
Troserch Woods
FREE
Morfa Berwig Nature Reserve

Morfa Berwig Nature Reserve

This rich, scrubland area with water courses and ditches supports a variety of wildlife, including the quite rare and endangered, water vole.
Morfa Berwig Nature Reserve
FREE
Sandy Water Park, Llanelli

Sandy Water Park, Llanelli

A superb wetland habitat, see swans, ducks, cormorants whilst soaking up the lakeside atmosphere.
Sandy Water Park, Llanelli
FREE
PAY & DISPLAY PARKING
Llanelli Beach

Llanelli Beach

A long sandy beach, part of the Millennium Coastal Park, a short distance from Llanelli town centre and right next door to Sandy Water Park. An ideal location for walking or cycling along the beautiful loughor estuary sea front.
Llanelli Beach
FREE
PAY & DISPLAY PARKING
Pembrey Peninsula

Pembrey Peninsula

With 7 golden miles of sandy beach and 3 miles of dense pine forest the Pembrey peninsula is one of the destination highlights of the Welsh coastline.
Pembrey Peninsula
FREE
PARKING - PAY ON EXIT
Kidwelly

Kidwelly

An historical village on the river Gwendraeth estuary boasting a 13th Century Norman castle and riverside quay walk.
Kidwelly
PARKING FREE
CASTLE - ENTRY FEE
Machynys Peninsula

Machynys Peninsula

An extremely popular area for walking and cycling, closely hugging the coast from Llanelli beach in the west to the Loughor estuary in the east.
Machynys Peninsula
FREE
PAY & DISPLAY PARKING
Llyn Llech Owain Country Park

Llyn Llech Owain Country Park

Beautiful Lake surrounded by a network of accessible walking paths, plenty of wildlife to look out for. Includes children's play area, toilets and picnic area.
LLyn Llech Owain Country Park
FREE
PAY & DISPLAY PARKING
Millennium Coastal Park

Millennium Coastal Park

Over 11 miles of unspoilt coastline, sandy beaches, lakeland and woodland areas, traffic free cycling and walking along national routes, abundant wildlife.
Millennium Coastal Park
FREE
PAY & DISPLAY PARKING
Pwll Nature Reserve

Pwll Nature Reserve

A mixture of coastland and woodland walks, wildlife habitats, fishing ponds and a profusion of plant life. Right next to the National Cycle network and Wales Walking Path.
Pwll Nature Reserve
FREE
Dinefwr Park

Dinefwr Park

A 19th century mansion house managed by the National Trust, surrounded by an amazing 800 acres of parkland and woodland, with 12th century Dinefwr Castle perched dramatically upon a nearby hillside.
Dinefwr Park
FREE
PAY & DISPLAY PARKING
ENTRY FEE FOR MANSION

Links to more attractions....

Attraction Collections

Medieval Castles

Medieval Castles

Explore haunting relics of the past in a dramatic and ancient landscape. This area has some of the finest and most well preserved, medieval castles in Wales.
Medieval Castles
Beautiful Beaches

Beautiful Beaches

Discover endless miles of stunningly panoramic, golden, sandy beaches. Visit one of the longest beaches in Wales - Cefn Sidan at Pembrey, which is just one offering amongst many coastal gems.
Beautiful Beaches
Great Gardens

Great Gardens

Experience a cornucopia of horticultural delights in an historic or modern setting. Varieties old, new, tropical and unusual... just waiting to be discovered.
Great Gardens