Visiting Freshwater West and Gupton Farm

A place to stay at Gupton Farm 

Gupton Farm offers a campsite and self-catering surf lodge accommodation for those wanting to stay at Freshwater West a little longer. It’s a great opportunity to see this special place in a whole new light in a natural setting. 

Gateway to the beach 

Gupton Farm is a great base for staying visitors who want to explore Freshwater West beach and the surrounding coastal countryside. 

This traditional Pembrokeshire farm has been reinvented and is now your gateway to the surrounding area and beach. The farm is fully set up for camping and also provides self- catering accommodation for groups of up to ten people in the surf lodge. 

The beach is a wild, sandy stretch adored by adventurous souls and nature lovers. Make the most of your visit on this beautiful part of the coast or head inland for wildlife watching opportunities. 

Visitor facilities 

For staying visitors, we’ve created an interpretation hub that shares an insight into Gupton Farm and Freshwater West’s history. There’s also an outdoor activity base which is now run by Outer Reef Surf School. A variety of watersports can be booked to enjoy along this natural coastline. 

Book a watersports session here https://www.outerreefsurfschool.com/ 

Farming for nature 

Gupton Farm has a sustainable approach to farming with a conservation focus. 

This approach has included restoring and extending the historic habitats and working with nature to adapt to coastal change.  

Wildlife watching at Freshwater West 

Freshwater West is backed by a natural dune system and expansive wetland known as the Castlemartin Corse. This area has a variety of habitats that attracts many ground nesting birds.  

To help you get closer to nature, we’ve opened up a network of new permissive paths that lead to a wooden bird hide. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars. 

5 birds you might see during your visit  

1. Marsh harrier: Look for them flying over the reed bed. One was actually present when our bird hide was being built. 
2. Cetti’s warbler: A resident along the scrubby edges in summer and winter, they’re skulking birds and seldom seen. Listen out for their loud bursts of song, a piercing chink-chinka-chinkachink. 
3. Water rail: These birds are easy to hear but harder to see in the reed beds. Keep listening out for their distinct call, it sounds like squealing piglets. 
4. Grey heron: With long legs and a long beak, you’ll find grey heron around the wetland. They feed on small mammals, amphibians and fish. They and sometimes circle high up into the sky with a wide wingspan. 
5. Linnet: A small flock can often be seen here, typically feeding on seeds around Gupton Farm. They have a very melodious song and twittering flight call. 

The bird hide was funded by our Neptune coastline campaign, a people-powered initiative established over 50 years ago to help preserve our special places by the sea. Your kind contributions have enabled us to create a brilliant base for wildlife watching. Thank you.