22Pembrokeshire St Davids to Whitesands

points along the coast. since there are several access to shorten or extend this route leisurely walk back. It’s easy take the bus out and enjoy a you can leave the car behind, served by regular buses, so Pembrokeshire coast. It’s well the finest stretches along the via picturesque Solva is one of from Newgale to St Davids – Britain’s smallest. The walk glorious Coast Path to the city along Pembrokeshire’s can make their way on foot Jerusalem. Today’s wayfarers three the equivalent of one to be equal to one to Rome and to St Davids were said to metres km 20 0 40 0 60 0 0 0 two pilgrimages In the Middle Ages, FIONA BARLTROP CHOSEN BY… 21 u Distance: 11 miles/17.5km u miles/17.5km 11 Distance: 2 NEWGALE TO ST DAVIDS PEMBROKESHIRE 4

6 1 the poor soils of area. The lime was used to fertilise century of 18th/19th lime kilns. itself you’ll pass a number Once down by the harbour a favourite with yachties. splendid sinuous harbour, excellent views over Solva’s Gribin from where there are valley you climb up onto the coast. After crossing one last are notable features along the Dinas Fach and Dinas Fawr well out. The headlands of impressive when the tide is of Newgale especially Sands, Look back to enjoy the views and turn L onto the Coast Path. back up the hill a short distance just before the bridge. Walk café at the bottom of the hill GR ADIENT PROFILE Alight from the bus at the Start Cwm-bach and the view

Time: 6 hours u 6 hours Time: 8 towards Dinas Fach. 10 Grade: Moderate Grade:

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FIONA BARLTROP FIONA PHOTO: 14 Landranger 157 Maps OS Explorer OL35; 2 days a week in winter Newgale - daily in summer, Shuttle from St Davids to and Newgale. Also Puffin Haverfordwest via Solva from St Davids to (daily/hourly except Sun) transportPublic 411 bus & St Davids Sands, Solva, Porth Clais toiletsPublic Newgale Solva and St Davids Refreshments Newgale, Nearest town St Davids PLANNING Stiles None to shorten route and downs. Options owned land. Some ups almost all National Trust cliff-top coast path – Is it for me? Well signed Centre, St Davids car park near Visitor SM847223. Oriel y Parc bus stop by café, grid ref Start/parking Newgale, ROUTE PLAN YOUR WALK YOUR PLAN 16 A B 18

WALES ✁ heading inland from St to shorten the route by available April-Oct). It’s easy its birds and seals (boat trips Ramsey Island, renowned for rocks. Across the Sound is tidal currents and hazardous Ramsey Sound, with its strong of the peninsula, alongside windswept south-western tip walk takes you round the flat, in almost every direction. This popular hub, lead to the coast radiating spoke-like from this A variety of lanes and paths, magnificent coastline. for exploring its peninsula’s in size – makes an ideal base little more than a large village

metres Whitesands beach. Porth Lleuog and km 20 0 40 0 60 0 0 0 St Davids – in reality Britain’s smallest city, FIONA BARLTROP CHOSEN BY… 22 u Distance: 2

12 miles/19km 4 ST DAVIDS TO WHITESANDS PEMBROKESHIRE

6 1 cathedral city). You have a wall that enclosed the original gatehouses in the 14th century only surviving one of the four (the Tower Gatehouse is the the impressive entrance gate The Pebbles. Go through ahead down a side road, main road turns R but keep fork R at Cross Square. The main road into the centre and Visitor Centre, head along the you up from the coast. to drop you off at/pick Coaster bus when it’s running can also make use of the Celtic favourite of surfers – and you of sand in West Wales and a – one of the finest stretches Justinian’s or Whitesands Bay GR ADIENT PROFILE From the car park near Start u Time: 6 hours u 6 hours Time:

8 10

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FIONA BARLTROP FIONA PHOTO: Moderate 14 ROUTE Landranger 157 Maps OS Explorer OL35; half hourly in summer) Mar-Sep (daily/hourly; the St David’s area from Coaster bus 403 serves transportPublic Celtic Bay & St Davids Porth Clais, Whitesands toiletsPublic Refectory & Visitor Centre) Davids (inc Cathedral (café) and choice in St (kiosk), Whitesands Bay Refreshments Porth Clais Nearest town St Davids PLANNING Stiles None shorten route (or bus). Options to Quiet lanes to/from coast National Trust owned land. cliff-top coast path, mostly walking along well-signed Is it for me? Fairly easy grid ref SM757252 Centre, St Davids, car park near Visitor Start/parking Oriel y Parc PLAN YOUR WALK YOUR PLAN 16 A B

START IN ASSOCIATION WITH OS MAPS OS lfto.com/cwroutes GET THIS WALK ON YOUR PHONE: the wall and follow the paved the paved and follow the wall the magnificent to path the which, like cathedral, Palace, ruined Bishop’s nearby below a hollow is built into the houses and shops. the cathedral, Facing head R then up the Davids. St to steps fork L down to a T-junction. a T-junction. to L down fork a gap in to the road Cross

9¾ miles/15.5km R along the lane back Turn to St Davids. As you near it, As you Davids. St to 4 Davids if you want to shorten shorten to want if you Davids on, the next Carrying the walk. St named after Non’s, is St bay is said to David mother. David’s of been born on the site have is There the ruined chapel here. and modern also a ‘holy well’ can You chapel and retreat. St or lane into a footpath take final leg The here. from Davids to you takes along the coast Clais harbour. Porth historic Coaster the Celtic When can you is operating service St to here a bus from catch Davids. FINISH 3 2 Buy maps at: ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop

PEMBROKESHIRE DAVIDS ST TO NEWGALE 8¼ miles/13km about it’s Bay Caerfai From Walk down the west side the west down Walk 4 miles/6.5km OS Explorer map OL35 u 4 2 3 of the harbour and follow the of the harbour and follow direct signs that Path Coast houses a few uphill past you the cliff top. and back onto an excellent again, there’s Once As you harbour. of Solva’s view good are there head west, Ramsey distant towards views Island. On the headland and Bwdy Caer between hill Age is an Iron Bays Caerfai purple sandstone The fort. Cathedral Davids St used for the cliffs here. from comes ½ mile/1km by road into St into road ½ mile/1km by u 21

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1 START

IN ASSOCIATION WITH OS MAPS OS lfto.com/cwroutes GET THIS WALK ON YOUR PHONE: 2 Porthmelgan and retrace and retrace Porthmelgan the car park. It’s to steps your back road miles by two around road the first At the start. to R along a path, fork junction along a minor continuing Davids. St back to road 4

3 7¼ miles/11.6km Beach Whitesands At car park you could omit the could car park you Head, Davids St to extension the route shortening thereby But it’s c.2½ miles/4km. by From making the effort. worth NE a short the Head continue Coetan (look out for way Arthur burial chamber), then and the valley to turn R down at the coast back to 4 Porthselau. There are fine are There Porthselau. Bay, Whitesands across views Llidi in the distance. Carn Buy maps at: ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop

PEMBROKESHIRE BAY WHITESANDS TO DAVIDS ST 5⅓ miles/8.5km on the Coast Continuing 1¼ miles/2km Path the Coast Follow OS Explorer map OL35 u u an impressive sight) from up from sight) an impressive the to lead down Steps here. and the South Porch cathedral worth well It’s main entrance. L and follow Turn a look inside. leading away path the paved keeping the South Porch, from the road. to a fork ahead at diagonally L and bear Cross and junction the next R at Clais, Porth to the road follow Davids. the port of St once the old lime kilns. Note superb view of the magnificent of the magnificent superb view and the nearby cathedral (also Palace ruined Bishop’s 2 3 down the west side of the the west down along harbour and westwards the sea on keeping the coast, walking easy quite L. It’s your path The with splendid views. Bay Porthlysgi round leads you the round and thence tip of the south-western Dal-aderyn.peninsula, Pen Island (RSPB reserve) Ramsey on the other lies 1km offshore Sound. The side of Ramsey rocks submerged are Bitches which the tide runs through a force: with tremendous thrill-seeking challenge for heading north, Now kayakers! St leads to Path the Coast lifeboat and its two Justinian’s to and old. (Boats new stations, here.) from Ramsey Path you round Point St John St Point round you Path the beach at and reach 22

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