ST DAVIDS
St Davids Cathedral
Magnificent 12th Century Norman church and place of pilgrimage for over 1200 years. It hosts an internationally renowned music festival in late May, as well as regular organ recitals, chamber music and choral recitals throughout the year. The candlelit Christmas Carol service is unforgettable.
www.stdavidscathedral.org.uk
The Bishop's Palace
Beautiful ruins of 14th Century Bishop's Palace in the valley next to Cathedral - perfect for children and adults to explore.
Shopping
St Davids is well provided with shops, selling everything from designer clothes, surf boards and shoes to Welsh lamb and beef, local fish and gourmet food. There is a large supermarket for all your daily needs as well as a specialist delicatessen, butcher, greengrocer, newsagent, pharmacy and two ice cream shops!
Eating Out
According to the Sunday Times, St Davids has in recent years become a gourmet hotspot! Just a short walk from the cottage are numerous excellent restaurants with menus catering for all tastes and pockets, specialising particularly in local fish and sea-food, Welsh lamb and black beef. The Farmer’s Arms and Bishops pubs are close by. For families with children, Peters Plaice (01437-720542) offers great fish and chips, and the imaginative range of pizzas available at Grain (01437-454321) has been praised by the Times’ restaurant critic Giles Coren.
Restaurants
Refectory at St Davids Cathedral - 01437 721760
Saffron Indian Restaurant - 01437 720508
Cambrian Inn, Solva - 01437 721210
Arts and Crafts
Many local artists have galleries in St Davids and the surrounding Pembrokeshire countryside.
John Knapp Fisher
Adam Buick - Ceramic Artist
West Wales Arts Centre - Gallery in Fishguard
goatstreetgallery.co.uk
There are regular craft exhibitions in the Cathedral Refectory, the school and the City Hall.
The beautifully designed St Davids Centre, opened in 2008, houses the Tourist Information Centre and Oriel y Parc, an attractive art gallery with a programme of exhibitions featuring a range of treasures from the National Museum Wales and other collections. Works by Graham Sutherland, John Piper and other artists who love Pembrokeshire are often featured, and you may be able to watch the current Artist in Residence at work.
NEARBY
Pembrokeshire Coast
The coastal path offers spectacular views of cliffs, bays and moorland, with great opportunities for walkers to spot seabirds, seals and porpoises. There are many glorious beaches including those at Whitesands Bay, a superb stretch of sandy beach, awarded European Blue Flag status and much loved by surfers and families.
National Geographic's Traveler magazine's experts rate 99 of the world's great islands, coastlines, and beaches for sustainability and authenticity. The Pembrokeshire Coast gained 2nd place in 2011’s report.
There are other sandy coves at Caerfai Bay, just a mile from St Davids, Newgale and Abereiddy, to name just a few. Picturesque harbours at Solva, Porth Clais, Porthgain (with its famous pub, The Sloop) and Abercastle are also fun to explore.
An exciting boat trip round Ramsey Island to see seals, porpoise and a variety of sea birds is a must!
www.pcnpa.org.uk
Walks
Pembrokeshire Coastal Footpath is easily accessed on foot and also served by regular coastal hopper buses - the nearest point of access is at St Non's, 10 minutes walk from Tower Hill. Many circular and longer walks start from St Davids.
Cycling
The St Davids' peninsula is criss-crossed by a network of delightful Pembrokeshire lanes, perfect for cycling. Bicycle hire available in St Davids through www.mikes-bikes.co.uk
Sporting Facilities
The many outdoor activities available include swimming, surfing, walking, cycling, horse riding, fishing, sailing and golf. The Twr y Felin activity centre offers a wide range of activities for people of all ages - kayaking, surfing, rock climbing and, particularly popular with the youngsters, "coasteering".
www.tyf.com
www.stdavidscitygolfclub.co.uk
Wild Life
The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path is rich in flora, particularly in early summer when the cliffs are a blaze of colour, and the spectacular cliffs of North Pembrokeshire are a breeding ground for sea birds.
There are boat trips to and round Ramsey Island, a bird sanctuary and breeding ground for seals, and further out to Grassholm, a spectacular rocky island, which is also an RSPB reserve and home to a gannet colony. There are also regular boats to Skolmer and Skolkholm Islands from St Martins Haven, where puffins breed in their thousands in early summer.
www.thousandislandexpeditions.com
www.aquaphobia-ramseyisland.co.uk
Other activities
Also in the St Davids area, you can see sheepdog demonstrations, watch local potters at work, visit the working woollen mills at Tregwynt and Middle Mill, go go-karting in Haverfordwest, take a day trip to Ireland and see the amazing Last Invasion Tapestry in Fishguard. You will find more to do within striking distance of St Davids than you can possibly fit into one holiday - you will just have to return!
