144 BACK ROADS GREAT BRITAIN
Below St Non’s Chapel, on the St Davids
coastline, built in 1934A two-hour walking tour
Start at the cathedral car park on
Quickwell Hill, turning right and right
again into Nun Street. Cross Cross
Square and turn right into Goat Street
and left down St Stephen’s Lane. Go
left at the end and then first right into
Pen-y-Garn. At the end of this road,
turn right along a field to a sign for St
Non’s Chapel. Take a left and keep on
this path all the way to the coast.
After three right-then-left turns and
several gates and stiles, the modern
St Non’s Retreat 1 , its chapel built in
1934, is visible. Dedicated to St
David’s mother, Non, it has lovely
windows. Follow the path around the
retreat to the remains of the original
Capel Non 2 , actually Non’s house. A
7th–9th century creed stone with an
incised Latin ring cross marks David’s
birthplace. See, too, the vaulted well
said to have spouted during a storm
when St David was born around AD
500 – reputed to have healing
powers. There is a small shrine to
Mary on the right. Follow the path up
steps to the Pembrokeshire CoastalPath 3 and around the rocky
headlands. The path goes up the side
of the Porth Clais 4 inlet, once St
Davids port, with its tiny harbour and
boats. At the end of the inlet, follow
the path right, up the hill, and head
for the campsite, keeping the
buildings on the right. Go straight
and then take the track inland along
the edge of the field. Carry on
straight up to the road next to the
Warpool Court Hotel entrance. Cross
the road, then turn left. Walk down
the path into Bryn Rd to a sign for
Dinas Tyddewi (St Davids City). Turn
left into Mitre Lane, and carry on to
the Farmer’s Arms 5 on Goat St and
back to the cathedral.
Built with local purple-red stone on
the site of the 6th-century monastery
of St David, St Davids Cathedral 6
has long been a major pilgrimage site- two trips to St Davids equalled one
to Rome. The present, 12th-century,
cathedral has a magnificent interior.
Admire the early 16th-century oak
ceiling with wooden pendant ceiling
bosses and beautiful 14th-century
w St Davids
Pembrokeshire; SA62 6RH
More of a village than a city, St Davids’ key attractions are its
coastline and its cathedral. Set in the Pembrokeshire National Park, it
is blessed with glorious beaches. This easy circular walk heads south
to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Trail and back to the cathedral.WHERE TO STAYAROUND ST DAVIDS
Crug Glas moderate
Just off the A487 to Fishguard, this is a
beautiful, elegantly furnished country
hotel on a working farm. There’s a
restaurant for evening meals.
Abereiddy, SA62 6XX; 01348 831 302;
http://www.crug-glas.co.ukNEWPORT
Llys Medygg moderate
Lovely Georgian house in the heart of
Newport. Stylish comfy bedrooms with
modern artworks and bathrooms. Enjoy
fresh fruit and pancakes at breakfast.
East Street, SA42 OSY; 01239 820 008;
http://www.llysmeddyg.comVISITING ST DAVIDSParking
Park in the cathedral car park, or by the
Visitor Centre.
Visitor Centre
On the A487 on the way into town.
Oriel Y Parc, SA62 6NW; 01437 720 392;
http://www.orielyparc.co.uk
Boat trips to Ramsey Island
Book tickets from Thousand Island
Expeditions (Cross Square, SA62 6SL;
01437 721 686; http://www.thousandislands.
co.uk). Boats leave from St Justinian.
Surfing at Whitesands
Learn to surf, or improve your skills at
Whitesands Surf School (07789 435
670; http://www.whitesandssurfschool.co.uk).Below Pretty pastel-painted houses of
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