Description:
The heritage coast stretches 50 miles, following the rugged contours of St. David's Peninsula from St. Brides Bay to Fishguard. The peninsula blends history and scenery to better effect than just about any area of Britain.

The peninsula is composed of low, gentle hills, but the coast is strewn with jagged rocks below sharp cliffs, with treacherous tides and strong winds common companions. So sharp and continuous are the rocks along the cliffs that there is no landing place along the north coast of the peninsula until you reach Aber-Eiddy, 6 miles from St. David's Head.

St. David's has been a place of Christian pilgrimage since the Middle Ages, when two journeys to St. David's equaled one journey to Rome. Most pilgrims were drawn to the shrine of St. David in the cathedral that bears his name.

A ruined chapel in the lifeboat station at Porthstinian marks the burial place of St. Justinian, a contemporary of St. David. Just off the coast here lies the nature reserve at Ramsey Island, and seabirds in large numbers breed along the cliffs.

Even before David founded his church here in the early 6th century, the area was a gathering place for Celtic monks, but even the Celts were relative newcomers to the peninsula, which abounds in prehistoric remains.

At Careg Sampson a Neolithic burial chamber overlooks the cliffs, and there is a large earthwork near Trefasser. There is a holy well dedicated to Non, mother of St. David, at St. Non's Bay.

Area Countryside attractions:
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
A gently rolling plateau overlooking the rugged coastline. This is good birding area, with sanctuaries at Grasholm, Skomer, and Skokholm Islands, while Ramsey Island is renowned for its large grey seal population. More ...

Pembrokeshire Coast Path
The 186 mile path follows the heritage coast and takes in the entire length of the Pembrokeshire National Park. The walking is superb, the scenery breathtaking, as the path climbs along cliffs and beside sandy bays. Thankfully, this trail is more sparsely traveled than most other long-distance paths in Britain. More ...

St. Brides Bay Heritage Coast
St. Brides Bay is an area of high cliffs and broad, sandy beaches, popular with holiday makers in the summer months. Despite this, there are secluded pockets along the coast that seem to have escaped the towel and bucket brigade. More ...

Attractions in South Wales

Maps: OS Landranger series #157

Top Links:
Pembrokeshire Attractions and Heritage
South Wales links

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Heritage Coasts
Countryside Index

Contacts

Haverfordwest & St. Brides Bay Tourist Association Haven Court Little Haven Haverfordwest SA62 3UN St. Davids Peninsula Tourist Association Trellys y Coed, Castle Morris Haverfordwest, Dyfed Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Winch Lane, Haverfordwest, SA61 1PY Tel:01437 764636 Fax:01437 769045 email web site Ramblers Association in Wales Pantwood Pant Lane Marford Wrexham, Clwyd LL12 8SG Tel: (+44-1978) 855148 Tourism South Wales Pembroke House Charter Court, Phoenix Way Enterprise Park Swansea, West Glamorgan SA7 9DB Tel: (+44-1792) 781212 Fax: (+44-1792) 781300 St David's National Park Visitor Centre The Grove SA62 6NW 01437 720392 More Tourist Information Centres