St Davids

St Davids (Welsh: Tyddewi or "house of David") is Britain's smallest city and home to Wales' most important cathedral. The city is in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, and is part of a cultural history area in Wales.

St Davids Cathedral and Bishop's Palace

Get in

By road

St Davids is the westernmost city in Wales. The A487 connects St Davids to Haverfordwest and Fishguard, which provide connections to the A40, rail service to other points in the UK and ferry service to Ireland.

The A487 does at a few places between St Davids and Fishguard reduce to a single lane road, which may concern those who are not familiar with the traffic issues that this presents. In general, drivers should exercise caution and show courtesy to other road users. Many of the lanes and minor roads around St Davids have single lane stretches with passing places.

There is a large car park on the eastern edge of the city, as motorists arrive from Haverfordwest. From here you walk past a modern visitor centre and tourist office on the way into the centre. A second, smaller car park can be found near the Bishop's Palace, on the road to St Justinian, and a third small car park to the left on the way out of town towards Whitesands Bay and Fishguard. All car parks are fee-paying, including the large one at Whitesands Bay, which overflows into neighbouring fields in high summer.

By bus

Richards Coaches service 411 Haverfordwest to Fishguard calls at St Davids. Connections with the National Express network from the rest of the UK can be made at Haverfordwest.

By rail

The best route (in terms of the number of trains and the number of connecting buses) is by train to 🌍 Haverfordwest station, and then the bus from the railway station entrance to St Davids.

In addition, 🌍 Fishguard Harbour station is about 15 miles to the north-east (but only has two trains a day), and is connected to St Davids by a less-frequent bus than the Haverfordwest service. Plus the bus stop in Fishguard is a considerable walk from the railway station.

By sea

Stena Line sails from Rosslare in Ireland to Fishguard, which is a short bus journey from St Davids.

Visiting yachtsmen should use the harbour at nearby Solva.

Get around

The city is small enough that walking is the best way to get around and see the sights. Walking and hiking is also the best way to see the coastline around St Davids Head, as there are many hiking trails throughout the area. Roads in the area tend to be narrow, and can be busy in high season, also the car parks at the main tourist sites can fill up quite quickly, so driving can be a frustrating experience. To travel further afield than allowed by walking, cycling is a great option. Alternatively use the excellent bus service along the coast, organised by the local council.

Solva Harbour

See

• 🌍 St David's Cathedral, The Pebbles, SA62 6RD, ☎ [phone]. is interesting and free. It also has a decent and reasonably priced cafe-restaurant. It hosts an annual organ festival at the end of May. Free admission, but donations recommended for upkeep.  
• 🌍 Bishop's Palace, The Close, ☎ [phone]. Near to the cathedral, across a small river. It is a spectacular ruin showing how much wealth and power the clergy used to have.  
• 🌍 Whitesands Beach. A large and picturesque sandy beach that has great views of Ramsey Island. It gets very busy on sunny days in the summer. There are great walks along sections of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and out to St Davids Head (Welsh Penmaen Dewi). There is a small shop and cafe in the car park, and a lifeguard station on the beach, which is divided into sections for swimmers and surfers/windsurfers. Always look out for and obey lifeguard safety signals.  

The lifeboat station at St Justinian

• 🌍 St Davids Lifeboat Station, ☎ [phone]. St Justinian — the "classic" lifeboat station, built up on stilts above the water, with the boat launching down a slipway to hit the water at speed. You can visit the boathouse in exchange for a donation. There are interesting displays telling the stories of some of the rescues carried out by the lifeboat over the years, mostly involving boats carried by some of the fastest tides in UK waters on to The Bitches, the row of sharp rocks in the middle of Ramsey Sound. The selfless bravery of the lifeboatmen really comes through, especially reading the stories from the days when the lifeboat was just a large wooden rowing boat.  
• 🌍 The Bug Farm, Lower Harglodd Farm, ☎ [phone]. Research centre and visitor attraction all about invertebrates (updated Jun 2018)

Do

• Nature Exploration trips. Several companies offer nature exploration tours by rigid inflatable boat around RSPB Ramsey Island from nearby St. Justinian. These trips can be quite expensive at around £20 for an hour but offer a unique perspective on the coastline. Take at least a waterproof coat as the fast boats and rough sea can result in a lot of splashes. Details of two firms below: 
  • 🌍 Voyages of Discovery, 1 High Street (opposite Lloyds Bank), ☎ [phone]. The only local family-run company, who operate the largest and most modern fleet of vessels. They offer a wide range of guided voyages and expeditions around Ramsey and other smaller islands. 
  • 🌍 Thousand Islands Expeditions, Cross Square, ☎ [phone]. The RSPB have given this company sole landing rights to Ramsey Island, but Thousand Islands also offers trips around the island, and others for wildlife enthusiasts 
  • Venture Jet, Glenfor, Llanon, ☎ [phone], toll-free: 08000 854786, e-mail: [e-mail]. Easter to October (booking is essential). Operates a RIB with a New Zealand jet. Seal, dolphin and seabird watching, cave exploration, jet boat manoeuvres. Jet boat tours to Ramsey Island, Grassholm, the Smalls from St Justinian and Whitesands beach. From £13 child, £25 adult. 
• Hiking on the many trails. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs along the coast through the entire of the Pembrokeshire National Park. This means that you can turn up at any point on the coast and walk along to the next village or bay. The National Park Authority now runs subsidised bus services along the coast that will take you back to the place you started from for a small charge.
• Swimming and scuba diving
• Spend some time on the many beaches on the coast nearby. There are many beaches within a short drive of St Davids, all of which are clean and most of which have a lifeguard service. Facilities such as toilets and cafes are usually available but vary depending on how popular the beach is.

Buy

• 🌍 Ma Simes Surf Hut, 28 High Street, ☎ [phone]. Specialist surf shop, selling clothes, equipment, books. Also offer surfing lessons. Their website has a daily surf conditions report and a webcam of Whitesands Beach. 
• 🌍 National Trust Shop, High Street, ☎ [phone]. The National Trust owns and cares for large parts of the St Davids peninsula, as well as the historic cross in the centre of the city. The shop features some informative displays about the work they do in the surrounding countryside, as well as a nice range of gifts, cards, postcards etc. 
• 🌍 St Davids Bookshop (Siop Lyfrau Tyddewi), 5a The Pebbles (between Cross Square and the Cathedral), ☎ [phone]. Interesting selection of new and second-hand books on local topics. 
• 🌍 St Davids Food and Wine, High Street, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Deli specialising in local produce. Order freshly-made sandwiches and baguettes from the counter at the rear of the shop. 
• 🌍 TYF Adventure Equipment, 1 High Street, ☎ [phone]. Outdoor equipment, accessories and clothing, as well as kites, frisbees, beach toys, etc. 

Eat

• 🌍 The Old Cross Hotel, Cross Square, ☎ [phone]. The Old Cross Hotel is a good place to get a drink and snack in a quieter atmosphere than is available in many of the more bustling tourist places. 
• 🌍 The Bench, 11 High Street, ☎ [phone]. An Italian-style coffee- and wine-bar and ice cream parlour in the heart of St Davids. It can get crowded, so consider booking, especially in the evening. Typical fare includes pasta and home-made pizzas, but for a splurge, try one of the main courses. 

Drink

• 🌍 Farmers Arms, 14 Goat Street, ☎ [phone]. Surprisingly the Farmers is the only real pub in the city, and consequently can get pretty busy at any time of year. Always a good atmosphere with a real mixture of different people. 

Sleep

Hotels

• 🌍 Warpool Court Hotel (Take the first left from St Davids Cross Square and follow the road round), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Listed Luxury Country Hotel with sea views of the St Davids Peninsula. Close to St Davids Cathedral and the Bishops Palace. 

Self-Catering

• 🌍 Quality Cottages (Holiday cottage agency), 18a The Old Bank, Cross Square (SA62 6SE), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Holiday cottage agency with a fine selection of Quality Cottages in Pembrokeshire and throughout Wales in fabulous coastal, countryside and mountainous locations suitable for couples, families, friends sharing and retirees. 80% welcome dogs. 
• 🌍 Treginnis Cottages, Treginnis Uchaf, SA62 6RS, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Ty Mortimer cottage situated on Treginnis Uchaf Farm, west of St Davids. 10 minute walk to the coastal path and Porthllisky beach. Or Y Nyth cottage in a quiet location near the centre of St Davids, shops & cathedral with easy car access to local beaches. Good for couples and families. Off road parking. Sleeps up to 5. Free Wi-Fi. (updated May 2018)
• 🌍 Porthllisky Farm Cottages, Porthllisky (West of St.Davids on Porthclais Road), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 
• 🌍 St Davids Destinations, Nun St (In the heart of St Davids), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Self-catering cottages. 
• 🌍 Cwtch Cottages, Goat St, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Self-catering cottages close to Saint Davids Square. Sleeps up to 5 (double room, twin room and room with bunk beds). Private garden with BBQ facilities, Wi-Fi, wood burner and full central heating. 
• St David's Cottages, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Two converted stone barns. 

Camping

• 🌍 Caerfai Bay, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. Popular camping and caravan site, located just to the south of St Davids, overlooking a sandy bay. Organic farm shop on site. Advance booking recommended, though they have a minimum 4-night stay for advance bookings, extended to 7 nights in the school summer holidays (mid July to early September). 
• 🌍 Pencarnan, Pencarnan Farm, ☎ [phone]. Possibly the only site in the area with a better location than Caerfai Bay, Pencarnan is on top of the cliff above Porthsele Beach. Prices are high and apart from the location the camp site is very average, with typical British plumbing in the bathrooms and (contrary to claims on the site) fairly steeply sloping fields, particularly those closest to the beach. Wi-Fi is available around the reception building, but is not free of charge. 
• 🌍 Pencnwc Farm campsite, Treginnis. Just a short walk from the cliff top that forms Wales' most westerly point overlooking Ramsey Island. Simple but lovely site. Ready-pitched tents available to order, also a Mongolian ger, or you can bring your own tent. 
• 🌍 Tretio Caravan & Camping Park, ☎ [phone]. 40+ pitch caravan & camping park, 1.5 miles from the coast. 
• 🌍 Treginnis, Treginnis Uchaf, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Caravan Club site, level site for tourers and camper vans. Fantastic views. Water tap and disposal point. Batteries charged. 

Hostels

• 🌍 YHA St Davids, Llaethdy, Whitesands, ☎ [phone]. Lovely, if basic, hostel in former farm buildings on the slopes of Carn Llidi the rocky hill that dominates the northern part of the St Davids peninsula. About 2 miles to the north-west of St Davids, close to Whitesands Bay. 

Go next

St Davids is near the extreme southwest tip of Wales, so to get out, you will likely have to return the way you came. If travelling around the coastal path, or touring by car, nearby towns include Haverfordwest and Fishguard. Places of interest further afield include Cardigan to the north, Tenby to the southeast and Carmarthenshire to the east.

• Ramsey Island. An RSPB nature reserve known for its colonies of birds. Two boats per day land there, leaving from St Justinian at 10AM and noon, returning at noon and 4PM. Tickets available from Thousand Island Expeditions in Cross Square, St Davids.
• Solva (Solfach) — pretty little village at the head of a long, narrow natural harbour. Just over a 3 mile walk along the coast path to the east. The village has 4 pubs, so there's plenty of opportunity to get refreshments before walking back! The best views can be had from The Gribin, the cliff on the south side of the harbour. Solva's main car park is free.
• Abereiddy small village and beach with plenty of activities. Near by is the Blue Lagoon.
• Porthgain small harbour with an industrial heritage