Cosying up in one of St Davids Escapes’ gorgeous Pembrokeshire cottages, with the fire roaring and nature doing its epic, energetic thing outside your doorstep is, in our view, the best way to spend winter breaks.
The other side of this hygge coin is a tiny city which has an entirely different appeal when the sun is shining. That’s right – being at the tip of a peninsula means dramatic winters and balmy summers. St Davids transforms annually from a quiet hideaway to a bustling holiday spot, allowing visitors a completely different view of this phenomenal part of Pembrokeshire.
So what can you get in Pembrokeshire that you can’t get anywhere else during the warmer months? Here are our top 4 reasons why you should visit St Davids this summer.
for the surf
Pembrokeshire is home to the only coastal National Park in the UK, and St Davids is right in the middle of it. This means much of the coast is unspoilt, so despite the epic waves we get here, it just doesn’t draw the same crowds as other coastal surf spots do.
We recommend that experienced surfers head down to Newgale beach, where the pebble beach runs in a messy curve along this central part of St Brides Bay, allowing for excellent surf and exceptional views. For the less experienced surfer, then Whitesands Bay is a smoother beach offering more mellow surf. Local surf eficionados Ma Simes Surf School teach lessons there daily over the summer, as well as hire out wetsuits and boards for those who just want a splash about.
for the food
We know we talk about it a lot, but we cannot stress enough how wonderful the food is on this peninsula. Here’s a quick guide to where to eat depending on what you’re looking for.
Fish & Chips – The Shed, Porthgain
Feast Nights – The Druidstone Hotel, near Newgale
The Best Burgers – The Cambrian Inn, Solva
Laid Back Pub Food – The Bishops, St Davids
Ice Cream – The Bench, St Davids
Welsh Treats – Mamgu Welshcakes, St Davids
Brunch – The Mill, St Davids
On The Wild Side – The Really Wild Emporium, St Davids
Fine Dining – Blas at Twr Y Felin, St Davids
For Local Seafood – Mrs Will The Fish, Solva
For BBQs – Gwyn Davies & Sons, St Davids
And if you don’t fancy going out, make sure you order from the Peninsula Food Market to ensure you have all the local ingredients you could need for making delicious meals in your holiday cottage.
for the wildlife
While we know we’re just one of many peninsulas along our beautiful British coastline, we really do have a lot to brag about in St Davids that can’t be said of anywhere else in Britain.
For example, we have the oldest volcanic coastal rock formations in the UK, visible from Lower Treginnis, just outside St Davids and overlooking Ramsey Island. And whilst we’re talking islands, did you know that almost half a million Manx Shearwaters live on Skomer Island? That’s the largest colony of the albatross’ cousin in the world, and all a boat ride away from your Pembrokeshire holiday cottage. Local boat company Falcon Boats will take you out to sea to have a look around Ramsey Island, or to watch Minky whales and bottlenosed dolphins playfully skim the waves.
The summer is the perfect time to go out on a boat trip to visit St David’s diverse coastal creatures. Did we mention the puffins? There are over 8,000 pairs of Atlantic Puffins on these islands, and they’re not too camera shy, either! Pembrokeshire offers plenty of opportunities to get up and close with nature on many levels, whether it’s with seals in September or Red Kites high on the peninsula’s many peaks.
for a mindful holiday
Being over an hour off the M4 is not as inconvenient as it sounds. See how long it takes you to begin to relax between the motorway and your St Davids Escape cottage. Enjoy driving through West Wales’ idyllic countryside, and be in in the holiday mood by the time you arrive.
When you visit St Davids, it’s almost impossible not to feel more mindful. We have more fresh air and spiritual spots than you can cram into a short break. It is, after all, the birthplace of our Patron Saint, and the monks founded the religious order on the banks of the river Alun flowing out towards St Davids Head because of the intensity of this ethereal place, wild and energetic.
Health benefits are a big reason to visit St Davids. Cold water swimming can help boost your mood. The sea air is good for your mind. A walk on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path will help you get an amazing night sleep.
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