New Year Celebration in St Davids

Suggestions for a St Davids New Year Celebration

A New Year celebration in rural Pembrokeshire is a memorable one.

Out in westerly Wales, there is plenty to inspire a New Year’s Eve celebration; from cosy, slow and quiet nights in, to a buzzing street party with a family-friendly atmosphere… all topped off with our infamous New Year’s Day cold water sea swim at Whitesands.

So why not start your New Year’s resolutions early, ditch the tedious traditions, and join St Davids Escapes in a more wholesome commemoration?

Below are a few ideas of what you could get up to. And our team is happy to find you the best availability for self-catering accommodation in and around St Davids for New Year’s Eve 2025. Give them a call on 01437 709 790 and they’ll find the best last minute break for your NYE St Davids Escape!

1. The best New Year’s Walk

So we might be biased, but we think Britain’s only coastal National Park offers the best New Year’s walk in the world! For us, there’s nothing better than wrapping up warm, putting on your hiking boots, and having a winter wander along one of the many scenic circular routes this peninsula has to offer. Our personal favourite at St Davids Escapes is the St Davids Head coastal walk, taking in some of the oldest volcanic rock formations in Britain. This route includes the steadfast mountain of Carn Llidy, exceptional seascapes towards Ramsey Island, and a 3,000-year-old Neolithic burial chamber in the most secluded, spiritual spot high on the cliffs. Walking this extraordinary shoreline is a magical way to mark the end of 2025. It’s also a really good excuse to indulge with a pub dinner afterwards!

2. New Year’s Eve Beach Picnic

If the weather is kind to us on 31st December, what could be more romantic than starting the new year under a starlit sky, the sound of the waves lapping the shore? In fact, a trip to Pembrokeshire’s wild coast means that, if you pick the right spot, you can have a special stretch of seaside all to yourselves. Pack a picnic – perhaps with a seafood platter from one of our local suppliers? – bring plenty of blankets, and then pick from one of many beautiful, exclusive spots to ring in 2026. If we were pushed to choose, we would have our picnic on the grassy headland above Caerfai beach, which is walking distance from St Davids, and has picnic benches and a dreamy view. Alternatively, the dunes behind Whitesands Beach are a secluded spot for a fire lit toast to the New Year – and offer the opportunity for a phosphorescent swim if you’re feeling brave!

3. Go for a New Year Swim

Cold water swimming in St Davids is very much a part of everyday life. In fact, out here we just call it “swimming”! As the birthplace of the Blue Tits, we’re all about showcasing how getting into the sea, year-round, improves your mental fortitude, gives you a large shot of adrenaline and dopamine (happy hormones), and supercharges your metabolism. If you want to wait until New Year’s Day, then the local Penknife Club raises money for charity by organising a large community swim on Whitesands beach. This glorious and popular stretch of sand fills with enthusiastic swimmers each year, so you won’t need to brave the waves alone. Make sure you have plenty of warm clothes for when you get out of the sea, or you could always…

4. Have a New Year’s seaside sauna

That’s right, St Davids’ most famous beach now has its very own resident sauna! Whitesands Sauna is the brainchild of local carpenter Greg Rodland-Buick, who has built a “welcoming, community-focused sauna at Whitesands Beach, accessible year-round, and at affordable prices”. You can book a communal session, or a private sauna experience, and Greg recommends you practice the Nordic cycle – alternating between the heat of the cedar sauna and the cold water of the Atlantic, just steps away. An incredibly reviving way to head into 2026.

5. Revel at the Fishguard Street Party

Spend New Year’s Eve listening to live music at the legendary, family-friendly street party in Fishguard, less than half an hour from St Davids, where live music spills into the streets and the countdown feels electric. Slipped Disco is the headline act at this year’s Fishguard Street Party, with raffle tickets available, and a Kidz Club at the Town Hall between 1pm and 4pm.

6. Dance the night away at the Unearthed Party

The Unearthed Festival organisers are putting on a New Year’s Eve Party – an adult-only event held in the St Davids City Hall. Expect DJs, live music and a dancefloor that won’t wind down early, with bands including Los Pulpos and Daisy B. Click here for tickets.

7. Dine out for NYE in St Davids

Book your table for a tasting menu at one of our superb local restaurants – there’s truly something for everyone. For dinner that’s a little different, how about tucking into the tasting menu of foraged ingredients and unique dishes at The Really Wild Emporium? Or for five course indulgence followed by live jazz music and a champagne toast, there’s the Blas Restaurant. Also in the middle of the UK’s smallest city is the St Davids Cross Hotel, which is offering a six-course tasting menu with live music.

8. Dine in for NYE in St Davids

If you fancy celebrating midnight with a quiet meal, why not order a seafood platter or get fish and chips takeaway from a local Pembrokeshire business? A gentle start to the new year, many of our self-catering holiday homes have a log burner, and some even boast their own hot tub. What could be better than a scrumptious dinner of fresh, Welsh seafood, followed by a bottle of bubbly under the stars in your very own private Jacuzzi?

9. A St Davids NYE in the pub

We don’t like to boast, but the pub scene in St Davids is legendary! At The Bishops you’ll discover live music, good company, and that classic Ty Dewi bustle. Or head to The Farmers and grab a table in their large beer garden with its outdoor bar. If you’re staying in Porthgain, The Sloop is the place to be, and this famous old pub will have live music on New Year’s Eve. While Solva visitors can take their pick from The Cambrian, Hats & Barrels, The Ship and The Harbour House (or do a pub crawl to celebrate in all four!).

10. New Years Day Angel Trail

Explore the interactive, illuminated Angel Trail through the Cathedral Close and finish with the host of angels inside the St Davids Cathedral. A joyful family-friendly activity, this interactive trail explores the Christmas story through the eyes of the angels, encouraging participants to count how many angels they can spot along the way. A gentle and mindful way for your family to begin the new year.