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You are here: Home / Photo Blogging / On The Road / On The Road – knally – St Davids, Wales

On The Road – knally – St Davids, Wales

by WaterGirl|  December 14, 20225:00 am| 31 Comments

This post is in: On The Road, Photo Blogging

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On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.

From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.

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knally

I’m pretty much a lurker on the site, but thought I could contribute a couple of On The Road items since you’re running short!

This is of a visit that a friend and I made to St Davids the smallest city in the UK in May 2019. My friend had recently bought an electric car and this was the first long drive she’d attempted (long as in 230 miles) and I think I was invited for moral support during range anxiety.

On The Road - knally - St Davids, Wales 7
St DavidsMay 21, 2019

This is the view from where we stayed, Tower Hill – a Landmark Trust property. That’s St Davids Cathedral which gives the small town its city status.  It was a popular place of pilgrimage in the middle ages. Pope Calixtus II decreed that “Two pilgrimages to St Davids is equal to one to Rome, and three pilgrimages to one to Jerusalem”

On The Road - knally - St Davids, Wales 6
St DavidsMay 22, 2019

This is another view of the cathedral from the Bishop’s Palace. Although ruined, there was enough remaining of the palace, accompanied by excellent information boards, to give you an idea of its initial magnificence.

On The Road - knally - St Davids, Wales 5
MarloesMay 21, 2019

We did a couple of walks around the area and this is part of the paths around Marloes Sands.

On The Road - knally - St Davids, Wales 4
Marloes SandsMay 21, 2019

This is the view down to the sands, with Gateholm Island – a tidal island, so reachable by foot at low tide. Further out to sea is Skokholm Island, a breeding site for many sea birds.

On The Road - knally - St Davids, Wales 3
Marloes SandsMay 21, 2019

Down on the sands you might possible recognise the view if you’ve ever watched Snow White and the Huntsman. Although possibly not since they CGI’d a huge castle on top.

On The Road - knally - St Davids, Wales 2
St DavidsMay 22, 2019

It was also possible to take numerous paths out from the city. Although not very obvious there is a holy well behind the other metalwork just beyond this kissing gate. As usual it is supposed to have curative powers and would have been popular with the pilgrims on the last stage of their journey.

On The Road - knally - St Davids, Wales 1
St DavidsMay 22, 2019

As in many coastal areas, the trees were grimly hanging on for dear life against the wind. you might be able to work out which side the coast was on from the slight leaning on one side of this charming path.

On The Road - knally - St Davids, Wales
St DavidsMay 21, 2019

And since I know pets are very popular on BJ, here is Jake, my friend’s blind golden retriever.  He was a rescue dog and the UK vet thought he had probably been blind from birth. He certainly had total confidence and went through life like the ball in a pinball machine, navigating by bouncing off whatever was in the way. Here we have placed mats at the top and bottom of the stairs so he gets some warning on the approach.

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Reader Interactions

31Comments

  1. 1.

    oldster

    December 14, 2022 at 5:38 am

    Thank you, knally! A good tale with good photos. Looks like a beautiful part of Wales, and I had never heard of St. David’s cathedral, or its status as a destination for pilgrims.

  2. 2.

    JanieM

    December 14, 2022 at 5:56 am

    Echoing what oldster said. These are lovely, and all the bits of information are fascinating. Hard to pick a fave, but the Marloes Sands one is especially lovely, and I like that second-to-last one with the path between greenery and gnarled trees. I would love to go for a walk there.

  3. 3.

    raven

    December 14, 2022 at 6:13 am

    My friend had a huge black German Shepherd named “Frog Dog” who got hit by a car and was blinded so my buddy was a “seeing eye person” for a blind dog!

  4. 4.

    Benw

    December 14, 2022 at 6:25 am

    Awesome photos! I stayed in Wales one day and it was lovely (but driving the tiny roads on the wrong side was terrifying!)

  5. 5.

    JPL

    December 14, 2022 at 6:26 am

    Lovely photos!

  6. 6.

    J.

    December 14, 2022 at 6:34 am

    Great post! Thanks for sharing. And I love the dog. ❤️

  7. 7.

    EmbraceYourInnerCrone

    December 14, 2022 at 6:37 am

    So lovely, Wakes is on my bucket list!

  8. 8.

    zhena gogolia

    December 14, 2022 at 6:40 am

    Beautiful. The path with gnarled trees is amazing. And the dog!

  9. 9.

    Marmot

    December 14, 2022 at 7:04 am

    Say, do you know if that stretch of Marloes Sands features in The Prisoner? Looks familiar!

    Cool trip!

  10. 10.

    Anyway

    December 14, 2022 at 7:22 am

    @Benw:

    Haha! Yep, for me the worst part was trying to shift the car door… I found the unpronounceable Welsh place names charming

  11. 11.

    Kevin

    December 14, 2022 at 7:33 am

    Lovely pictures, especially the bonus one of  Jake at the end.

  12. 12.

    Albatrossity

    December 14, 2022 at 7:56 am

    Very nice. Holy wells and kissing gates! Who knew?

  13. 13.

    Oregon Girl

    December 14, 2022 at 8:40 am

    Lovely photos! Thanks for sharing them.

  14. 14.

    knally

    December 14, 2022 at 9:22 am

    Glad that everyone enjoyed the photos. I’ll have a rummage around my files to see what else I can produce.

  15. 15.

    knally

    December 14, 2022 at 9:23 am

    @raven: At one point we did get a sign saying “I’m Blind” to put on Jake’s harness … but then everyone just thought the person walking Jake was blind!

  16. 16.

    knally

    December 14, 2022 at 9:25 am

    @Benw:  We went to Marloes Sands after visiting the Tourist Information Centre. They warned us about the narrow roads, and my friend said, “That’s alright, my friend can drive, she’s from Cornwall”

    Meep!

  17. 17.

    knally

    December 14, 2022 at 9:27 am

    @Marmot:  I don’t think any of The Prisoner was shot here. Most of it was shot at Portmeirion, which is up in the north of Wales, and there is a wide sandy beach there.

  18. 18.

    oatler

    December 14, 2022 at 9:52 am

    I recommend Ward-Lock & Co.’s “North Wales”, which contains fold-out maps and schedules for steamboat tours; also reviews of bathing machines.

  19. 19.

    MelissaM

    December 14, 2022 at 10:20 am

    Nice photos, but I’m only commenting because of the dog. Who’s a good boy??

  20. 20.

    Steve in the ATL

    December 14, 2022 at 10:42 am

    Wales is awesome.  I always take a few vowels with me when I go.

  21. 21.

    stinger

    December 14, 2022 at 10:54 am

    Lurker no longer! Great photos and stories! Good boy Jake!

  22. 22.

    JimV

    December 14, 2022 at 11:17 am

    It all reminds me of Hogwarts for some reason. Thanks.

  23. 23.

    Elizabelle

    December 14, 2022 at 11:18 am

    Never heard of St Davids before, and now I want to go.  Thank you, knally.  And skritch Jake for me.

    Will be fun to research the pilgrimage trails more.

  24. 24.

    Elizabelle

    December 14, 2022 at 11:21 am

    The British Pilgrimage Trust (love it; they’ve got a snail as their logo):

    Northern Way of St. David.

    Northern Way of St David – 31 miles – 3 days. In 1123, when pilgrims could no longer travel to Jerusalem because of the Crusades, the Pope suggested two other destinations instead – Santiago in Spain and St Davids in Wales. If you’ve done the Camino in Spain or only have a few days to spare, this pilgrimage will be just right for you.

    The Pembrokeshire National Park Coast Path is described by Lonely Planet as the finest coast path in the world. The remote north coast route from Fishguard to St Davids has also inspired generations of poets, writers and musicians. It is this artistic theme that this route follows, and as one absorbs the beautiful Celtic landscape it is hard not to feel creatively inspired. The area was home to two Archdruids of Wales and famous poems such as Cofio, Melin Trefin and Pwll Deri were all inspired by the rugged coastal landscape.

    Allow a day either side of the three days’ walking for travelling to Pembrokeshire at the start and end of the pilgrimage. Day One is from Fishguard to Pwll Deri. Day Two is from Pwll Deri to Porthgain. Day Three is from Porthgain to St Davids via the rocky summit of Carn Llidi at Whitesands Bay.

    Each day takes in clifftop views, deserted beaches and sweeping vistas over the Irish Sea. A wealth of seabirds are on view, seals and maybe the occasional dolphin, along with 4000-year-old burial chambers, Celtic chapels, holy wells and the great Norman cathedral at St Davids, home to the shrine of the patron saint of Wales.

  25. 25.

    Elizabelle

    December 14, 2022 at 11:29 am

    Some more photos of the Northern Route. https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/explore/do/experience/our-experiences/pilgrimage-walk-solva-st-davids

    And there is a Southern Route.  5 days, 60 miles. https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/southern-way-of-st-david/

  26. 26.

    pieceofpeace

    December 14, 2022 at 11:37 am

    Lovely pictures and your commentary is a welcome part.  I was there in ’68 or ’69 (when free-wheelin it, time is a nuisance), loved it.

    Jake is undoubtedly well-loved, a handsome, fortunate doggie.

    Good, do look for more pictures, and thanks for these……

  27. 27.

    way2blue

    December 14, 2022 at 12:13 pm

    I remember laughinig at the hopelessly long village names on the road signs in Wales.  Not a chance I could parse them.  Thanks for posting!

  28. 28.

    J R in WV

    December 14, 2022 at 12:16 pm

    Sweet road trip — thanks for sharing!

    The first post is the hardest, lurk no longer…

  29. 29.

    KrackenJack

    December 14, 2022 at 12:56 pm

    Okay, I had to look up Pope Calixtus (the second nonetheless!). Seems like a decent Burgundian Guy. Which is why I didn’t know him. The dissipated, debauched and murderous ones get all the attention.

    Drove a little car with stick in Ireland. The bilingual signage petered out pretty quickly, so I was left wondering what those giant Irish words on the pavement meant as I sped past. For a lot of the roads there wasn’t enough pavement for a right or left side.

    Thanks for the informative post and the memory-stirring, Knally

  30. 30.

    C Stars

    December 14, 2022 at 1:46 pm

    @EmbraceYourInnerCrone: Wales is on my bucket list too, after seeing these photos!

  31. 31.

    knally

    December 14, 2022 at 4:57 pm

    @Elizabelle: I’ve done part of the Camino, and some of the Winchester to Canterbury Pilgrims Way so you may get to see some other pilgrim routes.

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