What a great day out on the fantastic North Pembrokeshire Coastline. The headland walk around from St Justianian’s lifeboat station has amazing views out to Ramsey Island. Pembrokeshire has many offshore islands where seals, porpioses and dolphins live in the clear waters. St Davids is a special place – Celtic, natural, spiritual, unique – did you know King Arthur landed here on St Davids’ shores? If you headed out southwest, the first landfall would be South America.
Ramsey Island has two twin peaks – the remains of long-extinct volcanoes, separated from the mainland by the fierce currents of Ramsey sound – locally know as “the bitches”. Ramsey is great for birds lovers – it’s an RSPB reserve – with puffins and manx shearwaters, and rocks full of Kittiwate and Gullimots. It’s also a great seal breeding area, although we didn’t see any fluffy seal pubs as that’s in late summer and autumn. Along the headland walk we spotted peregrine and oyster catcher.
Volcanic Fitness clients took a fascinating guided 1 hr boat trip out with ‘Voyages of Discovery’, on the Viking Voyager, after a mornings adventure activity Coasteering near the Blue Lagoon with with ‘TYF’. TYF introduced coasteering to the wild and wonderful coasts of St Davids. This unique activity combines the best of scrambling, exploring, leaping, climbing and swimming (and lots of laughter and a great adrenaline rush). Volcanic fitness clients could opt for a half day coasteering, a boat trip, kayaking, climbing or surfing to round off the day. The rest of us headed out on our coastal walk. Back in St Davids, we had time to check out the Cathedral and St Davids Bishops Palace, an ancient Welsh monument, and not forgetting the cup of herb tea in the vestry!!
St David was a Celtic saint from the 6th century, and is the patron saint of Wales. We have St Davids day here in March with daffodils and leaks as our national emblems. St David was born at St Non’s chapel and you can still see a chapel and holy well just off the coast path. The Cathedral was built on the site of St Davids monastery – there were lots of rebuilds over the years, even an earthquake in 1247! and during the 10th and 11th centuries the Vikings regularly raided it and managed to kill off 2 bishops…
The Bishops Palace has been around since 1328, constructed by Bishop Henry de Gower – in the ruins are arcaded parapets, remains of state rooms and an impressive Great Hall – those Bishops certainly lived it up!
Off to Porthgain and the evening Yoga session. Porthgain is a pretty little harbour side, but has the remains of industrial archaeology – quarrying and brickmaking and a crushing plant which closed in 1931. It’s home to the famous Sloop Inn although we resisted the urge – this time!
Check out our hikingspa breaks at volcanicfitness.co.uk – we have a great online shop for fitness, hiking, walking gear, GPS, organic gifts and more
