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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. The city's 210 listed buildings making it a destination for walkers, tourists and modern pilgrims. Many of the ancient buildings, including the Bishop's Palace, are open to the public.

See
6
Do
4
Eat
2
Drink
1
Buy
5

18 places

  1. See

    Bishop's Palace

    Near the cathedral, across a small river. It is a spectacular ruin showing how much wealth and power the clergy used to have.

    £5 for adults

  2. Drink

    Farmers Arms

    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. Hot food is also available

  3. Buy

    Ma Simes Surf Hut

    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.

  4. Buy

    National Trust Shop

    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.

  5. See

    St David's Cathedral

    Interesting and free. It hosts an annual organ festival at the end of May. The cafe is closed.

    Free admission, but donations recommended for upkeep

  6. Buy

    St Davids Bookshop

    Siop Lyfrau Tyddewi

    Interesting selection of new and second-hand books on local topics.

  7. Buy

    St Davids Food and Wine

    Deli specialising in local produce. Order freshly-made sandwiches and baguettes from the counter at the rear of the shop.

  8. See

    St Davids Lifeboat Station

    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.

  9. Buy

    TYF Adventure Equipment

    Outdoor equipment, accessories and clothing, as well as kites, frisbees, beach toys, etc.

  10. Eat

    The Bench

    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.

  11. See

    The Bug Farm

    Research centre and visitor attraction all about invertebrates.

  12. Eat

    The Old Cross Hotel

    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.

  13. Do

    Thousand Islands Expeditions

    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

  14. Do

    Voyages of Discovery

    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.

  15. See

    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.

  16. Do Not mapped

    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:

  17. Do Not mapped

    Venture Jet

    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.

    Easter to October (booking is essential)From £13 child, £25 adult