9.5 Mile Coastal Run - St David's, Pembrokeshire
Today, I am on holiday near St David's, West Wales.
It's a gorgeous afternoon, so I decide to go for an explore.
The route I decide to take is a 9.5 mile circular route.
Half along the coastal paths and half along country lanes.
It's NOT for the faint hearted - especially the incline at mile 5 at Pen Beri!
A 337 foot elevation gain in just under half a mile!
I leave the campsite heading in the direction of Carn Llidi,
the mountain in the distance. This was used as a radar station during WW2.
I follow the country lanes down to Whitesand's Bay. A beautiful mile-long beach,
renowned to be Pembrokeshire's best surfing beaches and
one of the worlds best tourist beaches! Hardly a cloud in the sky!
Next point of call is a rocky outcrop called "Pen Maen Ddewi" - "St David's Head".
I take a right here and the next left......
The views on the way up of the bay behind are stunning.
The track is pretty narrow and just goes up and up for a while......
Looking back to Whitesand's Bay.....
Still going up.......
Finally, the track flattens out for a spell......
Adjacent to Whitesand's Bay is Porth Lleuog Beach - only accessible if you are willing to do a spot of rock climbing and swimming to get to it!!
Up I go again!
To my right, past the thrift, I can see the summit of Carn Llidi.....
It's pretty windy, and the grass is swaying back and forth
and is making a lovely swishing sound, just like the waves below....
A little bit of downhill to a stile and I take a right.....
To my right is a choice of paths to take to Carn Llidi.
Another lovely route to run. Stunning views from the summit!
Despite being tempted, I continue along the path I am following and
down the steps towards the next cove - Porth Melgan.
Not a sole on the beach today!
I follow the path towards St David's Head.
There are beautiful foxgloves everywhere! They are almost as tall as me! Lol!
The path gets close to the edge in some places. I have to tread carefully!
The view back towards Whitesand's and Carn Llidi.
I finally reach St David's Head. Can't resist climbing to the top! :o)
Carn Llidi in the distance....
It gets pretty steep and mega rocky!
Well worth the climb!
Waves crashing on the rocks below...
The path remains rocky for several miles from this point on.
Great care needs to be taken not to twist an ankle.
An ancient burial chamber, Carn Llidi in the back ground.
I continue along the coastal path, keeping the sea to my left......
A pile of stones! Lol!
I follow the path down towards Pen Beri, the hill in the distance to the left......
Carn Llidi
Some rocky uphill.....
....and a couple of muddy puddles :o)
I go through a stile.....
..........and enjoy a bit of grassy, flat for a while!
Pen Beri in the distance......
Carn Llidi, behind me......
The path narrows again and bends around to the right....
View back towards Carn Llidi.
I follow the path, which hugs the cliffs through Penllechwen.....
My next destination, Pen Beri - the summit in the distance.
Some more uphill.....
The view back along the coast towards St David's Head.
Up, up and awaaaaaaaaaaaaaay we go!
The view back is stunning! Carn Llidi looks miles away now!
And some MORE uphill!
This stile is perilously close to the cliffs edge!
And up we go again!
A spot of flat!! Getting excited now! Pen Beri is not far!
What goes up, must come down :o)
There is pretty, pink thrift everywhere!
There's my destination. That craggy nipple. It doesn't look much from afar,
but up close, it is a sheer cliff face!
I ascend once more......
I follow the narrow, rocky path which winds up and over this craggy outcrop....
I stop halfway up to admire the scenery.
The view gorgeous back towards Carn Llidi and St David's Head!
Pretty pink, thrift grows in the cracks of the dry stone walls.....
As I continue upwards, it get's steeper and steeper!
Looking back down, I can see just how close the coastal path comes to the edge of the cliffs!
A little bit more uphill.................
Wow!
Here it is! Pen Beri! :o)
OMG! My legs are really feeling it now! I have just climbed 350ft in just half a mile!
Well, I made it! I haven't brought my rock climbing gear, so this is as close as I get! :o)
Time to hit the country lanes and head for St David's - Wales's smallest city!
The path widens and most importantly, flattens out for a spell :o)
A nice bit of downhill to the farm below.....
At the end of this path, I reach the farm. I run through it and to the left to join a country lane....
Cows lazily graze in the adjacent fields. I can see all the mountains I have run past in the distance!
At the T-Junction I take a left, following the national cycle route......
And a right at the next.......
Ooooooo - civilisation! As I run through Rodiad Y Brenin, I don't see a single sole! It's like a ghost town! Such a tiny village. Blink and you'll miss it!
A field full of bright yellow rapeseed.
Carn Llidi ahead of me.....
Around the bend, and now to my right, all the mountains I have run past!
Carn Llidi to the left and Pen Beri to the right.
I could take a right here to get back to my campsite, but decide to continue ahead to St David's.
Cross Square in the centre of St David's. The turrets of St David's Cathedral behind .....
And here it is in it's entirety! St David's Cathedral, which gives St David's it's city status!
I take a right here........
....and a left to Quickwell Hill, past this pretty, pink cottage......
The road meanders down a country lane which is dappled in sunlight..... It's really pleasant :o)
I cross the bridge over the river and take a right up this hill.....which seems to go forever!
As it flattens out, I can see Pen Beri in the distance to my right! Can't believe how far away it looks!
I need to take care here as the lane is narrow and there's really not much room when cars pass!
Pen Beri in the distance.....Well, half a mile to go and I'm back at the campsite!
Despite this run being a toughie, I've thoroughly enjoyed myself!
I've had an absolutely fantastic afternoon!
All those miles and I have only seen a maximum of ten walkers!
No one else mad enough to run it! Lol!
The scenery has been stunning! I can't WAIT to come back and explore a little further!
Hope you enjoyed :o)
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