Day 2 of our Pembrokeshire Holiday.

Date : Day 2, Monday May 11th 2009.

Places visited : The Druidstone Hotel to Nolton Haven, Newgale and St David's Head.

Walk details : St David's YHA, Carn Llidi, St David's Head, Porthmelgan and back.

Distance travelled : 3.84 miles, 936 ft of ascent.

Weather : Blue skies and sunny weather. A warm easterly breeze.

A mature Herring Gull, perched on the stones of Newgale Beach.

After yesterday's sunset, I'm up early (well not that early) to explore the beach

and more importantly to give the dogs a quick morning run.

The wind generator and solar panels are working well this morning at Druidstone's Roundhouse.

Originally the Croquet Pavilion, it has been converted into an eco-friendly self catering apartment and extra bedroom for the hotel.

Harry, perched on a boulder, is watching the gently lapping water.

This is Druidston Haven and the easterly breeze of the last few days means there are no large onshore waves.

The plan is to drive over to St David's and climb Carn Llidi, the high ground in the distance.

The sun is out, the air is clear and the visibility is brilliant . . . time for some breakfast !

From the hotel we can see the Garland Stone off Skomer Island.	17 miles away, Grassholm . . . white due to it's Gannet colony.

Just 13 clear miles away, Bishop Rock Lighthouse.	Carn Llidi, a mere 10 miles as the seagull flies.

Opposite the hotel is the earth covered house known as Malator, built in 1998 at a cost of approximately £1 million.

It's a holiday home for the millionaire London MP Bob Marshall-Andrews and his wife Jill . . . Let's hope they don't claim it on expenses !

Innovative in design, and nick-named the Teletubby House it blends in with the scenery when seen from the front.

It is questionable whether the view from the road side supports it's eco friendly credentials.

We're off to St David's now.

This is Nolton Haven, the next bay and small village up the coast from Druidston Haven.

A three generation photo . . . this time of farmhouses not people.

I imagine they represent growing prosperity from the 18th, to the 19th and finally the 20th centuries.

A more unusual view of Newgale Beach taken from the south.

The famous shingle bank forms naturally at the head of the beach and now has a tarmac road across it.

Looking back to Rickets Head at the opposite end of Newgale Sands.

We can't walk on Whitesands Beach today . . .	. . . but then we had already planned to walk elsewhere.

By the way . . .just on a technical note . . . how do you feed butterflies ?

We parked near the Youth Hostel for our walk up Carn Llidi and onto the headland.

Young foals gather near the gate as we pass close by.

St David's Hostel looks like a YHA with real character.

It is one of the chain of overnight accommodation hostels that supports walkers on the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path.

Nice gentleman holding the gate open !	Gorse in bloom . . . cow in field.

A surprise for this far south, a classic long horned Scottish Highland Cow.

The view north extends all the way to Strumble Head.

Harry and Bethan lead the way to the top.	The view down over St David's and a large caravan park.

Harry the long tongued retriever.

That tongue more in control now, they make the summit.

As they can't sweat through all that hair they use their tongues as part of their "cool down" mechanism after the climb.

Ann joins them on the summit

Behind them are the flat fields of this part of Pembrokeshire and in the distance, half way round the bay, Druidston Haven.

At 181m, 588 feet above sea level the view is extensive.

Ahead is Ramsey Island, the Bishops and Clerks . . . and America !

To the north, Carn Ffald, the pointed Penberry and distant Strumble Head.

Looking down on St David's Head, there's a small yacht rounding the headland.

On closer examination it's making good speed in the easterly breeze, taking advantage of the fast flowing ebb tide.

Beyond it, the strength of the tide race is evident from the breaking waves and overflows on the partially submerged rock in the channel.

Almost the reverse of the previous photo, we have now descended onto the coast path and are getting nearer the headland.

The light blue flowers of Spring Squill.	Wonderful Pink Thrift . . . we've caught them at their prime this year.

Ann pauses at the old wartime lookout position, on the high ground just short of the headland.

The end of the path . . . looking down on the final rocks of St David's Head and across the sound to Ramsey Island.

The Bishop Rock with it's lighthouse is the furthest away of the four rocky islands in the picture.

Whitesands Bay with a cafe, car park and (presumably) hungry butterflies.

A gap in the defensive wall of the old pre-historic headland fort . . .	. . . and perhaps evidence of an old hut circle in the grass.

More ancient history in the form of a stone cromlech, an ancient burial chamber, known locally as Coetan Arthur.

The cap stone measures some 3 metres wide and is supported by the remaining one of possibly three supporting stones.

More bright gorse in flower as we walk back towards Porthmelgan Beach.

Kids will be kids . . . come away from the edge !

A close up of pink Thrift against the backdrop of the sandy beach below.

This is the classic Pembrokeshire sea cliff flower.

Down to Porthmelgan Beach, looking south and west into the afternoon sun.

Time to kick off the shoes and enjoy the sand.

Pity the water is quite so cold . . . but then it is only May.

Fine green seaweed covers some of the rocks.	Beadlet Anemone in the water of a small rock pool.

Ann catches a photo from the back of a large cave.	Time to head back, leaving the beach to the incoming tide.

The map shows a path here somewhere . . .	. . . but I don't think it is this one is the right way.

That's more like it . . . a wider, well used track back across the hill that we were looking for.

Back through the hostel grounds at the completion of our walk.

Back "home" and time to relax . . .

. . .chance to read a book	. . . and enjoy the view.

Time to ad-door the sunset . . . from the garden	. . . or from the dining room.

The unique dining room of the Druidstone.

After dinner we are joined by another resident, taking advantage of the warm radiator.

The sun sets over the horizon . . .

or more correctly the horizon rises to obscure the golden orb.

The last sight of the sun over the garden wall . . . an iconic feature of any Druidstone Hotel stay.

- - - o o o - - -

Technical note: Pictures taken with with my Cannon G7 or Ann's Ixus 75 Digital camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed with . . . sunshine, blue skies and a clear view west at the end of the day

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Our previous time here - 13th to 21st May 2005 A visit to Swansea and Pembrokeshire.