Discover St David's: Cathedral, Pilgrimage Routes and Historic Trails

St David's combines an impressive religious heritage with a variety of routes for walks, pilgrimages and cycling tours. The cathedral, historic buildings and routes such as the Pembrokeshire Coast Path give your stay different possible focuses. When choosing your holiday rental, you can therefore consider whether you mainly want to experience culture, take shorter walks or plan longer excursions in the surrounding area.

Cathedral and Bishop's Palace as historic landmarks

St Davids Cathedral welcomes visitors and pilgrims; admission is free. A wheelchair is available for use in the cathedral in the south porch. The place of worship stands on the site of a monastery founded by St David in the 6th century and has been a place of pilgrimage and worship for more than 800 years. The restored shrine of St David was unveiled and rededicated on St David's Day 2012.

St Davids Bishop's Palace also offers a unique perspective on the history of the place. Henry de Gower had it converted into a grand palace between 1328 and 1347. Until the Reformation in the 16th century, it was the residence of the Bishop of St Davids. Those who want to take their time exploring the historic sites can combine their stay with cultural visits and walks accordingly.

Walks for different day plans

The Historic St Davids Walk is ideal for a manageable circular walk. The route is 1.3 miles, or 2.1 km, long and takes around 45 minutes. It starts and ends at the Oriel y Parc Gallery and Visitor Centre. The route uses paved and natural footpaths, quiet lanes and mainly minor roads. This makes it easy to fit into a day that still leaves time for the cathedral or further exploration in addition to the circular walk.

Another focus is St Non's Chapel. The chapel lies around 600 m south of St Davids; its origins are thought to date to the early Middle Ages. The pilgrimage route to St Non's Chapel and St Non's Well leads from the centre of St Davids to the chapel. The Historic monument walk: St Non’s Chapel and St Davids is 4.5 miles long and runs from St Davids Cathedral via St Non's Well and Chapel to Porthclais Harbour. A route without stiles is suitable for visitors with pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Coast, cycle route and local impressions

Those planning a longer outing can take the coastal path from St Davids to Whitesands Bay, which follows the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. For cycling excursions, National Cycle Network Route 4 passes through St David's and offers several detours to the coast via quiet country roads. Tŷ’r Pererin offers extended hospitality to visitors to the cathedral; events and activities include guided walks and pilgrimages.

A culinary stop can also be combined with the history of the place: Mamgu Welshcakes Café is located in the ruins of St Marys College, a 14th-century part of St Davids Cathedral.

Further places for your search

For further travel planning, you can also visit these places: Clynderwen, Treffynnon, Saint Dogmaels, Houghton, Narberth, Roch, Begelly and Cosheston.

To the main travel overview: Pembrokeshire.