Emily - Our granddaughter arrives!

Nature is amazing, just as you think it won't happen - it does! Along came this amazing baby - Emily.

 Just a few days old and using her lungs, Emily starts to make her mark in the world.

One very proud mum looking adoringly at the little bundle she has brought into this world..

Proud Nana has a chance to hold her first granddaughter.

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St Non and Caerfai Bay

More explorations today of the coast just below St Davids, and some of the natural wonders that greeted us as we reached St Nons Bay before moving just a little to Caerfai Bay

St Nons Bay with the profusion of yellow gorse. 

Common gorse can be seen in all kinds of habitats, from heaths and coastal grasslands to towns and gardens. It generally flowers from January to June (although it may flower sporadically throughout the year), while its close relatives - Western gorse and Dwarf gorse - flower from July to November. It provides shelter and food for many insects and birds, such as Dartford warblers, Stonechats and Yellowhammers. 

A mass of Lackey moth caterpillars. 

The webs of Lackey caterpillars are a common site amongst many low growing deciduous trees such as blackthorn, hawthorn and apple. Over a hundred caterpillars may be seen in a single web and if undisturbed may be seen sitting on the outside during the day. 

Even when recently emerged the caterpillars are distinctively marked having a range of blue, orange and pale stripes and long brown hairs. The caterpillars grow rapidly reaching a length of 55mm by June. 

Blister Beetle 

Shrine at St Non's Chapel. St Non being the mother of St David I believe. 

Held by tradition to mark the birthplace of St David, the ruin cannot be accurately dated but is unusual in that it is aligned north-south rather than the usual east-west. Near to the ruined chapel is a retreat, a modern chapel (below) and a holy well. Wales has a long and very rich religious history. Nearly 200 years before Constantine, Saint Lucius, a legendary 2nd-century King of the Britons (or Silures) is traditionally credited with introducing Christianity into Britain in the tenure of Pope Eleutherius (c. 180), although this is disputed. Christianity certainly arrived in Wales sometime in the Roman occupation, but it was initially suppressed.

Chapel of Our Lady and St Non 

Now this has an interesting history! A modern chapel (51.8723°N 5.2667°W) was built near the ruin in 1934 by Cecil Morgan-Griffiths, a solicitor from Carmarthen, using stone from ruined local chapels. He had built a house (now used as a retreat) overlooking the sea, and the nearest Catholic church was over sixteen miles away, so he decided to build one on the historic site. The new chapel is the most westerly in Wales and is also one of the smallest, as it is only 25 feet long by 12 feet wide. It has stained glass windows representing St Non, St David, St Bride, St Brynach and St Winifred. The stoup at the door is all that remains of the Chapel of the Fathoms, and the altar uses a white stone from the altar of St Patrick's Chapel. Cecil Morgan-Griffiths died the year after the new chapel was completed. 

A holy well close to the chapel (51.8724°N 5.2683°W) was thought to have healing properties, and to this day visitors throw coins into the well for luck. Records of a survey of St. David's by Browne Willis in 1717 state that "there is a fine Well beside it [St. Non's Chapel], cover'd with a Stone-Roof, and enclos'd within a Wall, with Benches to sit upon round the Well. Some old simple People go still to visit this Saint at some particular Times, especially upon St. Nun's Day (March 2nd) which they kept holy, and offer Pins, Pebbles, Etc at this well", and reports from 1811 state that "the fame this consecrated spring has obtained is incredible and it is still resorted to for many complaints". It was thought to be particularly effective for eye problems and was restored in 1951 by the Catholic Church, which also erected a shrine using stones from nearby ruins. The vaulting over the well replaced ruins of medieval stonework in the 18th century. Water from the well was used by Pope Benedict during his visit to Britain. 

A small rocky cove at high tide, sandwiched between towering cliffs 1 mile south of St Davids. 

The rocks around Caerfai are multicoloured with a mixture of grey, green and vivid pink. 

We were lucky as the tide was just retreating ..... 

........ leaving some lovely patterns in the sand. A lovely spot to finish our time in Pembrokeshire, surely one of my all time favourite destinations. 

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Fishguard and the beautiful hamlet of Cwm-yr-Eglwys

A visit today to the area above St Davids called Dinas Island peninsula, passing Fishguard on the way. Another stunning coastline, rather sparsely populated generally.

The port of Fishguard on a rather foggy day. What do you expect on the Welsh coast! Actually we have had amazing weather, so no complaints there.

The town is situated at the back of a north facing bay known as Fishguard Bay (Welsh: Bae Abergwaun) which offers protection from waves generated by prevailing westerly winds. It has a relatively mild climate due to its coastal position. The winds coming from the west or south-west have a determining influence on temperature and precipitation. 

Wildlife around Fishguard is rich with a wide variety of colourful wild flowers and sea mammals including the grey seal, porpoises and dolphins. The local birdlife include Eurasian curlew, common redshank and sanderling regularly foraging in the lower Fishguard Harbour and European stonechat, great cormorant and northern fulmar can be seen from the coastal path. Unfortunately we were only passing through on this occasion.

The village/Hamlet of Cwm-yr-Eglwys (English: Valley of the Church) 

Another view from above. The beautiful beach (tide is in here!) has earned a Seaside Award and a Green Coast Award, similar to a Blue Flag beach Award but for rural beaches with safe bathing.

Gannet swoops by. 

Ruins of Church of St. Brynach the Abbot in the village 

The church of St. Brynach is probable pre-Norman. The building suffered storm damage in 1850 and 1851 when the chancel was destroyed by the sea, the church footings left hanging over an abyss. The graveyard was severely damaged, the level being reduced by at least three feet, exposing human remains in large quantity. The great storm of October 1859 (the Royal Charter Storm) removed the church roof and damaged the walls. The building was abandoned immediately. In 1880, the remaining ruins were demolished apart from the west entrance wall. 

Just remind me, did they have global warming then?? 

The lone runner - a great place to get, or keep, fit. 

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Exploring St Annes Head

St Anne`s Head protrudes from the bottom of Pembrokeshire - if you excuse the expression! This was the area we had decided to explore today, starting on the left side at Westdale Bay and making our way along the coast in an anti-clockwise direction. As with most bays and inlets, there was hardly another soul about.

Westdale Bay - not a soul in sight.

Wheatear sitting by the fence.

Around the area of Frenchman's Bay with the beautiful rock formations.

Wonderful rock formation at St Anne`s Point

St. Ann’s Head Lighthouse was built in 1844 to guide shipping bound for Milford Haven, replacing two leading lights established in 1714.

Trinity House approved in principal a private application to build a coal-fired light at St. Ann's Head in the second half of the 17th century to guide Milford-bound shipping; it was to be supported by voluntary payment of dues. However, the owners extracted dues illegally from shipowners and the light—the only one on the west coast—was discontinued. 40 years passed before another light was established although it is said that sea traders petitioned many times for the area to have lights.

On 15 March 1712 a patent was granted to Trinity House to build a lighthouse at St. Ann's Head. Trinity House in turn—as was its policy at the time—leased it to the owner of the land, Joseph Allen, who agreed to build two lighthouses and keep them in good repair. The terms of the lease were for 99 years at an annual rent of £10; to help maintain the lights, Allen was permitted to collect dues from the shipmasters at Milford Haven amounting to one penny per ton of cargo on British vessels and two pence on foreign vessels. Allen established two towers near the old disused lighthouse and lit coal fires on them in June 1714. St. Ann’s Head Lighthouse was automated and de-manned in 1998. The lighthouse is now monitored and controlled from Trinity House’s Planning Centre in Harwich, Essex.

Henry Tudor’s landing site

Further around the coast we came across this plaque with an important piece of history on it. On 7 August 1485, Henry Tudor landed here at Mill Bay, at the mouth of the Milford Haven waterway. He was 28 years old and had lived most of his life in exile in France. With him were c.2,000 French mercenaries, funded by the King of France. Little more than a fortnight later, his supporters had defeated King Richard III at Bosworth, near Leicester, and he became King Henry VII. The Tudor dynasty which followed had a profound influence on Britain as we know it today. 

Why did Henry choose Mill Bay? Familiarity was one reason. Henry was born in Pembroke Castle, on the opposite side of the Milford Haven waterway. His uncle, Jasper Tudor, was nominally Earl of Pembroke and had maintained contact with people in the area while bringing up his nephew in France. 

Another reason for choosing Mill Bay was to avoid detection by the king’s observers at Dale Castle, some 3km further north. Inevitably, news of Henry’s landing travelled quickly – the king knew about it by 11 August. Crucially, however, the decision to land in this secluded bay allowed the fledgling army to come ashore unopposed. 

It was also imperative for Henry to start his march to Bosworth in a sympathetic region, because the army would quickly need provisions from supportive locals as well as extra soldiers from gentry who would rally to his cause. His strategy paid off, and he received a hearty welcome in Haverfordwest, the first major town on his route. 

His chief supporter in Wales was Rhys ap Thomas, whose homes included Carew Castle, near Pembroke. He marched across Wales via a different route to gather more soldiers for the battle. The story was later romanticised to portray Rhys standing at Mill Bay to welcome Henry. 

Mill Bay. Looking back toward the bay where Henry Tudor landed from France.

Last, but not least, Watwick Bay. Then home for a rest! Not a lot to to be said about the area, but a beautiful, peaceful place to wander and stand and stare. That's what life should have in it surely for all of us - a time to do just that?

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Solva and coastal views on a walk nearby

Solva is another pretty little village with a beautiful mooring for boats, being just off the coast in the mouth of the estuary of the River Solva. The village itself we did not explore but opted for a walk up to the top of the headlands (the Gribin) for the magnificent views. We were fortunate again to have a beautiful day for our walk.

So, some images of the area, starting with a couple of boats and, in the background, the lime kilns. Built in the late 18th or early 19th Century, of the original 12 lime kilns, seven remain. Lime, brought in by sea from Milford Haven, was used to enrich the poor local soil. These lime kilns - at the foot of the Gribin - were the last to be used, in 1900.

Boats at anchor in the estuary.

Thrush in a bush by the pathway, singing his little heart out!

Nearing the top of The Gribin and looking toward the sea.

And a similar view.

The looking down toward the town and the harbour.

Along the pathway nearby, you can see the Thrift which grows in abundance on these cliffs.

RAF Mountain Rescue team out training.

A great day in a beautiful area - I am sure we will return. (We did in 2015. My Blog )

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Pembrokeshire - St Davids` and on to Little Haven

Our first visit to Pembrokeshire started at St Davids, the smallest city in the UK in terms of geographical area and population. It is an important ecclesiastical site because of its many historic associations.

The monastic community was founded by Saint David, Abbot of Menevia, who died in 589. Between 645 and 1097, the community was attacked many times by raiders, including the Vikings. 

However, by 1115, with the area under Norman control, King Henry I of England appointed Bishop Bernard as Bishop of St Davids. He began to improve life within the community, and commenced construction of a new cathedral. In 1123, Pope Calixtus II granted Bishop Bernard's request to bestow a papal privilege upon St Davids, making it a centre of pilgrimage for the Western world, the Pope decreeing that "Two pilgrimages to St Davids is equal to one to Rome, and three pilgrimages to one to Jerusalem". The new cathedral was quickly constructed and Bishop Bernard consecrated it in 1131. Henry II of England's visit in 1171 saw the following of David increase and the need for a larger cathedral. 

The present cathedral was begun in 1181 and completed not long after. Problems beset the new building and the community in its infancy, the collapse of the new tower in 1220 and earthquake damage in 1247/48. 

St Davids Cathedral

Ruins of The Bishops Palace adjacent to St Davids Cathedral, now a picturesque ruin. 

The Bishops Palace has been described as the work of a series of 'builder bishops', with work carried out in the late 13th and 14th centuries.

In 1284, King Edward I visited St Davids on a pilgrimage and this visit may have inspired some earlier work because Bishop Thomas Bek, who served from 1280–93, was among his former statesmen. Bishop Bek was responsible for construction of the chapel in the south-west corner, the hall, the private apartments and the gate. 

The man responsible for much of the site that can be seen today was Bishop Henry de Gower (1328–47). He carried out major works in the cathedral itself, built the Great Hall with wheel window in the east gable, the distinctive arcaded parapet and the porch. Gower's main legacy is the two great ranges. The east range – the simpler of the two – was the first to be built. The much grander south range was built for entertaining. 

The beginning of the Reformation heralded the decline of the Bishops Palace. In 1536 Bishop William Barlow stripped the lead from the roof. Legend has it that he used the money to pay for the dowries of his five daughters. However, as he had no daughters at that time, and the first marriage of a daughter did not occur until about 25 years later, the story was probably fabricated by his many enemies. He made so much money from this that a sixteenth-century account said that more than twelve years revenue of the bishopric would have been needed to cover the cost of replacing it, and the building fell into disrepair. Bishops stayed less at St Davids and, by the middle of the 16th century, the chief episcopal residence had been relocated to Abergwili, Carmarthenshire. In 1616, Bishop Richard Milbourne applied for a licence to demolish some of the buildings. By 1678, when another licence for demolition was sought, the palace was considered beyond repair. 

One cheeky Jackdaw checks if we have dropped any food. I think he took up position where we had stopped for lunch - as they do!.

Drinker Moth Caterpillar. Seen in the grass along the path side.

Thrift growing in some profusion on the tops of the cliffs by the pathways - beautiful!

The coastline in Pembrokeshire is stunning and is one of my all time favourite places to visit. There are just miles and miles of beauty and solitude

Walkers on the Pembrokeshire Coastal path. Many people walk this beautiful area, and who can blame them?

So we arrive in Little Have which is our base for this holiday. First port of call, the coast!

One of the cave like depressions in the cliff side - Little Haven.

Another sweeping view of Little Haven beach.

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