Solva and St David`s Head

Sunday saw us drive the coastal road to Solva. On the way passing Newgale and it's great surfing beach and massive pebble beach called a BERM – a term I had never come across before. We will return to have a closer look another day. Then a return visit to the lovely sheltered harbour of Solva where we went for short 2 mile walk followed by a hearty lunch at the Ship pub. After lunch, on through St Davids to Whitesands beach and a walk around St David’ Head. Stunning beach and walk – very weary on finishing as the ground was quite rough, but well pleased with ourselves..

Looks cosy to me! as snails crowd into a crack of a tree.

Gorgeous coloured leaves emerging on the coastal path.

Lime kilns on Solva beach

Limestone would have been brought in by boat and heated in these kilns to produce the lime mortars that Newport’s stone built houses would have been constructed with, they would also have been lime washed (a quicklime and water mix) on a regular basis to protect them from the elements.

A temperature of some 900-1000°C would have been required in the kilns to create the reaction that turns the limestone into quicklime. The lime kilns would have been loaded with intermittent layers of coal and limestone and from start to finish a time scale of some seven days would have been required to produce a batch of quicklime.

This was a dangerous and very strenuous job but the benefits when applied to acidic soil were, and still are, enormous.

The entrance to Solva harbour

This way please!

Mind you don't get your feet wet. On route round the Solva walk.

A secluded beach near St David's Head

Whitesands beach, a bit bright as I was shooting into the sun, but I had to get a picture!


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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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