St Davids, is the picturesque ecclesiastical capital of Wales, and is named after the patron saint of Wales, Saint David. Nestling on the coast of Pembrokeshire it enjoys a tranquil and picturesque setting in the far South West of Wales.
St Davids is the smallest city in Britain, but with a population of just over 1600, is in fact little more than a small village. The town gains its city status owing to the magnificent cathedral and bishop’s palace. The main attraction here is, of course, St Davids Cathedral which is one of the great historic shrines of Christendom whose history stretches back fourteen centuries including surviving the plunder of the Norsemen in the Dark Ages. Originally enclosed by 15-foot high walls, only the Tower Gatehouse, which houses the bishop’s dungeon and the St Davids Cathedral exhibition, survives. Next door stands the 13th century Bell Tower which now has a Royal ring of ten bells whilst on the opposite bank of the river lies the gothic ruin of the Bishop’s palace which was once a magnificently grand estate but was desecrated during the reformation but still offers an interesting visit for history lovers.
St Davids enjoys an absolutely stunningly picturesque location on the Pembrokeshire peninsula. Pembrokeshire has some of the most magnificent coastal scenery in Britain and encompasses the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park which is home to almost two hundred miles of protected coastline and coastal environments. Visitors can enjoy walking stretches of the famous coastal path across bays and cliffs to you spot the local sea and bird life whilst the more adventurous can par-take in coasteering the local sport which involves navigating the cliffs and coves by jumping from the rocks in to the water. Those seeking a more leisurely treat can enjoy a boat trip to the wild offshore islands of Ramsey, Grassholm, Skomer and Skokholm where you can catch a glimpse of puffins, gannets, porpoises, dolphins and whales.
Small but mighty, Britain’s smallest city is picturesquely set amidst beautiful coastal scenery and has more than enough personality to compensate for its size.
