Wandering Wales

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I had some free time so I decided to escape from the summer heat in Saudi for some cooler British climes. As I had never been to southwestern Wales, I decided to make that my destination. I picked up my trusty Trumpet in Nottingham and made tracks towards the southwest, splitting Birmingham & Manchester.

Crossing the Welsh frontier near Newton at midday, I immediately headed south on the fantastic A483. I’ve raved about this road in the past, slicing north to south through Wales, it’s a fun-filled festival of high speed sweepers. I continue in a southwesterly direction on the A483 under sunny skies, skirting the Brecon Beacons National Park, arriving at Haverfordwest around 4 P.M. After securing a hotel for the night, I decided to make the most of the sunny weather, as the next day’s weather forecast called for rain.

I continued west to St. David’s Head, a headland in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Near Solva, I catch a glimpse of St. Brides Bay. After negotiating several miles of goat trails, I finally make it to St. David’s Head. From this point, I turn and head northeast, following a small, single track lane along the northern edge of the peninsula. The Pembrokshire coastline, is the only part of the British coast dedicated as a national park and I can see why. I thought it was nicer than even the rugged Cornish coastline.

From the coast, I began to make my way inland through the Preseli Hills. The Preseli Hills are often referred to as mysterious, haunting or atmospheric. A place where strange things have occurred and where the waters are reputed to have healing effects. The bluestones used at Stonehenge, have been traced to the Preseli Hills. The stones, weighing up to four tons, were somehow transported some 250 miles to the plains of Salisbury.

Pentre Ifan, an ancient dolmen, is also located here, overlooking the Irish Sea. Dating from 3500 BC, this was supposedly a communal burial ground. Originally a small mound surrounded the stones, explaining how the massive capstone was put in place. By then, it was late afternoon, so I began to make my way down the Preselis to the hotel near the coast.

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Photos

A483
Heading south on the A483 towards Llandrindod Wells.

St. Brides Bay
First glimpse of St. Brides Bay

St. Davids Head
The view looking southward near St. Davids Head.

Pembrokshire
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Near Abereiddy
A small fishing village near Abereiddy

Pembrokshire Coastline
Continuing northeastward along the Pembrokshire coast.

Preseli Hills
The mystical Preseli Hills.

Heading Home
Heading back towards the coast from the Preseli Hills.