With summer on the way, we should probably start dreaming about long days spent with buckets and spades and sandcastles on the beach.

So here are our favourite beaches in the St Davids area!

1. Whitesands

Whitesands becomes a second home once you spend a little bit of time in St Davids. The memories of so many happy times seeps into the fabric of the sand and the ocean. It’s also lovely and long so there’s always privacy to be had.

It’s a very special place for me and my family. And we will always love it the most.

2. Caerfei

The closest beach to the cottage, Caerfei is just a 10 minute walk out to the coast. It is very beautiful and also dog friendly. However, there is quite a steep walk down to the beach itself. So it may not be suitable for young families.

I’ve spent many a time trying to get children and dogs and beach paraphernalia down to the coast and I can tell you, it’s not always fun!

3. Newgale – This beach will always have a special place in our hearts because it is the first beach you see when you arrive in Pembrokeshire. It’s also an amazing beach for surfing, with international tournaments taking place here.

A wonderful place. Although a little further afield. Newgale is a 15 minute drive away.

So there’s just no excuse not to book a holiday with us this year. Visit the website for all the information!

Wales – and in particular St Davids – is renounced for its bright and beautiful springtime flower displays. And there are so many extraordinary places in Pembrokeshire to visit when you’re on a family holiday in West Wales.

Yewdale Cottage is perfectly situated near :

St David’s Cathedral – The gardeners here take meticulous care of their flower beds and there are so many varieties of flowers to enjoy. It’s a very calming a wondrous atmosphere in general and we are sure you will enjoy it.

Clifftop walks – If you’re a dare-devil who loves rare breeds of flowers then a clifftop walk is for you. But be careful – the winds can be high this time of year. You’ll find all manner of rare and wonderful flowers while traversing the coast.

The hedgerows – St Davids boasts some of the most incredible hedgerows with all manner of critters and flowers making them their home. It’s always worth exploring them if you want to see a side to St Davids that most don’t see.

The City Centre – Yes, we are always being a little tongue-in-cheek when discussing the “City Centre”. Of course, St Davids is barely the size of a village. But it does have amazing flower beds with a wide variety of flowers in.

So come and visit us at Yewdale Cottage – a holiday cottage that sleeps six and is self-catered.

As we await the spring which seems to take an age to come, I thought it would be apt to share a beautiful poem by Gillian Clarke. It sums up the wonder of St Davids and the feeling of rebirth and new life.

Enjoy!

Miracle on St David’s Day – by Gillian Clarke

An afternoon yellow and open-mouthed
with daffodils. The sun treads the path
among cedars and enormous oaks.
It might be a country house, guests strolling,
the rumps of gardeners between nursery shrubs.

I am reading poetry to the insane.
An old woman, interrupting, offers
as many buckets of coal as I need.
A beautiful chestnut-haired boy listens
entirely absorbed. A schizophrenic

on a good day, they tell me later.
In a cage of first March sun a woman
sits not listening, not feeling.
In her neat clothes the woman is absent.
A big, mild man is tenderly led

to his chair. He has never spoken.
His labourer’s hands on his knees, he rocks
gently to the rhythms of the poems.
I read to their presences, absences,
to the big, dumb labouring man as he rocks.

He is suddenly standing, silently,
huge and mild, but I feel afraid. Like slow
movement of spring water or the first bird
of the year in the breaking darkness,
the labourer’s voice recites ‘The Daffodils’.

The nurses are frozen, alert; the patients
seem to listen. He is hoarse but word-perfect.
Outside the daffodils are still as wax,
a thousand, ten thousand, their syllables
unspoken, their creams and yellows still.

Forty years ago, in a Valleys school,
the class recited poetry by rote.
Since the dumbness of misery fell
he has remembered there was a music
of speech and that once he had something to say.

When he’s done, before the applause, we observe
the flowers’ silence. A thrush sings
and the daffodils are flame.

And if you’d like to listen to beautiful poem, performed by Gillian, then click here

Here are our top ten reasons to come visit us in Pembrokeshire :

1. The cathedral – St Davids is officially a city despite its diminutive size. And this is thanks to one of the most amazing and beautiful architectural delights. It’s a must see, once in a lifetime opportunity.
2. The beaches – St Davids has some of the best beaches in the UK. And they are quiet! So if you’re a surfer or a paddler, a sand castle builder or a hiker, we’ve got the beach for you!
3. The food – Food has come a long way since I came as a child in the 80’s. You can find restaurants and cafes that cater for all with locally sourced food top of everyone’s list.
4. The walks – St Davids has some of the UK’s most spectacular walks in the whole world. The clifftop coastal walks are incredible. And your dog will love it too!
5. Nature – St Davids has such a diverse and amazing amount of flora and fauna. You’ll find everything from seals to gannets on the coast.
6. Family time – There’s so much for children to do in St Davids. It’s truly a family place so don’t hesitate to bring all your babies!
7. Fresh air – There isn’t a great deal of congestion in St Davids so you’ll never experience cleaner and fresher air!
8. The cliffs – There is no more spectacular view than staring up at the beautiful slate cliffs of West Wales. It’s so gorgeous.
9. The surfing – Many international surfing competitions take place in and around St Davids. So don’t hesitate to pick up a board!
10. The people – St Davids is one of the most friendly places you can ever visit. You’ll always be greeted with a smile and a warm gesture.

January and February 2026 promises to potentially be a snowy couple of months. Of course that’s very exciting for the snowman building, snowball fight demographic – but here’s some tips to avoid getting stuck in the snow on your way to visit us at Yewdale Cottage.

1. Keep an eye on snow warnings

It’s always best to keep an eye on the weather forecast to ensure that you don’t get caught on your way. For many, St Davids is a fair old drive and the weather can change very quickly. It’s a good idea to have as much knowledge as possible before you make the trip.

2. Keep to a reasonable speed

Snow and ice can be very hard to see and often the road is slippier than you might imagine. Never exceed the speed limit and be very aware that there could be crashes on the road. If you see a car in front with their hazards on, it’s a good idea to slow right down as there may be an accident.

3. Bring supplies and food

You never know, even with good planning you just might get stuck. In general the motorways are fine but from Carmarthen onwards the roads get windier and narrower. And from Haverfordwest they can become quite dangerous. So always be prepared incase you are stuck in your car for a few hours. Snacks could be a life saver if the worst does happen.

4. Check your car before you leave

Things like water pressure and coolant are vital to be checked before you leave. Coolant warms your car up as well as cooling it down so always make sure you are stocked up. Tyre pressure is important incase you hit a pothole. With flatter tyres you are far more likely to get a puncture.

If in doubt, do not travel. Get in touch with myself and we will see if we can extend your stay. Your safely is our primary concern!