Just a ten minute drive up the coast from St Davids is the beautiful and picturesque seaside village of Solva. If you’re after postcard views and charming buildings, this idiosyncratic little community is the place for you. From Solva you can also go on all manner of coastal walks which will take you to some of the most spectacular views that Pembrokeshire and Wales has to offer.

Solva feels very much like an authentic, working harbour community and you can see fishing boats going in and out on a daily basis. It’s also been the home to many a film set, most notably a recent production of Under Milk Wood, which relied heavily on the splendour and mysticism of this gorgeous bit of coast line.

And while in Solva, there’s so much to do and see. Visiting the Woollen Mill is an absolute must, where you can see the famous wool being loomed and spun right in front of your eyes. We highly recommend a purchase of some of their woollen goods which will last you for years and years. Indeed, you may be able to discover some in your holiday cottage when you return.

As well as this, there are some unbelievable eateries and cafes where you can enjoy a frothy iced latte while watching the frothy Welsh sea smash against the harbour wall. It’s also excellent for kayaking and canoeing in these parts and you’ll have a wonderful time frolicking in the sea if you head out from the port of Solva.

Solva is just a quick drive from Yewdale Cottage and definitely a pilgrimage that our family make every time we are down in St Davids. There’s really something for everyone and if you can find some fresh seafood, there will be fun for all the clam-ily!

Just a 90 second walk from our beautiful holiday cottage in St Davids is as spectacular a sight as you will witness in the whole of Wales. The Bishops Palace is a medieval masterpiece with some of its older buildings dating back to the sixth century. A lot of the palace now lies in ruins but you can still truly get a feel for the majesty of this Grade I listed building. Good luck getting planning permission on that!

King Edward I was a pretty underrated king and didn’t even get a Shakespeare play but he was a big part of the creation of this beautiful building. He ordered his men to head quick sharp to the quarry and get some stone because, “this is going to be a biggie”. The quote isn’t necessarily verbatim but we can safely assume he said it.

Ralph A. Griffiths OBE has described St David’s Cathedral and Bishops Palace as: “one of the most significant sites in the history of Christianity in the British Isles, and one of the earliest”, and “where Welsh Christianity and nationalism are entwined”.

It certainly is a miraculous building to look at even though the upkeep has been poor which has led to the walls falling down and it’s very unlikely that the tenants got their deposits back during that time. However, it still stands imposingly over the valley which also contains the cathedral and a little stream where you can take your socks off and have a little paddle, just like the early priests and monks would have done all those years ago.

Yewdale Cottage is placed beautifully for all aspects of St Davids attractions but it’s particularly close to the Bishops Palace. We highly recommend you have a visit as it truly is one of the most spectacular sights that Pembrokeshire and West Wales has to offer.

There are so many exciting and enjoyable things to do in Pembrokeshire but few are more bizarre and exhilarating than a visit to Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm where the whole family will be in for an educational treat as well as a fascinating look at some creepy crawlies that are both weird and wonderful.

With a Tropical Bug Zoo, Bug Museum, British Bug House, Insect Farming Exhibition, Farm Trails and a Walled Garden, there is such a lot to explore and we advise that you give yourself a whole morning to work your way around all the exhibits. As well as this, the incredibly knowledgable staff members give amazing and interesting workshops where they even allow you to get your hands on some of the tropical and rare bugs that they have at their disposal.

Last time we went my little boy laughed gleefully as a hissing cockroach was placed on his hand. It really is a wonderful way for little boys and girls to build their confidence when handling these little wonders. And the staff members are so unbelievably knowledgable when it comes to their passion. The young man who took our workshop was currently studying insects at Cardiff University.

There’s also a really fun indoor adventure playground for children and an incredible cafe where you can purchase all manner of edible bug produce. We highly recommend the spaghetti bolognaise which is made with a plethora of different creepy crawlies. Of course you can’t go wrong with a bug burger either. And hey, it’s good practice for when the global apocalypse comes and we are all living on rafts like that film wot Kevin Costner made.

Click here for more info and please, when on your St Davids holiday in our beautiful cottage, do visit them. We guarantee the experience won’t bug you and you’ll be absolutely buzzing when you come out!

Just a ten minute walk from Yewdale holiday cottage, past the spectacular cathedral and through some twisting country roads, you will find the gorgeous bay of Whitesands. Call us biased, but for us there’s really no place in the world like it. There’s something about being there that makes you feel somehow outside of time, as if you share the beach with ancient ancestors. There’s certainly a distinctly spiritual feeling about this mile-long stretch of warm sand that defines the beauty of the Pembrokeshire coastline.

Practically, the beach is impressively versatile to suit all holiday-goers’ needs and wants. Firstly, it is a long and expansive beach which means you never have to be crammed next to your fellow beach-goer like sardines in a can. Secondly, it is fully lifeguarded during the peak seasons so your little ones (and big ones!) can safely swim in the water and be watched over constantly by trained professionals.

It’s also a wonderful beach for surfing, should you so wish, and you’ll often find a surfing school bobbing out in the green-blue waters. As well as this, it has a really lovely cafeteria where soul-warming pasties and coffees can be enjoyed, as well as a mobile ice cream wagon, serving local ice cream to suncream lathered teenagers. And there’s even doggie ice cream for your furry friends!

Also, from Whitesands, you have a choice of spectacular coastal walks to experience. Head north and you can walk out onto St Davids Head, a beautiful rock formation which allows you to see right out to the Atlantic ocean. Or, if you head south, you’ll eventually come to the charming St Non’s Chapel and picturesque Porthclais.

There truly is no place in the world like Whitesands and our family have enjoyed summers – and winters – on this delightful expanse of sand for generations.

So please, slap on some suncream – or a windbreaker – and experience this special place for yourselves.

Just a ten minute drive from Yewdale Cottage, St Davids is the incredible and intoxicating Blue Lagoon. Its enigmatic name does not even scratch the surface of what a wholly unique and captivating experience visiting this strange but beautiful mass of water is.

In the early 18th Century Wales, especially West Wales, was leading the charge in the slate industry which means that you will often find (now defunct) slate quarries all over Pembrokeshire’s coastal paths. And what is left from this bygone industrial era are huge holes in the ground, surrounded by spectacular blue / green / grey cliffs of flat, cold stone.

Where the quarry used to exist is a most gorgeous and tranquil water deposit. Its calming influence will leave you with great serenity and mindfulness as the waves crash into the rocks on the other side of the Blue Lagoon. It’s been home to cliff jumping tournaments as well as kayakers and canoers who adore its waveless ambience. And even seals love to use it as a breeding ground.

But be warned – as the water is still, it is very, very cold. What looks like a pleasant dip in quiet waters can quickly turn into a teeth-chattering experience! The thing we love to do most is hurl ourselves off the 20 foot high platforms into the cold, turquoise water below. There really is no thrill quite like it and it’s been a family tradition for as long as we can remember.

The Blue Lagoon is now looked after by The National Trust and for more information on parking and directions, click this link here.

It’s just another weird and wonderful place that West Wales and Pembrokeshire is so good at unearthing. But remember – a wet suit is always advisable. And failing that, a lovely hot thermos of tea or coffee!

Happy swimming!