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The St Davids Peninsula - Dewisland, the Land of David - is a land of
ancient history, of myth and of legend with a tranquil, timeless
atmosphere. This remote peninsular is one of the wildest and most
spectacular stretches of the National Park. Pembrokeshire - Penfro in
Welsh - translates as "Land's End".
The sea has been the major influence on the way of life of those who
lived on the peninsular. From early prehistoric times, the Western
Seaways have been used as a major highway by settlers and saints,
pilgrims and pirates, traders and travellers.
The earliest settlers to arrive by sea built megalithic burial chambers
or cromlechau, such as Ccetan Arthur, on St Davids head. Solitary
standing stones remind us of the people who created large temples from
the "Bluestones" of the nearby Preseli Hills.
On many promontories the embankments and earthworks of an iron-age fort
are found. The hut circles of an iron-age village can be clearly seen
on St Davids Head and the stonemarked boundaries of their narrow field
system run northwards from Cam Llidi to the sea.
Later came the Celts, whose stories and songs have been handed down in
the folk tales of the Mabinogion and who left inscribed stones bearing
the Ogham script.. In historic times there was a catastrophic flood to
which the tree trunks, to be seen on Whitesands at very low tide, bear
witness.
Early Christian missionaries also travelled by sea, and this peninsula
was an important focus of the Celtic Church. Holy wells and Celtic
crosses carved on wayside stones mark the ancient pilgrim route. Three
pilgrimages to St Davids were worth one to Rome.
The National Park runs several activities each day during the holiday
season and less frequently the rest of the year - walking, pony
trekking, boat and coach trips.
Further details are in the free newspaper, Coast to Coast, available
from the Tourist Information Centre or by post from The Information
Service Pembrokeshire Coast National Park County Offices,
Haverfordwest, Dyfed SA61 1QZ.
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The St Davids Peninsula - Dewisland, the Land of David - is a land of
ancient history, of myth and of legend with a tranquil, timeless
atmosphere. This remote peninsular is one of the wildest and most
spectacular stretches of the National Park. Pembrokeshire - Penfro in
Welsh - translates as "Land's End".
Early Christian missionaries also travelled by sea, and this peninsula
was an important focus of the Celtic Church. Holy wells and Celtic
crosses carved on wayside stones mark the ancient pilgrim route. Three
pilgrimages to St Davids were worth one to Rome.