Inspiring Hikes: Solva to St. David’s
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is an almost-200-mile trail that stretches from St. Dogmael’s to Amroth following along the coast of Wales. Visit Pembrokeshire’s website has in-depth information on each section of the path, including length, difficulty and what to expect along the way as far as attractions, restaurants and more.
The view from just outside my Airbnb in Solva, Wales
Pembrokeshire is fairly easy to get to from larger cities in the UK, even without a car. I caught a bus from London to Brecon with a stopover in Cardiff. I stayed the night in Brecon, as the bus trip is about 6-7 hours from London Victoria Station, and the next day caught a local bus to the town of Solva, where my hike began.
I was lucky enough to book myself an Airbnb about a 5-minute walk to the beach. The first evening, on my way into Solva for dinner, I came across a group of wild ponies that were surprisingly friendly and seemed to love the camera, as well!
The next day, on my actual hike to St. David’s, one of the more curious ones followed me down the path for a little while. They were beautiful to watch and the whole experience of getting to see horses in the wild was overall just magical.
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is well-marked and easy to follow, great for less-experienced hikers
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is well-marked and easy to follow; I never worried about finding my way to St. David’s and back on my own. It’s also fairly well-trafficked, so doing the hike by myself was not a problem, either. I had no worries about safety as a solo, female traveler.
All throughout the hike, there were plenty of paths jutting off from the main Pembrokeshire Coast Path, leading down to beautiful and secluded beaches. The best part? Being practically the only one out there on these little beaches. If you’re feeling a bit tired or just want to stop and enjoy the scenery, you’ll likely have no trouble securing a quiet spot all to yourself.
The steeper sections of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path can be dangerous in less-than-favorable weather
One thing to remember is that the pathways on this route have a lot of ups-and-downs that can get pretty steep. There are lots of stairs built into the route and those stairs can be jagged, uneven and very slippery in the wrong weather. I definitely recommend bringing along some trekking poles, regardless of age or skill level, and overall exercising a lot of caution on this trail!
To build on the last point, the weather in Wales is notoriously unpredictable. It can go from warm and sunny one minute to heavy rain and wind the next, and your equipment and wardrobe should definitely reflect that. Waterproof clothing and footwear is a must, and shoes with enough grip to keep you upright should the pathway get slippery will also be a lifesaver. I’d say bring those crampons just in case, if you’ve got them!
The views are excellent all along the path, and the water is so strikingly blue you’d hardly know you weren’t in the tropics. It’s not uncommon to see groups of kayakers venturing out into those crystal-clear waters near the town of St. David’s.
The crystal-clear, bright blue water along the Welsh coast
If you are lucky enough, you can actually spot seals and other wildlife in the water during your hike. I saw one poke its little head out of the water while I was having a quick breakfast at Cafe on the Quay by the River Solva.
Overall, this area of Wales is just stunning and unique, and a bit underrated, if you ask me. If you’ve got the time and the means, it’s absolutely worth it making the trip out to!
About the Author
My name’s Bailey Quigley. I am a writer, photographer and Irish dancer from sunny Texas, USA. I’ve been traveling the world since I was 17, and have since visited 20 different countries and counting. I started Sleeping On Trains to share my passion for discovery and hopefully offer some advice for restless adventurers just like me!
