Solva

infobox UK place
country = Wales
welsh_name=Solfach
constituency_welsh_assembly=
official_name=Solva
map_type=
unitary_wales= Pembrokeshire
lieutenancy_wales= Dyfed
constituency_westminster= Preseli Pembrokeshire
post_town= HAVERFORDWEST
postcode_district = SA62
postcode_area= SA
dial_code= 01437
os_grid_reference=
latitude=51.8744
longitude=-5.1889
population= 1420 (2001 census)
static_

Solva (Welsh: Solfach) is a village in the parish of Whitchurch, Pembrokeshire, West Wales.

Location

Solva lies on the north side of St Bride's Bay, in North Pembrokeshire in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. It lies on a deep ravine at the mouth of the River Solva. In the ravine is Lower Solva, consisting of a long street ending at the small harbour. Most of the modern development has been in Upper Solva, on the cliff top to the west of the harbour.

History & Amenities

The rocks at the entrance to Solva Harbour made it one of the the most sheltered anchorages between Fishguard and Milford Haven ["cite book | last = Raggett | first = Jean | coauthors = Raggett, P | title = Solva - An Introduction to Village Life | publisher = Paul Raggett | date = 2003 | pages = pp. 3 | ] . Solva became the main trading centre of St Bride's Bay in the medieval period, and was important for lime burning. Several lime kilns are preserved in the harbour area. In the 19th century, Solva had around 30 registered trading ships ["cite book | last = Raggett | first = Jean | coauthors = Raggett, P | title = Solva - An Introduction to Village Life | publisher = Paul Raggett | date = 2003 | pages = | ] . The fading coastal trade has been replaced by tourism, and the harbour is now a popular boating centre. The spectacular local cliff coast is popular with walkers, and the classic cliff exposures of Cambrian rocks attracts amateur and professional geologists.

Tradition

Every year on Easter Monday Solva hosts a Duck Race for charity when villagers and tourists have the opportunity to buy a 20th stakehold in a duck for around £1. The ducks are released into the River Solva at Middle Mill and float down stream to Solva harbour. The winner is the first to cross under the footbridge in lower Solva car park. [cite web|url=http://www.st.davidsinfo.org.uk/duck_race.htm|title=Solva Duck Race|accessdate=2007-05-19|work=st.davidsinfo.org.uk]
Each Summer Solva hosts a Regatta which features rowing for adults and children and even team raft building event which is always interesting.

Geology

Solva Harbour is a good example of a glaciated meltwater channel known as a Ria and rocks contain fossils from the Cambrian age. [Citation | url=http://www.pembrokeshireoutdoors.org.uk/solva.htm
accessdate = 2008-04-30 .]

Notable people

The musician David Gray lived in Solva for much of his childhood.

Professional footballer Simon Davies, who plays for Fulham FC and has represented Wales, was brought up in Solva.

Meic Stevens, the notable Welsh singer/songwriter spent most of his life in Solva

Amenities

Solva quite suprisingly has a wealth of amenities including several pubs, cafes, traditional shops, post office and grocery shop.dj cocktail came from solva aka richard thompson

References

Images of Solva

External links

* [http://www.solva.net/ Solva Website]
* [http://www.pembrokeshireoutdoors.org.uk/solva.htm Solva - Pembrokeshire Outdoor Charter Group]
* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2638936 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Solva and surrounding area]