Whitesands Bay (Pembrokeshire)

Whitesands Bay ( _cy. Porth-mawr) shown as Whitesand Bay on some maps, is an EEC award-winning, Blue Flag standard, wide sandy beach in St Brides Bay in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, United Kingdom. [http://www.ukattraction.com/south-wales/whitesands-bay.htm Retrieved on 2008-01-01] The beach is located about two miles west of the small city of St. Davids and about one mile south of St Davids Head and has been described as the best surfing beach in Pembrokeshire and one of the best tourist beaches in the world. [http://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/content.asp?id=8093&d1=0 Retrieved on 2008-01-01]

The area to the north east of the bay is dominated by a large rocky outcrop, 594 ft at its highest point, [http://stdavids.pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk/english/things_to_do/walking.asp Whitesands to Abereiddi Retrieved 2008-01-04] known as Carn Llidi. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path passes alongside the bay giving access in the north to the secluded bays of Porthlleuog and Porthmelgan (which are only accessible on foot), and the rugged coastal scenery of St Davids Head and the Pembrokeshire Coast Park. To the south, the coastal path leads to Porthselau and St. Justinian's, with views across the Ramsey Sound to Ramsey Island. There are a number of megalithic burial chambers, stone hut circles and Iron age enclosures to be seen in the vicinity of Carn Llidi and St Davids Head. [http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=4285 Retrieved on 2008-01-02]

It is said that St. Patrick had his vision to convert Ireland to Christianity here and set sail from the bay in the fifth century. [http://www.pembrokeshirecoastpath.com/facts.htm Retrieved on 2008-01-01] The site of a Celtic chapel, dedicated to St Patrick, is located under a mound by the car park just to the east of the bay, at what is is thought to have been the embarcation point for pilgrims to St Davids Cathedral. [http://www.cambria.org.uk/HLC/StDavids/area/area287.htm Retrieved on 2008-01-14] At very low tide the remains of an ancient forest can be seen on the beach, consisting of stumps of birch, fir, hazel and oak trees. [http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/walks/walks/walk_b/2057/ Retrieved on 2007-01-09]

Facilities

*2 car parks. One in a large field on the cliffs and a lower car park by the beach.
*Easy Wheelchair access to beach
*Beach shop
*Lifeguard service
*Emergency equipment
*Telephones
*Golf Course
*Youth Hostel

Dogs

Dogs are banned on the beach from Easter Day to October 1.

References

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/sites/surfing/pages/whitesands.shtml BBC Surf Website]
* [http://www.pembrokeshireoutdoors.org.uk/davids.htm Pembrokeshire Outdoor Charter Page]
* [http://www.visitpembrokeshire.com/(A(ZhKqJoxvyAEkAAAANGFhY2YxOTItNzQ3ZC00NWM4LTllYjYtZTg0NjNjNmFmODE50))/st-davids.aspx St David's at visitpembrokeshire.com]
* [http://www.walesdirectory.co.uk/Golf_Holidays/Golf_Holiday_in_Pembrokeshire.htm St David's Golf Course]
* [http://www.yha.org.uk/find-accommodation/wales/hostels/StDavids/index.aspx| St David's Youth Hostel]
* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2674615 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Whitesands Bay]