Time Arrived: 3.45pm
Distance: 25kms
Cumulative Distance: 201kms
Percentage Completed: 69%
Ascents and Descents: 634m
Cumulative Ascents and Descents: 4799m
Weather: Overcast in the morning, sunny in the afternoon. Cold. Max 13.
Accommodation: Y Glennydd Hotel
Feelings: Neil - Apprehensive, Henk - Good, John - Apprehensive, Di - Apprehensive
We wanted an early start as this was our longest distance to cover on the path since we left Amroth and the guide book gave the impression that the walk was now becoming more difficult. We did well during the day and made good time. We didn't find it difficult even though we climbed our highest peak so far at 110m. We didn't pass through any towns so we organised the hotel to make a packed lunch.
It took 2.5kms to walk from St David's back to the coastal path alongside farm land. When we rejoined the path at a small harbour we found the coast to be very calm and quiet.
The cliffs were high and steeply going into the water. The path came quite close to the edge of the cliffs.
We had good views of Ramsey Island close by and when we reached St Justinians there were people lining up to catch a boat to the island. St Justinians has a lifeboat station and we watched as the large orange lifeboat practised runs around the harbour. A new lifeboat station was being built alongside the old one.
At 11.20am we had completed just over 12kms when we arrived at the sandy beach at Whitesands Bay. We found a picnic table which overlooked the beach where there were a number of families swimming. We soon got very cold and had to don our warm clothes whilst we watched the swimmers. Henk found a cafe further up the carpark and we quickly finished our lunch and made it to the warm cafe for a coffee.
When we left at noon the sun had started to come out and we had another 12kms to go. We climbed to St David's Head where there was rocky heathland and dry stonewalls.
It was an interesting contrast from what we have been seeing. The path took us down to pretty little bays and the wild flowers were out in abundance.
We had arranged for a taxi to pick us up at our destination at 4.30pm to return to St David's. When we got mobile coverage Henk rang and left a message that we were ahead of time and if it was possible change the pickup time to 3.45pm.
Only four kilometres from the end we caught up with Mylo, Clifford and Ron who started their walk at Whitesands Bay. We didn't have time to talk as we had to press on to make sure we got the taxi.
Unfortunately, due to poor mobile coverage in the area the taxi driver didn't receive our message and we waited until 4.30pm. Although it was sunny it was cold waiting and we were beginning to stiffen up. Mylo, Clifford and Ron arrived at Abereiddy at 4.40pm just as our taxi arrived. We left them rewarding themselves with an icecream from the local van.
It was good to get back to the hotel to have a hot shower and a cup of tea. Henk and I were feeling quite chilled.
We met up with Cliff, Mylo and Ron at the Farmer's Arms again at 7.00pm and compared our day's walking stories and enjoyed some very different pub food.
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