One of the great joys of staying in St Davids is being able to step out of the front door and start walking.
There’s no need to get in the car and drive somewhere before you’ve even begun. From Ramsey House, some of the most spectacular sections of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path are right on our doorstep, with dramatic cliffs, hidden beaches, tiny chapels, wildlife and some truly breathtaking views.
We’ve picked five of our favourite walks, plus a shorter circular route that’s perfect when you want to stretch your legs without making a whole day of it.
And because several of these walks are point-to-point routes, local buses make it surprisingly easy to explore one way and get back to St Davids afterwards.
1. Porthclais to Whitesands – Our Favourite
Approximately 8.3 miles from Ramsey House to Whitesands
Around 3½ hours walking
If we had to choose just one walk in the area, this would probably be it.
Starting from Ramsey House, make your way down to Porthclais and pick up the Coast Path towards Whitesands. The route takes you through some of the most beautiful coastal scenery around St Davids, with beaches, dramatic cliffs and enormous views across the sea.
Along the way you’ll pass the RNLI lifeboat station, and there are wonderful views towards Ramsey Island and the famously fast-moving waters of Ramsey Sound. Keep an eye on the sea – this stretch of coast is alive with boats and, if you’re lucky, plenty of wildlife.
It’s a reasonably manageable walk rather than a particularly strenuous one, although there is a large rock section to negotiate part way along the route. Walking poles are a useful addition here, particularly if the ground is wet.
Eventually you’ll arrive at Whitesands, where you can reward yourselves with a well-earned drink, coffee or ice cream at the café.
And here’s the clever bit: you don’t necessarily have to walk all the way back!
The Celtic Coaster bus runs regularly and can bring you back towards St Davids. Depending on the service, it can even drop you close to Ramsey House on request. A day ticket also allows hop-on, hop-off travel, making it a really useful way to explore the coast without having to retrace your steps.
Allow around 3½ hours for the walking itself, plus time to stop and admire the views. We would allow longer for a leisurely day out.
Our tip: Don’t rush this one. The views across Ramsey Island and the Sound are worth plenty of pauses.
2. Porthclais to Solva via St Non’s
Approximately 2½–3 hours walking
This is another favourite of ours and a slightly shorter option than the Whitesands route.
From Ramsey House, head towards Porthclais and follow the Coast Path in the direction of Solva. One of the highlights comes early in the walk at St Non’s, a place we never tire of visiting.
Tradition holds that St David was born here, and the site is wonderfully atmospheric. You’ll find the ruins of the original chapel, a newer tiny chapel built over 100 years ago, a healing well and a peaceful prayer area.
The little chapel is almost unbelievably small – it seats only around eight people – but its position overlooking St Bride’s Bay is spectacular.
From St Non’s, continue along the Coast Path towards Solva, enjoying the changing views across the coast and St Bride’s Bay.
When you reach Solva, there’s plenty to reward you for your efforts. There are cafés, pubs and independent shops to explore before catching the T11 bus back to St Davids.
Some of our favourite places to browse and eat in Solva include Hats and Barrels and the Print House Café. And don’t miss Window on Wales – it’s one of those shops where you can happily lose yourself for far longer than you intended!
Our tip: Give yourself plenty of time at St Non’s. It’s a place to pause rather than simply tick off the walking route.
3. Solva to Newgale – For a More Challenging Day
A more strenuous coastal walk
If you’re looking for something a little more challenging, the walk from Solva to Newgale is well worth considering.
The route is hillier than the Porthclais walks, so you’ll need to be prepared for a more strenuous day. But the reward is some fantastic scenery, including beautiful views back across Solva and the long sweep of Newgale beach.
One particularly lovely section takes you around The Gribbin, the narrow strip of land overlooking the coast. There are some wonderful views back towards Solva and across St Bride’s Bay.
The route can be accessed using the T11 bus, which runs between St Davids, Solva and Newgale, making this another useful point-to-point walk where you don’t have to worry about returning to your starting point.
It’s a walk for a day when the weather is kind and your legs are feeling energetic – but the views make the effort worthwhile.
Our tip: Check the bus timetable before setting off and plan your return journey in advance.
4. Porthgain to Whitesands – St Davids Head, Carn Llidi and Ancient History
One of the longer routes
For a longer day on the Coast Path, the walk from Porthgain to Whitesands is a fantastic choice – and one that rewards you with some of the wildest and most memorable scenery around St Davids.
You can arrange transport to or from Porthgain using the Strumble Shuttle, Fflecsi bus or a taxi, while the Celtic Coaster provides a useful link back towards St Davids from the Whitesands end.
This is a route packed with interesting places to stop and explore.
At Abereiddi, you’ll find a beautiful pebbly beach backed by dramatic cliffs. Look closely at the slate pieces on the beach and you may spot the distinctive fossilised remains of graptolites.
Further along is the famous Blue Lagoon, created from the remains of an old slate quarry. The combination of industrial history and wild coastal scenery makes this one of the most memorable sections of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
But don’t be tempted to rush past St Davids Head.
This stretch of coastline feels wilder and more remote than some of the better-known sections around St Davids. The landscape is open and rugged, and you may well encounter the area’s semi-wild ponies grazing among the rocks and coastal grassland. Their grazing creates little pathways through the vegetation, adding to the wonderfully untamed feel of the place.
If you have the time and the weather is suitable, a detour up Carn Llidi is absolutely worth considering.
The view from the top is, quite simply, unmissable. From this elevated position you can look back across the surrounding coastline and out towards the sea, giving you a completely different perspective on the landscape you’ve been walking through.
It’s a climb, so it’s not a detour for everyone, but on a clear day the views make the extra effort worthwhile.
And somewhere around St Davids Head, keep your eyes open for Coetan Arthur, an ancient Neolithic cromlech. Tucked into this wild landscape, it feels wonderfully connected to the thousands of years of human history in this part of Pembrokeshire.
The contrast between the ancient monument, the wild ponies, the rugged coastline and the Atlantic beyond makes St Davids Head one of the most atmospheric parts of the whole route.
Eventually you’ll continue towards Whitesands, where the Celtic Coaster provides a useful link back towards St Davids.
This is a longer walk, so allow plenty of time and plan your transport carefully.
Our tip: Don’t treat St Davids Head as simply another section of the Coast Path. Slow down and explore it. If conditions allow, take the detour up Carn Llidi – the view from the top is one you’ll remember.
5. Our Favourite Shorter Circular: Porthclais, St Non’s and Caerfai
Approximately 1½–2 hours
Not every day calls for a long hike.
If you’d like to experience some of the best scenery around St Davids without committing to a full day’s walking, this circular route from Ramsey House is one of our favourites.
It takes in Porthclais, St Non’s and Caerfai Beach, before linking back into St Davids.
Along the way you’ll experience harbour scenery, spectacular clifftop views, St Non’s historic site and the distinctive red cliffs of Caerfai.
And because you finish back in St Davids, you can easily reward yourselves with a coffee, lunch, ice cream or perhaps a browse around the shops before heading back to Ramsey House.
The route takes around 1½–2 hours depending on how quickly you walk – but we’d recommend allowing longer. St Non’s in particular deserves a little time to explore, and there are plenty of places where you’ll want to stop simply to admire the view.
Our tip: This is the one we’d choose if you want a beautiful coastal walk but still have plenty of time left in the day for exploring St Davids itself.
A Few Things to Know Before You Set Off
Check the weather
Pembrokeshire’s weather can change quickly, particularly along the coast. A beautiful sunny morning can turn into a very different afternoon, so check the forecast and take an extra layer.
Wear proper footwear
Even the easier walks include uneven ground, rocks and potentially muddy sections. Good walking shoes or boots are a sensible choice.
Take water and snacks
There are cafés and pubs at various points, but you shouldn’t rely on them being open when you pass through, particularly outside the main season.
Plan your transport
Point-to-point walks are one of the great advantages of walking around St Davids, but check bus times before you leave. Services can be seasonal and timetables change.
Give yourself time
The times above are walking estimates rather than race times. We always think the best way to experience the Pembrokeshire Coast Path is slowly.
Stop for the view. Watch the seabirds. Take photographs. Sit on a bench. Have a coffee. Listen to the sea.
That’s the point of being here.
Walk Straight from the Door
One of the things we love most about Ramsey House is that you don’t have to drive to find the coast.
Step outside, walk through St Davids and within a short time you’re looking out across the sea.
Whether you have the energy for a full day from Porthclais to Whitesands, fancy exploring the history around St Non’s, or simply want a gentle couple of hours around Caerfai, there’s a walk to suit the day.
And when you get back to St Davids, you’ll find cafés, pubs, shops and the Cathedral waiting for you – all within easy walking distance.
That’s one of the reasons we think St Davids makes such a wonderful base for a walking holiday in Pembrokeshire.
If you’re staying with us at Ramsey House, we’re always happy to chat through the routes, check the day’s conditions and help you work out the best way to get there and back.
Happy walking!