UK, Day 9: Walking In Wales

Sticking to this corner of southwest Wales, we made our way by car to Tenby.  The tide was fairly high at the beach, but it didn't prevent Ava from running around on the sand and enjoying the sunshine.

We then took a small boat a few miles out to Caldey Island.

The island is home to an order of Cistercian (Trappist) monks who live at the monastery.

We walked around the island visiting various ruins (the original monks were pushed out by Henry VIII) and the old priory. 

Although the monks don't brew beer, they do make chocolate and fudge. 

 As expected we saw plenty of sheep and birds, but we also spotted a few butterflies.

On the other side of the island lies a lighthouse and a coastal path upon the cliffs. 

Before catching the boat back to Tenby, Ava stopped for a bit to play at the beach. 

Back on the mainland, we climbed up Castle Hill, got a bit lost in the town, and grabbed some take away fish & chips for lunch outside, overlooking the beach.

After lunch we stopped for ice cream and explored the town further.

We then drove to St. David's, Britain's smallest city, where we visited the Bishop's Palace and St. David's Cathedral.  Pope Calixtus II decreed that "two pilgrimages to St. David's is equal to one to Rome, and three pilgrimages to one to Jerusalem."

Leaving the little city behind, we walked toward the coast (and one of the furthest points west in all of Britain) to St. Non's Well.  The water from the well was thought to have healing properties so Abby put her fingers in the water in an attempt to help speed up the healing of her broken wrist.  The nearby Chapel of St. Non (St. David's mother) is where St. David was purportedly born.  Ava was far more interested in doing cartwheels on the grass than in viewing the chapel ruins.

We then walked a bit of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, and made our way around St. Non's Bay and Caerfai Bay all the way to Caerfai Beach.  We made sure to stick to the path as the signs warned that "cliffs kill."

The sandy beach was a great treat at the end of a long walk and Ava celebrated with a handstand.

Based on a recommendation from our B&B host, we drove to the little village of Porthgain for a great pub dinner followed by a walk about the small harbor and town.

Tomorrow we hope to stop in at a couple castles before heading to Swansea and the Gower.