Whitesands Bay (Pembrokeshire)

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This article is about Whitesands Bay in Pembrokeshire, Wales. For Whitesand Bay and Whitsand Bay, both in Cornwall, see Whitesand Bay and Whitsand Bay respectively.
Whitesands Bay and Carn Llidi
Whitesands Bay and Carn Llidi
Whitesands Bay and Ramsey Island from Carn Llidi
Whitesands Bay and Ramsey Island from Carn Llidi

Whitesands Bay (Welsh: 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.[1] 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.[2]

The area to the north east of the bay is dominated by a large rocky outcrop, 594 ft at its highest point,[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6] 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. [7]

Contents

[edit] Facilities

Whitesands Beach
Whitesands Beach
  • 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

[edit] Dogs

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

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.ukattraction.com/south-wales/whitesands-bay.htm Retrieved on 2008-01-01
  2. ^ http://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/content.asp?id=8093&d1=0 Retrieved on 2008-01-01
  3. ^ http://stdavids.pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk/english/things_to_do/walking.asp Whitesands to Abereiddi Retrieved 2008-01-04
  4. ^ http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=4285 Retrieved on 2008-01-02
  5. ^ http://www.pembrokeshirecoastpath.com/facts.htm Retrieved on 2008-01-01
  6. ^ http://www.cambria.org.uk/HLC/StDavids/area/area287.htm Retrieved on 2008-01-14
  7. ^ http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/walks/walks/walk_b/2057/ Retrieved on 2007-01-09

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 51°53′40″N 5°17′45″W / 51.89444, -5.29583

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