St David’s.

Gypsy Rover at Lleithyr Meadow campsite, Whitesands, St Davids

Very appropriate. I couldn't have said better myself.

Despite the overcast and showery conditions we walked into St David’s this morning with the help of instructions from the camp warden. We easily found the ruins of the Bishops Palace. Despite being a ruin since the 17th century you couldn’t help but see the scale and grandeur of the palace. Bishop Gower, who was basically responsible for what can be seen today is described as a man of modest means. If that’s the case the clergy of the 14th century were wealthy men. Built between 1328 and 1347 it contained the Bishops living quarters, a grand hall for banquets with a kitchen and accommodation for the many pilgrims that called here. The Pope of the time was quoted as saying two pilgrimages to St David’s were equal to one pilgrimage to Rome. There is a Holy well at St Non’s which sprang up the night St David was born hence the need for pilgrimages.

The Bishops Palace, St Davids built in the time of Bishop de Gower after who the peninsular is named.

This used to be a river ford between the Cathedral and the Bishop's Palace but is no longer useable.

We were only able to look around the outside of St David’s Cathedral because being Sunday a service was taking place. Certainly an impressive building in such a small city although the city only gives the impression of being a town as it lacks what I would call city grandeur. Climbing the steps up through the cemetery we came to the 14th century gatehouse with it’s attached bell tower which was peeling out the bell’s calling the faithful to church. The tower on the Cathedral proper just houses the clock bells, which at eleven o clock rang out but were barely audible against the main bells. 

St Davids Cathedral in the smallest city in Britain

Porth Y Twr is the only surviving 14thC gatehouse to the Cathedral Close with it's attached bell tower.

Dot with her own ring of stones, St Davids.

Cross Square and the 14thC medieval Cross restored in 1873.

According to Dot’s pedometer we had walked over 5 miles by the time we got back to camp so a planned walk to the Whitesands beach after lunch was cancelled as we were both quite weary.