AS THE frisbee arced above the golden seaside beneath a cloudless sky, I breathed in the salty air. This was paradise.
An image of these unspoilt sands — backed by dunes sprouting grassy tufts swaying in the breeze — might idiot anybody into considering I used to be alone non-public island.
I used to be, nonetheless, in Wales — on the Pembrokeshire coast, at Whitesands Beach close to St Davids — voted one of the world’s 20 best beaches.
It was only a 25-minute stroll from our base, the unbelievable Penrhiw Priory cottage, set in ten lovely acres full of great woodland walks.
The cottage had ample area for our get together of six.
Four of the six big bedrooms characteristic plush suede wallpaper and wood panelling, and there are two additional bedrooms in the connected coach home.
A cavernous lounge features a log-burning range — dormant now however excellent on a winter’s evening.
I additionally cherished the kitchen, with a minimum of two of each equipment and utensil possible.
But when you’re not a lot of a cook dinner, the cottage is affiliated with the close by Twr y Felin resort and complimentary transfers can be found if you wish to use their on-site Blas Restaurant. (A phrase for all the workers — unfailingly well mannered and sort past phrases).
We didn’t want to depart Penrhiw Priory however Whitesands Beach isn’t the solely picturesque coastline close by.
A ten-minute drive away is Solva harbour, ripe for crab-collecting at low tide, whereas St Davids — Britain’s smallest metropolis with only one,600 residents — is a ten-minute stroll and price a go to for the belting cathedral.
But after you have nodded earnestly at the unbelievable structure and mentioned, “Isn’t it beautiful?” a number of occasions, additionally try St Davids’ Bishops Palace subsequent door.
It is now derelict, with all kinds of nooks, crannies, spiral staircases and underground rooms to analyze — and the youngsters cherished it, particularly the treasure-hunt aspect which stored them absolutely engaged all the method spherical.
There are a lot of cafes and eating places in this space, open in excessive season, however when you’re on a price range Penrhiw Priory has flasks which you could take out for the day — we loved a recent tipple on the seaside at Whitesands and watched as the waves lapped gently on the sand.
And whereas we barely noticed a soul whereas out and about in St Davids throughout the day — possibly as a result of we visited out of peak season — as I swung open the door to The Farmers Arms pub at 6pm on a Friday night, I questioned whether or not this was the place everybody had been hiding. It was PACKED.
For a top-notch fish and chips, although, The Shed Bistro in Porthgain is the place to go, serving native catch cooked to perfection.
More of a gin fan? The also-bustling St Davids Gin and Kitchen has a improbable “Welsh tapas” menu and it could have been impolite to not attempt the St Davids seaweed gin and tonic.
It’s meant to go nicely with seafood however I can guarantee you it’s scrumptious by itself.
So while you load up the automobile for the journey right here, go away room for a bottle or two of gin to carry residence.
One look at the image of Whitesands Beach and a sip of the gin will take you straight again.
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