Friday 22 August 2008

St Davids and Martins Haven...

St Davids was high on my list of places to visit whilst in Pembrokeshire. It's claim to fame being that it is the smallest city in Great Britain. Needless to say, it was pouring with rain and so this photo of its lovely cathedral looks a bit gloomy, but I loved the way the stone looked purple in the rain. The photo also looks a bit wonky...and I was surprised to find that once inside, the aisles ran uphill and that the whole cathedral seemed to be off square.





The architecture was stunning, particularly the ceilings.




I loved the heralding angels flanking the organ pipes.




There was some wonderful stained glass.




No2 discovered the difference between a church and a cathedral...that is that a cathedral has a Bishops Throne.



The wording on this memorial plaque made me get covered in goose-bumps. I found it very poignant...


*****

We also were recommended to visit Martins Haven on the most westerly tip of Pembrokeshire, with the hope of spotting some seals. We weren't disappointed. After walking along the windswept coastal path we spotted this adult seal having fun in the surf. It's the black thing in the middle of the photo!




While photographing it, we were delighted to have then spotted a seal pup clambering down the beach to the surf - my camera couldn't get a really good close-up, but we could see how velvety his pelt was, all lovely and spotty too! That's him in the middle of the dry bit of shore!


After watching them for some time, with more adults appearing in the surf, we wandered round to the top of the cove only to spot a really tiny pup, still with white fur, protected in a circle of stones, higher up the beach. If you get a magnifying glass, you should be able to spot him!



8 comments:

  1. I bet seeing the seals really made your day!

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  2. Oh, I've loved reading your Pembrokeshire posts - it is one of my absolute favourite places in Britain (and I have many - a list in fact!)

    Your photos of both black and blue skies are very evocative. We've loved taking boat trips out to Skomer and Ramsey Islands, and mooching about the Cathedral and endless remote beaches.

    Sigh - I'm going to have to go back!

    xx

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  3. The ceiling detailing is incredibly beautiful.

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  4. We've had a couple of holidays in Pembrokeshire - all the beauty of Cornwall without the crowds - try a sunset barbecue on New Gale beach at high tide listening to the sea breaking on the shingle - one of the best sounds ever, and do visit Narbeth, it has a terrific patchwork shop

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  5. It is a magical experience to see seals - and it must have been wonderful to see the pups - what a treat.

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  6. such a thrill seeing seals for real! we spotted one in St Ives last year and were ridiculously excited about it..I really want to go camping in St Davids one of these days.x

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  7. such a thrill seeing seals for real! we spotted one in St Ives last year and were ridiculously excited about it..I really want to go camping in St Davids one of these days.x

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  8. Lovely cathedral photos (and I didn't know about the Bishop's Throne till you said so, heathen that I am). I am very envious of the seal sightings!

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