Looking back from the top of Giltar Point we had a fine view across the bay to St Catherine's Island and out over the Caldey Sound to St Margaret's Island. St Margaret's is managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and access is limited. There are a number of nesting seabirds on the island with the main nesting species being the Cormorant, with smaller number of Shag and various Gull species. Caldey Island, originally called 'Ynys Byr', has a long history of occupation from the Middle Stone Age, a long ecclesiastical history since about the 5thC, and links to Viking history.
As we walked we came across other flower species including the Arum Lily and the small but beautiful Rockrose and continued to be in thrall to the varying rock features. Just ahead of us, we knew the geology changes at Lydstep which marks the junction between the limestone of the east and the old red sandstone of west Pembroke.
Coming off the hillside we moved on to the sandy / pebbly beach of Lydstep Haven and enjoyed walking by the water's edge for a short time. Just off the beach there are a couple of caravan / static home sites that you need to pass by and at one, Haven Lydstep Beach Holiday Village, where some of the statics are nicely located in wooded areas, we stopped to use their toilet facilities and were offered free coffee and a seat on a bench by the staff in the office. As it was nearing lunchtime, we took advantage of this and sat by the office out of the wind and had coffee and some snacks.
After rounding the camp, we dropped back down to the clifftop again to enjoyed a lovely walk towards the Priest's Nose Headland. Since we had left the caravan park the weather had brightened with more blue sky than white clouds. Rounding the Nose, we stopped to have lunch at the King's Quoit, a small Neolithic chambered tomb, or cromlech that is a scheduled ancient monument. From here we were overlooking Manorbier Beach and in the afternoon sunshine the views were glorious.
When we reached the Dak, looking back across the bay to the area around the King's Quoit, we could see the fine tower of St Jame's Church nestled in the trees at the back of the cliff. The parish church was built in the 12thC. Although much changed over the years, there are still medieval ceiling paintings in the porch. The church is thought to have been built on the site of a 6thC Celtic monastery, estabished by St Pyr who, history has it, died when he fell down a well drunk. A famous religious historical figure from this aea was Gerald the Welshman (Giraldus Cambrensis), Archdeacon of Brecon, who grew up in this area and wrote extensively about his childhood here.