St Davids Cathedral in St Davids, Pembrokeshire makes this tiny town officially ‘Britain’s smallest city’
Tony Bowerman looks at fascinating (and unique) facts about the Wales Coast Path
WHETHER YOU CHOOSE TO WALK THE WHOLE PATH in one go, in occasional sections, or a few miles at a time, you’re in for a real treat. There’s something new around every corner, and you’ll discover places that can only be reached on foot.
Visually stunning and rich in both history and wildlife, the path promises ever-changing views, soaring cliffs and spacious beaches, sea caves and arches, wildflowers, seabirds, seals and dolphins, as well as castles, cromlechs, coves and coastal pubs. It’s a genuinely special landscape.
Wales Coast Path Facts
This visual and ecological richness is recognised nationally and internationally.
In fact, the Wales Coast Path runs through 1 Marine Nature Reserve, 1 Geopark, 2 National Parks, 3 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, 3 World Heritage Sites, 7 official and unofficial nudist beaches, 11 National Nature Reserves, 14 Heritage Coasts, 17 Special Protection Areas, 21 Special Areas of Conservation, 23 Historic Landscapes, 42 Blue Flag beaches, and 111 marine Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Large stretches of coast are also managed and protected by Wildlife Trusts, the RSPB and the National Trust.
- Wider Wales has three National Parks covering a fifth of the country. They are the Snowdonia National Park, the Brecon Beacons National Park, and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
- Wales also boasts five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs).
- Wales has more castles per square mile than anywhere else in the world; there are 427 real medieval castles in Wales.
- There are more sheep than people in Wales: the Welsh population of 3.1 million is outnumbered almost 3 to 1 by around 10 million sheep.
- The Anglesey/Ynys Mon village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch has the second longest place name in the world. The deliberately concocted place name means “St Mary’s Church in the Hollow of the White Hazel near a Rapid Whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio near the Red Cave.” It was a cunning marketing ploy originally devised by locals to draw in Victorian visitors and their money
- Wales had the first road suspension bridge in the world. The Menai Bridge in Anglesey was designed by Thomas Telford and opened on 30th January 1826.
Wales has more castles per square mile than anywhere else in the world — with 427 genuine medieval castles in this little country.
Special features
Long-distance walkers will enjoy the unbroken path, the solitude, the coast’s constantly changing moods and the back-to-nature challenge. Holiday and weekend walkers can recharge their batteries, see something new, and regain a necessary sense of perspective. Families can potter, play and explore.
And locals can walk the dog, jog, get fit and rediscover their home patch. Whatever your preferences, the Wales Coast Path promises something for everyone.
Tony Bowerman
This article was written by Tony Bowerman, and appears here for the first time. (C) Copyright Tony Bowerman 2022. All rights reserved.
Tony Bowerman is a director of Northern Eye Books Ltd, and loves nature and the outdoors. At one time he contributed articles to several national newspapers and magazines. He later worked as an ‘interpretation consultant’ for clients such as the National Trust, Welsh Water, County Councils and Wildlife Trusts. He is a member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild.
Contact: tony@northerneyebooks.co.uk
Books and maps for this part of the coast
