May 23, 2025
Pembrokeshire’s wild coast and hills have long inspired stories of saints, fairies and giants. Even the medieval Mabinogion describes this corner of Wales as “a land of mystery and enchantment”. Generations have passed on tales of heroic saints and strange magic lurking in the ancient stones. In these stories, the ordinary landscape around Newgale Lodge becomes the stage for the extraordinary – and today’s visitors can still trace those stories on the coast path, beaches, and church ruins around St Davids, Solva, Newgale and beyond.
The Birth of Saint David at St Non’s Bay. Legend says Wales’s patron saint was born here during a terrible storm. As Saint Non cried out in labour, a bright light lit up the skies above and the storm suddenly stopped, and from the spot where she held her newborn son, a spring of crystal-clear water welled up. Today, a simple stone arch on the clifftop marks St Non’s holy well overlooking St Non’s Bay, and pilgrims still visit to taste the spring’s water. Families can walk the clifftop path from St Davids to find the chapel ruins and well, letting children scoop up the cool spring water and imagine the miracles of old.
St Non’s Holy Well. Next to the chapel ruins stands the covered grotto of St Non’s spring. According to legend, this was the very well that sprung up during a thunderstorm when St. Non gave birth to St. David. In medieval times, it was thought to have healing powers. Today, visitors can still kneel by the little stone arch and drink or splash from the clear pool. A short walk from St Davids Cathedral, the peaceful shrine is an easy family outing – and a chance to make a wish at a well linked to an ancient Welsh miracle.
Saint Govan’s Hidden Chapel. On the cliffs at the western end of Bosherston Pill (near St Brides’s Bay) lies St Govan’s Chapel, a tiny stone church built into a rock cleft. Its founding legend is straight out of a fairytale: in the 5th–6th century, Saint Govan was chased by pirates and miraculously hid when a crevice opened up in the cliff above him, sheltering him in the narrow cave. (You can still feel the cramped space today – look for the deep groove in the rock where the saint’s back rested.) Govan survived by eating fish and drinking from a holy spring nearby. He even had a magic bell to warn others of danger. One day, pirates stole the bell, but a storm quickly sank their ship, and angels returned the bell, encasing it in the rock for all time.
Legend says that if you make a wish while standing in the rock crevice at St Govan’s, it will come true – but only if you don’t change your mind before you turn around. Today, reaching St Govan’s Chapel is an adventure for families: 52 stone steps (sometimes said to be 52 each way) descend the cliff to the chapel door. Visitors can tap the famed “bell rock”, peek into the tiny nave, and even make a wish at the entrance. It’s a spooky-sweet way to relive the pirate-and-saint tale, with stunning views of the Bristol Channel beyond.
Arthur’s Quoit: King Arthur’s Tomb
At the western tip of St David’s Head, about 2 miles north of Whitesands Bay, stands a huge flat capstone supported by upright stones – a Neolithic burial chamber known as Arthur’s Quoit (Coetan Arthur). Legend says it earned its name in a single day of mythic strength: “King Arthur himself chucked stones from nearby Carn Llidi,” according to Atlas Obscura. Whether or not Arthur really lobbed the capstone, the dolmen (dating to around 3000 BCE) is an unforgettable sight, with the sparkling sea stretching to Ramsey Island in one direction and Carningli mountain in the other.
Visitors today reach Arthur’s Quoit on foot via the coastal path. A popular route starts at Whitesands Bay car park and heads north along the cliffs. As you hike the heathland, keep an eye out for wild ponies grazing among prehistoric stone circles. The short trek (roughly 1.5 miles each way) is suitable for children and ends at the burial chamber. Standing beneath its 20-foot capstone, families can imagine heroic giants or knights gathering here in ages past, and enjoy panoramic views out to sea – a perfect blend of history and story come to life.
The Preseli Bluestones and Merlin’s Magic
Farther north, the moors of the Preseli Hills hold another connection to legend. Those very hills were the quarry for the famous “Bluestones” of Stonehenge – spotted dolerite rocks each weighing over 20 tons. Archaeologists believe the stones came from sites like Carn Menyn in Preseli, but why they lie in Wiltshire is still a mystery. Folklore supplies an answer: myths suggest it was the magic of Merlin that transported the giant stones the 180 miles from Pembrokeshire to Stonehenge.
Whether or not you believe in wizards, visiting Preseli makes the legend come alive. Families can drive or hike into the hills north of Newport, where ancient tombs like Pentre Ifan stand amid heather and gorse. One can scramble among the craggy outcrops of Carn Menyn (nicknamed the Butter Rock) and imagine Merlin’s spell at work. On a misty evening, you might feel the same awe the ancient builders felt. The National Park’s Carn Meini Nature Trail guides walkers through some of these mystical sites, making for a fun treasure hunt through history and myth.
Carn Ingli – The Mountain of Angels
Just east of Newport (Dinas Cross) lies the Preseli summit Carningli (often spelled Carn Ingli), whose name means “Rocky Summit of Angels”. According to legend, this is where the 6th-century saint Brynach communed with angels. One tale says that on the barren peak, Brynach heard heavenly voices and even convinced a stag and wolf to help him back down the mountain. Folk tradition has it that if you sleep atop Carningli, angels will visit you in dreams.
Today Carningli rewards families with one of Pembrokeshire’s best panoramas. On a clear day you can see the Irish Sea all the way to County Clare, and the sunrises and sunsets are legendary. A modest trail (e.g. via Capel Dewi) lets children scramble to the summit safely. On the way, search for ancient cairns and Medieval chapel ruins that hint at its holy past. Standing at the top, visitors can echo Brynach’s story – singing or simply listening to the wind – and wonder if perhaps the angels themselves are watching from the skies above.
The Curse of Roch Castle (Adam and the Adder)
Near Newgale, above Broadhaven Bay, the ruined tower of Roch Castle still stands on its rocky hill. Built in the late 12th century by the Norman Adam de Rupe (Adam of the Rock), it carries one of Pembrokeshire’s creepiest legends. A local witch supposedly warned Adam that he would die of a snakebite if he completed the castle. Scared, he sealed himself away in the keep for a year. On the 365th day, however, his woodcutter brought a bundle of firewood up by pulley. A hibernating adder slithered out when the basket was opened and bit Adam – fulfilling the witch’s prophecy. His screams were said to echo on stormy nights, turning Roch Castle (now a historic hotel) into a source of eerie tales.
Families passing Roch Castle can enjoy its fairytale appearance under blue Pembrokeshire skies and even join an evening ghost tour. Inside the courtyard, children might pretend to be knights testing a witch’s curse. The castle’s patio has become a café/restaurant, but a stroll around the battlements (public when open) shows where Lord Adam waited out his fate. Local guides still love to point out the legend: if you pause below the tower on a windy night, you can almost imagine the hiss of that fateful snake!
Saints and Spirits on Ramsey Island
Just offshore from St Davids lies Ramsey Island. Accessible by boat from St Davids, the isle has been a bird sanctuary – but it’s also steeped in saintly lore. Near its landing jetty stands the tiny St Justinian’s Church. Early texts say Justinian (a 6th-C. Irish monk) was martyred by pirates on Ramsey. Miraculously, he is said to have picked up his own severed head and walked back to the mainland at St Justinian’s (just west of St Davids), where he died. The island’s church and lighthouse are named for him, and legend claims his grave still lies beneath the altar.
Today visitors can take family-friendly boat trips around Ramsey (often leaving at slack tide) and step ashore to explore the chapel ruins and coastal paths. The wild scenery is as stirring as the story: one can look at the waves Justinian crossed and the caves where pirates might have lurked. In Ramsey’s quiet cove, the tale reminds us that Pembrokeshire’s beautiful views have long drawn mystics and storytellers alike.
As you can see, Pembrokeshire’s ancient landmarks – whether a rocky summit or sandy cove – come alive through the stories told about them. From saintly miracles at St Non’s to Arthurian giants on the headland, these legends add a touch of magic to every walk or beach outing. And they are best explored on foot: hike the coastal paths, scramble up hills, and visit the old churches.
Whether you believe every word or simply enjoy a good story, these tales make the landscape fun for all ages. Use Newgale Lodge as your cozy base (just minutes from Newgale Beach and easy drives to St Davids and Solva) to set out on day trips into mythic Pembrokeshire. By the end of your stay, your family will be swapping legends of your own – and eager to come back for more adventures in this truly enchanted land! Book your stay today!