Pembrokeshire & St David's For photographs scroll down to bottom
July 2009
with David Gleed and Jill Atkinson
This was my second Pilgrim Adventure (soon to be renamed Journeying) holiday and it really lived up to mine and everyone else’s expectations. Starting our journey from Bristol in the pouring rain gave little idea of the wonderful weather we were so blessed to have for our time together, especially for all of our spectacular walks along the Pembrokeshire coastal paths.
Meeting up with some of my fellow adventurers on the train to Haverfordwest similarly gave a little understanding of just how far some had travelled to be with us – friends from Canada, USA and Ireland joining the rest of us from the UK for a week of journeying together spiritually, physically and emotionally in the true PA spirit.
St Non’s ‘cliff top’ Retreat House was the perfect setting for our time together. The facilities were superb and Sisters Johanna, Nora and Alma continually made every effort to ensure our time with them was as very welcome friends in their special home. We enjoyed excellent meals together at breakfast and were encouraged to fill our lunch boxes full of goodies for our walks, only to return in the evening for good wholesome cooked meals in the dining room with stunning sea views.
Our itinerary included : a circular walks to Porthclais and around Ramsey Sound, with a welcome stop at the National Trust kiosk for a cup of tea and an opportunity to try their delicious Welsh cakes - and gentle strolls to St Justinian’s with a stunning walk to St David’s Head, as well as more reflective walks around the retreat house and grounds (with time to look at St Non’s ancient Chapel, the holy well and shrine). An enjoyable coastal path walk on our penultimate day to the village of Solva in the brilliant sunshine was perfectly timed for afternoon tea on the sea front.
Worship, as always, was part of the rhythm of our journeying together, from grace at breakfast to poems and prayers at our picnic stops, and Celtic-inspired worship led by Jill and Sue in the evenings.
Our evenings together in the lounge, with coffee, tea, hot chocolate and cakes and biscuits, were happy times of friendship filled with fun and laughter, talking, reading, and crosswords. Taking part in various excellent team quizzes put together by Allan, Joe and Hilary provided the perfect end to our days out walking.
St David’s Cathedral was a spectacular venue for a concert on Friday evening, followed by a welcome stop at the Farmer’s Arms (the only pub in St David’s) on our way home to St Non’s Retreat House.
At the close of our time together we shared our favourite memory of our Adventure – it really sums up our holiday when we all found it difficult to choose one particular time. For some it was our visit to Ramsey Island – the RSPB bird sanctuary; for others seeing the horses and foals on St David’s Head. Walks alone or in small groups were also very special… The sad part was saying goodbye to new-found friends at the end of another holiday adventure and going home (in torrential rain), back to the routine of everyday life.
But God as always uses our times of adventuring together to build us up, sending us home with a calmer, quieter spirit, ready for the next chapter in our own pilgrim journey.
Julie Holloway
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On the Coastal Path
St David's Head group
Panorama of St David's Head
Pembrokeshire ponies
The Old Farmhouse, Ramsey Is.
On Ramsey Is.
St David's Cathedral
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