Cycle Pembrokeshire
St Davids Airfield Trail
A peaceful and very easy to cycle trail. Most of the original airfield was purchased by the National Park in the mid 1990s and landscaped to recreate the wildlife habitats that once existed here. Ponies and cattle graze the wet heath and hay meadows, and these help to conserve the wildlife. Footpaths and cycleways provide public access through the areas of land maintained by the Park. Inexperienced cyclists wishing to gain a little more confidence are able to follow a longer on-road route (including part of National Cycle Network Route 4) around the southern and eastern perimeter of the airfield site. This road is very lightly trafficked and generally level. It is referred to in the trail directions
Fact file
Highlights |
A level, peaceful and family friendly trail on a disused airfield. Views of heathland all around and craggy hills to the west. During spring and you will hear a number of songbirds including skylarks Grade: Easy |
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Distance |
2.5 miles (4 km) |
Time |
45 minutes plus some additional time if you follow the longer additional route around the south-eastern perimeter of the airfield |
Start/Finish |
Car Park near Fachelich (11/2 miles east of St Davids) (Grid Ref SM781254, Sat Nav SA62 6UB). From the A487 road between Haverfordwest and St Davids (west of Solva and Nine Wells), turn to the north following a sign for Broadlands Enterprise Park. After 1/4 mile (and just beyond the entrance to the Enterprise Park) turn left. After a further 1/4 mile the car parking area is on the right Alternative start: Car Park south of Caerfarchell (Grid Ref SM796262, Sat Nav SA62 6UD). From the A487 road between Fishguard and St Davids (south-west of Carnhedryn) turn to the south following a sign for Caerfarchell. Continue through the village and straight on at the next junction following a sign for Whitchurch. About 1/3 mile beyond this junction is a widened area on a bend for parking |
Nearest Station |
No rail station within 5 miles |
Terrain |
Easy and fairly level traffic-free trail on mainly concrete paths. Some small potholes and grass tufts but these shouldn’t present a problem |
Elevation |
Total climb (sum of all uphill sections) - 20 metres |
Refreshments |
No refreshments available |
Toilets |
No public toilets on Trail. Nearest public toilets at St Davids and Solva |
Trail Directions (distances in miles)
0.0 Start. Follow the path from the car park around the perimeter of the former airfield
1.0 Just beyond the Gorsedd Stone Circle, carry straight on
1.3 At the end of the perimeter path you reach a gate leading to the alternative start point on the perimeter road. Turn around and follow the path back to the stone circle
1.6 Turn left just before the stone circle and follow this path for about 400 yards until you see the opening onto the main runway. Turn right and follow the runway all the way back to the perimeter path
2.4 Turn left onto the perimeter path again
2.5 Trail finish
Note: If you wish to extend the Trail it is possible to cycle on a quiet and fairly flat road around the southern and eastern perimeter of the airfield. This links the two Start locations referred to in the fact file. It also takes you through the small village of Whitchurch. The nearby hamlets of Caerfarchell and Fachelich can also be accessed via on-road spurs from the Trail
Points of interest along the way
St Davids Airfield
During World War ll, St Davids Airfield was the scene of constant activity as a RAF Coastal Command base engaged in the Battle of the Atlantic. Supply convoys in the Atlantic were under constant threat of U-Boat attack. One of eight airfields in the county, St Davids was opened in the summer of 1943. It had three runways from which squadrons of Fortress, Halifax and Liberator bombers were flown on maritime patrols. The airbase also had a hospital, barracks, hangers, a control tower and even a prisoner of war camp. Military aircraft continued to use the airfield until 1960 and it later became a relief landing area. Following a major restoration and landscaping project in the 1990s, part of the airfield is now classed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
Gorsedd Circle
The group of stones located adjacent to the Trail are the only reminders that the National Eisteddfod of Wales was hosted on the airfield site in 2002. Similar commemorative structures are to be seen at numerous locations throughout Wales and are the hallmark of the Eisteddfod having visited a community. Each stone structure is arranged in a circular formation typically consisting of twelve stone pillars and a large flat-topped stone, known as the Logan Stone, lying in the centre. The stones provide an important ceremonial venue for the proclamation of a future Eisteddfod which is traditionally completed one year and one day prior to its official opening. Portal stones which form a part of the structure point to the positions of sunrise on the summer and winter solstices