It was a sunny Wednesday in late October inPembrokeshire, Wales and I was off to Whitesands Beach to photograph my four legged Pembroke Corgi friend Elizabeth wearing a christmas hat so that I could make a comic christmas card.  Her lovely owner Ann had offered to bring her along for the afternoon.  Luckily my ever-patient husband John came along as it turned out we needed the three of us to achieve my hoped-for shot. 

After a few false starts and adjustments to the hat  John learnt to release the lead quickly and get out of the shot (he’s now a star photographer’s assistant)!

Whitesands Bay can be reached by leaving St Davids heading north on the A487and turning left by the rugby club.  Shortly after that turn left  again following signs to Whitesands and follow the road until you hit the sea. Whitesands at low tide is a huge playground for all ages with surfboard and kayak hire and tuition. It’s busier in the summer but in the winter months you can have the beach to yourself. 

You’ll find nearby St Davids if you’re touring Wales as it is at the end of the new Coastal Way which takes you from the Llyn in North Wales down to Pembrokeshire following the spectacular coastline of West Wales https://www.visitwales.com/inspire-me/wales-way/coastal-way

Opposite Whitesands Bay is Ramsey Island, managed by the RSPB.  There are several local boat companies who operate trips around the island such as Voyages of Discovery  https://www.ramseyisland.co.uk  or https://www.falconboats.co.uk

but if you want to land on the island (April – end October) to see the deer and chough and peregrines choose https://thousandislands.co.uk

There are wonderful walks around this area and St Davids Head is managed by the National Trust with some spectacular views and bird activity to be seen .  Here’s a link to a circular walk and information on the Neolithic Burial Chamber nearby. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/st-davids-peninsula/trails/st-davids-head-coastal-walk

We ended our photo-session with a lovely catch up and rest at  Whitesands Beach House https://www.facebook.com/whitesandsbh/  which was taken over in 2019 by local Richard Davies.  In the day time there’s a good snack menu with paninis, coffees and daily specials. They also open on summer evenings with finer dining and some local seafood dishes available.  In the winter  you can grab a Sunday lunch followed by a stroll on the beach to walk off the calories!

Going back to Elizabeth after an hour on the beach giving her a lovely walk interspersed with the odd hat trying on I got my christmas card shot  – thank you Elizabeth (and Ann and John of course)!

Please hop across to my website to see my work.  Thanks Rachel

https://pembrokeshiremoments.co.uk/shop/pembrokeshire-christmas-cards/