Only for the brave and patient
I have been coming here over the years since 2012. Mostly the site it has stayed the same even as the wardens have not. Toilet block is kept in good order and a pleasure to use.
This year when we were there, it was noticeable that there were less children and I guess like ours, a lot have grown up and the families have moved elsewhere. The site seemingly is mostly motorhomes with old wrinklies like me and continentals and there is a new parking system for pitches.
I note that unlike previous years when the bookings were constantly full and fluid until the last minute, this year it was easy to book our time slot.
There were about 25 pitches free when we arrived and this made for a less frantic rush for the showers, toilets and laundry room and a more pleasant stay. I suspect that the 20% deposit that was in force when I booked has some deterrent effect on arrivals, as I note that this has been reduced to 10%, which I consider it would have been wiser in my view to have started off with as there are places where you can turn up ad hoc without any problem.
Add on facilities seemed to have been slimmed down, and we were not offered any when booking in, unlike previous years, such as discounts on boat trips etc. Arrivals are now an hour later.
The campsite shop down the road still continues to sell pizzas on Weds and Sundays and is a useful source of produce if you are limited to foot or just cannot face the St. Davids supermarket where prices are eye-watering. A source of contention when busy is the adjacent field as their site rules seem to be more lax about curfew than CAMC.
Good cheap cinemas in Haverfordwest and Fishguard that are well worth a visit on the days that they are open. We saw Barbie at Haverfordwest this year so films are current £6 per ticket! St. David’s has become more commercial since I started coming here 50 years ago and there is a great market on Wednesdays of locally made fudge, souvenirs and trinkets, well worth a visit, as are the ice creams, fish and chips etc.
There are also woollen mills to visit if you have deep pockets to make a purchase or have refreshment. Lovely quality but out our price range £300 for a throw.
My main bugbear with this site is arrival and departure: getting down the narrow lane at the top of the hill on the road from St. David’s down to Whitesands beach. This is not for the faint-hearted or poor sighted. Choosing a time when the surfers/lorries are not there is a wise move.
The little shack on Whitesands car park that was there in my youth in recent years has now become an expensive shop for surf gear, ice creams and chippy food. The toilets have been somewhat improved but bring change to get in. There is a bus to the beach which will save the parking fee if you cannot face the walk up the hill going home.
Porthgain has become far too popular and expensive to visit for lunch but a great place to go and have a coastal walk.
I hope this helps.
