Carn Llidi

Carn Llidi

Carn Llidi is a 181 m rocky hill above Whitesands Bay on the St Davids peninsula, within Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The summit is reached by a short rock scramble and looks over the coast and Ramsey Island. Walkers can also use the lower viewpoint or explore St David’s Head on coastal paths. Prehistoric monuments and wartime remains add interest to the surrounding landscape.

Height: 181 m (594 ft). Prominence: 122 m. Classification: Hump (source codes Hu,1).

Summit

A rock with protruding bolts marks the highest point at SM 73806 28007. Reaching it requires a short scramble above the easier viewpoint approach.

Geology

Carn Llidi forms part of the Ordovician St David’s Head Intrusion. Its crags expose layered gabbro and related igneous rocks, formed as magma cooled beneath the surface. The intrusion and surrounding sedimentary rocks were later folded during the Caledonian mountain-building period.

Routes

Carn Llidi summit from Whitesands via Upper Porthmawr

Start at Whitesands car park (SM734272). Walk back up the B4583, pass the first track on the left and take the next left by the caravan site. Follow the signed track through Upper Porthmawr and take the right-hand branch at the National Trust St David’s Head sign. Continue uphill past the metal posts. Where the concrete path turns right up steps, bear left towards the rocky summit; the final section requires a short scramble. Descend carefully by the same route and return through the farm to Whitesands. Keep dogs on leads at the farm. The lower viewpoint is an alternative if the summit rocks are unsuitable.

Difficulty: Moderate approach; summit scramble.

Carn Llidi viewpoint from Whitesands, out and back

The National Park’s short walk starts at Whitesands car park (SM734272). Walk up the road, take the left turn beyond the caravan site and follow the signed track through Upper Porthmawr. Take the right-hand branch at the National Trust sign, then the narrower path beyond the metal posts to the viewpoint. Return along the same track and road to Whitesands. There are stiles and steps; keep dogs on leads through the farm. The 2.3 km covers this complete viewpoint return, excluding the separate rocky scramble to Carn Llidi’s summit.

Difficulty: Moderate; uneven track, stiles and steps. Distance: 2.3 km.

St David’s Head coastal loop from Whitesands

Follow the National Trust’s coastal circuit from Whitesands car park (SM734272) to Porth Melgan. Cross the bridge and follow the valley north-east, then rejoin the coast and turn left towards St David’s Head. Continue past Coetan Arthur and the headland fort, return along the coast to Porth Melgan and retrace the path to Whitesands. The published 6 km and 1 hour 15 minutes describe this whole coastal loop. It does not visit Carn Llidi’s summit; adding the summit requires a separate scramble and additional walking. Expect rocky paths, steps, cliff edges and muddy valley ground.

Difficulty: Moderate coastal walk. Distance: 6 km. Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.

Views

Views include Whitesands Bay, St David’s Head, Ramsey Island and the offshore Bishops and Clerks rocks. The lower viewpoint also gives wide coastal views. Heather and gorse colour the St David’s Head coastal heath purple and gold in late summer.

Terrain

Farm tracks, uneven coastal paths, steps and stiles, rocky summit requiring a short scramble, muddy valley ground in wet conditions

Hazards

The final summit rocks require a short scramble and confident footing. Take particular care descending; use the lower viewpoint if the rocks or conditions are unsuitable.

Coastal routes pass cliff edges. Keep to marked paths, stay back from the edges and supervise children and dogs.

Rough, uneven paths, steps and stiles require care. Wet rock and strong winds make the exposed coastal setting more hazardous.

Keep dogs on leads around grazing livestock and through Upper Porthmawr, where there are free-range chickens.

The valley above Porth Melgan can be muddy and slippery in winter. Avoid the summit scramble in wet or windy conditions. If visiting the beach with a dog, Whitesands has a beach ban from 1 May to 30 September, with leads required on the promenade and in the car park during those dates. Check the National Park’s Trail News and follow local diversion signs before setting out.

Access and facilities

Whitesands car park at the end of the B4583, grid reference SM734272, is the start for these walks. It is operated by St Davids City Council. The published 2026 car tariff is £6.50 for the day or £4 after 3 pm. Charging applies from 1 March to 31 October; November to February is free. Check the signs for current terms.

The 403 Celtic Coaster links St Davids with Whitesands in summer. Its published 2026 season ran from 28 March to 27 September; it is not a winter service. Check Pembrokeshire County Council’s current timetable before planning a bus-dependent walk.

Whitesands has public toilets and a beach cafe beside the car park. Check opening hours before relying on refreshments, especially outside the main season. St Davids has further shops and places to eat.

Nearby summits and features

Carn Porth-llong (75.7 m), Carn Treliwyd (141.7 m) and Penberry (175 m).

Whitesands Bay, Porth Melgan, St David’s Head and Coetan Arthur burial chamber. Carn Llidi’s slopes and the neighbouring headland contain prehistoric field boundaries, burial chambers and remains of wartime installations.

History

Carn Llidi and St David’s Head contain Neolithic burial chambers and an extensive prehistoric field system, with an Iron Age fort on the headland. Second World War radar remains survive near Carn Llidi; the area had also been used for a First World War hydrophone station. These documented sites form part of the peninsula’s archaeological landscape.