St Non’s, near St Davids, Pembrokeshire, SA62 6BN
St Non’s Chapel and Well
Chapel
Place photograph
7.5
Wildland
Under 1 hour
Time
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Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
7.5A few crumbling walls, a holy well and a coastal setting mark a place traditionally associated with the birth of St David, Wales’s patron saint.
This is a small but resonant stop: uncertain-date chapel remains and a pilgrimage well sit above St Non’s Bay, where the landscape adds as much to the visit as the stones. It works best as a quiet pause or as part of a longer St Davids coastal walk.
Atmospheric · Peaceful
Find your way
Open mapSt Non’s, near St Davids, Pembrokeshire, SA62 6BN
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The experience
See the chapel remains and holy well, then take in the exposed coastal setting. For a longer outing, use St Non’s as one stop on the St David’s and St Non’s walking loop.
Things to do
See the chapel remains
Look at the few surviving, crumbling walls. Cadw says their date is uncertain, so the site is best understood as a significant holy and cultural place rather than a securely dated chapel building.
15–30 minutes
Stop at the holy well
The well lies on the path leading up to the chapel and is described by Cadw as a popular stop for pilgrims.
5–15 minutes
Take in St Non’s Bay
Pause to appreciate the chapel’s position overlooking the bay and the exposed coastal landscape around it.
10–20 minutes
Walk the St David’s and St Non’s loop
The Wales Coast Path itinerary describes an 8-mile loop from St Davids, with shorter versions and seasonal bus options. Check the current route and bus service before setting out.
Check route and transport details
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Under 1 hour
A short visit to chapel and well
- 01
Use the nearby Cadw car park and follow the approach path.
- 02
Pause at the holy well on the way up to the chapel.
- 03
Look closely at the surviving chapel walls, then take in the view over St Non’s Bay.
Half day · Check route and daylight before setting out
St Non’s and the coastal loop
- 01
Start and finish in St Davids, following the published St David’s and St Non’s loop.
- 02
Include St Non’s Chapel and Well among the pilgrimage and coastal stops.
- 03
Choose a published shorter option if appropriate: the route source describes alternatives of 7 miles, 6 miles or 4 miles, with the shorter options involving the seasonal Celtic Coaster bus.
Full Wildland day · Full day
St Davids heritage day
- 01
Visit St Non’s Chapel and Well during reasonable daylight.
- 02
Continue to St Davids Cathedral and the Bishop’s Palace, both identified by the Wales Coast Path itinerary as major stops.
- 03
Use the St David’s and St Non’s loop itinerary to plan the coastal walking section and check the bus options if shortening the route.
Verified history
Cadw describes the remains as a few crumbling chapel walls of uncertain date and identifies the site as a significant holy and cultural place. The chapel is named after St Non, and the well is a pilgrimage stop. St Non’s Retreat says a nearby older chapel ruin is traditionally associated with the place where St David was born; that association is a tradition, not a verified birth record.
Folklore & legend
Local religious tradition identifies this area as the birthplace of St David. The well is believed to have curative powers, according to Cadw; this is a belief associated with the site, not a verified medical claim.
Hidden details
The chapel’s date is uncertain — The visible walls are evocative, but Cadw explicitly describes their date as uncertain. Avoid assigning them a precise early-Christian date.
The well is on the approach — The holy well is encountered on the path leading up to the chapel, rather than being merely a separate nearby attraction.
When to go
· Reasonable daylight; Cadw does not specify a preferred time of day.
Cadw lists the site as open all year during reasonable daylight hours. No source provided verifies a seasonal wildlife or floral highlight.
The site is exposed to coastal weather. Cadw warns that the path or monument may be slippery or muddy; use suitable footwear and take care.
Worth pairing with
St Davids Cathedral
A major heritage pairing identified by the Wales Coast Path itinerary; St Non’s Retreat says the cathedral is a 15-minute walk from the retreat centre.
St Davids Bishop’s Palace
The ruined palace beside the cathedral makes a strong companion to a visit centred on pilgrimage and ecclesiastical history.
St David’s and St Non’s loop
A published coastal walking itinerary links St Davids and St Non’s, with route-length options and seasonal bus alternatives.
What to look for
Look for the chapel’s surviving low stone walls, the holy well on the approach, and the contrast between the small remains and the open coastal setting. The chapel’s date is uncertain, so do not treat it as a securely dated sixth-century building.
The story
Saints & pilgrimage
Best time to go
Open all year during reasonable daylight hours; choose a clear, calm day for the coastal setting.
Visit in reasonable daylight, as specified by Cadw. A clear day makes the setting above St Non’s Bay easier to appreciate; avoid assuming the path will be dry or nonslip.
How long to spend
Under 1 hour
Perfect for
History lovers · Walkers · Photographers
Before you go
Address
Phone
Website
Listed hours
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
Check before visiting.
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
Cadw lists the chapel as open all year during reasonable daylight hours. The approach from the nearby car park is an uneven footpath with two kissing gates; take care in wet or slippery conditions.
Parking
Cadw reports a car park within 100 metres, with approximately eight spaces and no dedicated disabled spaces. Check conditions before travelling.
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Toilets
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Food & drink
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Dogs
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Accessibility
Cadw describes the terrain as easy, but access from the parking area is via an uneven footpath and two kissing gates. The car park has no dedicated disabled spaces; check current access arrangements if these are a concern.
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Cost
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Water
Sea
Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around St Non’s Chapel and Well
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
Source image7.1Coetan Arthur Burial Chamber
St David’s Head, near St Davids, Pembrokeshire, SA62 6PT
4.5 km away
Source image7.4Waun Mawn Standing Stones
Waun Mawn, near Crymych, Pembrokeshire, SA41 3TU
34.5 km away
