If this isn’t a hidden place to visit in Pembrokeshire, Wales then I do not know what is! St Govan’s Chapel is in the corner of Pembrokeshire near Bosherston and the Bosherston Lilly Ponds! It is a hidden Chapel in the rockface which used to be a tiny hermits cell!
It’s well worth visiting St Govan’s to walk down to the chapel, take in the views from the cove below and walk along St Govan’s Head which is the impressive cliff above.
St Govan’s Chapel
This is one of my favourite places in Pembrokeshire (and I’ve seen quite bit of Pembrokeshire!) so in this Wales blog post I’m going to tell you how to get to St Govan’s chapel and a few things to do around it!
About Govan’s Chapel
First off, it’s really interesting to know the history of the Chapel, but be warned that the story is a bit of a mystery and changes depending on which story you read!
It’s said that in the 5th or 6th Century there was a saint called St Govan who lived in Pembrokeshire, however some other stories say he was a thief!
One day he was attacked by Irish Pirates but he managed to escape by hiding in a tiny cove between rocks. Did he find this place through magic or not? That’s for you to decide!
Either way, he remained here in this cliff and it became an important site of worship.
How to get to St Govan’s Chapel
St Govan’s Chapel is hidden but it’s actually very close to many popular places in Pembrokeshire like Barafundle Bay, Bosherston Lilly Ponds and Broad Haven South Beach!
To get to St Govans Chapel, head towards Bosherston and keep driving through the village. If you put Saint Govan’s Chapel into your Google Maps and follow the directions the end of the road will bring you to the St Govan’s car park which is very handy and is only minutes away from the Chapel and St Govan’s Head.
St Govan’s Chapel Parking
There is quite a big sized car park at the end of the road and right on the edge of the cliff which makes it really easy to visit both St Govan’s Chapel and St Govan’s Head.
Car parking is free as there is not a pay and display machine at this car park (which is quite unusual for Pembrokeshire to be honest), however, there was an ice-cream van there which took cash only so cash might be needed!
- Here are more of my Pembrokeshire posts to help you see the best of the area:
- How to See Stack Rock Fort in Pembrokeshire From the Viewpoint!
- 12 Unique Places To Go Glamping in Pembrokeshire, Wales!
- How to Walk from Tenby to Saundersfoot!
- 13 Top Things To Do in Saundersfoot & Near Saundersfoot!
- How To Visit the Bosherston Lilly Ponds in Pembrokeshire!
Walking to St Govan’s Chapel
The Chapel is incredibly easy to find but it’s still so magical to see! There is a short footpath from the car park to the edge of the cliff and from here you will see the steps down to the Chapel.
Apparently it’s said that if you count the steps on the way up and on the way down you’ll never get the same number!
The view from the top of the cliff and as you walk down the stairs with the ocean in the background is truly amazing and it’s hard to believe that this place is really here! It does feel magical!
The steps lead you into the Chapel and then down to the beautiful cove below which is a great place to sit and enjoy the view from but also a great place to play within the rocks!
St Govan’s Head
After visiting St Govan’s Chapel I really recommend walking along the cliff-top to St Govan’s Head which is only about a 10-minute walk and makes up part of the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path.
From here there are incredible ocean views and views over to the other side of the coast and once you are at the Cliff head you can look back and see if you can spot the Chapel within the rocks, it’s pretty hard to spot!
Things to do near St Govan’s
After this you can continue walking in either direction along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, if you want a good walk you could walk to Barafundle Bay and back from here, or you could head back to Bosherston and stop at the pretty Bosherston Lilly Ponds, or a beach like Broad Haven South!