Location: Pembrokeshire, St Petrox Campsite
Dates: 22nd – 25th August 2025
Participants: Sarah, Chris, Ali, Martin, Oli, Anna, Robin (and Sandy)

Overview

The bank holiday weekend meet at St Petrox Campsite in Pembrokeshire proved to be a fantastic blend of climbing challenges, stunning scenery, and great cake. With seven human members in attendance—Sarah, Chris, Ali, Martin, Oli, Anna and Robin, and one of the four-legged variety – Sandy —the group made the most of the August weather and the beautiful crags, cliffs and beaches of Pembrokeshire.

Ali and Martin were first to arrive and claim the pitching area about 4pm, with Robin (and Sandy) last to arrive in the darkness. As ever, St Petrox proved to be an idyllic base, with swallows and bats swooping over the campsite and gorgeous sunsets every evening. With lovely weather persisting the whole weekend, the team eschewed the usual pub dinner for campsite cooking every night as it was just so darn lovely.

Saturday

Ali and Martin launched full power into the weekend with a 13km run from the campsite, along the undulating lanes, down towards the coast, popping out at Bosherton. They ran up along the lily ponds and through the walled garden, pausing to get slightly lost trying to find the exit and then to wave at the climbers as they drove by on their way to St Govans.

Meanwhile Sarah, Robin and Sandy headed in a similar direction but at a more leisurely pace. Parking at Broad Haven South, they walked up through the lily ponds, taking in the walled garden and crossing 8 arch bridge towards Stackpole Quay, with it’s delightful National Trust cafe. Here they were reunited with Martin and Ali for a tasty lunch, unfortunately joined by many waspy friends who wanted in on the cake action. 

Robin declared himself the wrong demographic for the walled garden, having overheard a debate regarding the nativeness or not of Fuchias (side note – they’re from South Africa).

After lunch all 4, plus Sandy, continued the walk from Stackpole Quay along the stunning cliffs back to Broad Haven South Bay. Sarah took the opportunity for a dip, and Robin launched his SUP for an exploration of the bay, with his not 100% willing companion Sandy. Martin and Ali had to push on, back through the lily ponds and over 8 arch bridge, back to their car at Stackpole. At least this was at a more leisurely pace and included a sustenance stop at the walled garden cafe (with many more wasps to be dodged). 

Meanwhile, the climbers; Anna, Oli and Chris headed for Stennis Head to climb as a 3. After parking at St Govans and Anna lugging the abseil rope all the way, the only people to make use of it were the North London Mountaineering Club NLMC, who had clearly come ill prepared (jokes!), well done Anna for your selfless act. Once down on the non-tidal platform the climbing commenced, with leads shared between the group. Chris lead Hercules (HVS) and Limbo (VS), Anna lead Manzoku (E1) and WW3 Blues (HVS/E1), and Oli lead the E1 Cool for Cats, which prompted a serenade back at base camp that evening.

Sunday

Anna, Oli and Chris formed a team of 3 again, to take on some more challenging climbs, this time at St Govans Head. Leads were shared out amongst the team again, with Chris leading Army Dreamers (HVS) and Tactician, Anna taking on Front Line (HVS), and Oli leading The Arrow (E1).

Ali and Martin also drove to St Govans, and took the rope and rack for a walk to Saddle Head. After a bit of umming and ahhing they found the down climb along and around the ridge, had some lunch, took in the view, watched some climbers doing hard stuff further along the cliffs and consulted the book again. They scrambled down to the ledge and gazed at the routes, chatted to some folks on one of the VDiffs who said it was very nice… Ali decided she really didn’t fancy leading anything that day, no matter how friendly. So scrambled back out, returned to the car park and bought an ice lolly. They then drove across the military zone to Freshwater West where the waves were just large enough to provide a thrill, grabbed the body boards and took to the water, catching a good few waves, before chilling out on the sands with a book. 

Robin opted for a run around the wild and rugged Angle peninsula, where the wild choughs roam, and the gradient is steep up, or steep down, but little on the level. Sarah cadged a lift, and set off for a walk along the same bit of coast, at a pace allowing appreciation of the bird life. They reunited later in the day, and made their way to refreshments at St Govans Inn. 

Monday

The climbing crew swelled to 5 on the final day, with Ali and Martin joining the gang. It was back to St Govans car park again, and this time a longer walk in, to Crickmail point (passing Robin, who was out for a run in the opposite direction!). Again the abseil rope was carried by Anna, and again not deployed. At least there were a few more people to share the load this time. Chris took on the task of leading both Ali and Martin up the cliff, but launched in with an ambitious HVS. Unfortunately this proved too steep a ‘warm up’ for both Ali and Martin, so Chris put his abseil skills to use retrieving his gear, before moving on to a friendly VS ‘Catch’ in the corner. Meanwhile Oli and Anna took turns on lead, Anna leading the classic ‘Aero’ (VS), and Oli a pumpy E1, ‘B-Team Buttress’. Ice lollies were enjoyed by all at return to the car park.

Sarah meanwhile spent a much more relaxing day enjoying the walled garden back at the Stackpole Estate, including the accommodating, if still somewhat wasp-riddled, cafe and lawn. 

And that marked the end for most, and a drive back home…

Ali and Martin squeezed one more day onto the holiday, adding an evening dip at the tiny bay of New Quay, next to St Govans Head. Then, in the footsteps of Robin, a walk around the Angle peninsula, on a day of lively waves (sometimes nearly the height of the cliffs!), and lively choughs (a sound never mistaken), soaring with their red legs and beaks over the cliffs and zawns of Pembrokeshire.