Following our Pre-Celtic Trail experiences in reaching Spittal and meeting up with the rest of the team, Celtic Trail Day 1 was the real start of the tour.

Leaving Spittal the weather forecast didn’t look too good, but at least when we started out it was fine.

We started by heading for Trefiton.

And we were soon climbing. This would be a theme for the day.

And then Little Newcastle.

The journey was about 12 miles and soon we were arriving at Fishguard.

Our route from Spittal to Fishguard can be viewed below:

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We stopped for a coffee break (and cake of course!) at the Jude’s cafe at the Ocean Lab.

And when we left the weather had now turned.

The Celtic Trail officially starts at the Ocean Lab, Fishguard. So it was time for the group photo first.

Leaving Fishguard it was straight up the first hill.

We headed for the Pembroke coast.

  

We cycled to Abercastle which brought the first of a number of steep hills down into coves followed by steep climbs out the other side of them.

So we were grateful when our wet and bedraggled team reached the lunch stop at Trefin.

This provided a hearty meal of crab sandwiches and chips.

Refreshed, we set off for St David’s.

We needed to reach the city to gather some supplies for our evening meal before the shops closed at 4pm. We made it with minutes to spare.

We were stopping at St David’s YHA which set in an idyllic spot at the bottom of Carn Llidi. We had cycled a further 24 miles. All-in-all this had been a challenging but enjoyable first day, if a little wet.

You can view our Celtic Trail Day 1 route from Fishguard to St David’s below:

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After all the rain during the day Carn Lidl was covered in mist. Nonetheless, after our evening meal we decided to take a walk up the side of the hill.

Eventually we returned and relaxed by looking out over the Pembroke skyline. It was a great way to finish the day.