St Govan's Chapel
St Govan's Head, Pembrokeshire, SA71 5
Category: Places to visit, Pembrokeshire
Perched precariously on the cliff at St Govan’s Head, the tiny 13th-century St Govan’s Chapel is a spectacular sight. Huddled among the rocks, almost at sea level, it’s only accessible by climbing down 52 steps. It was built on the site of a holy well that once attracted pilgrims. Inside the sandy-floored chapel is a simple stone altar and a small cell hewn from the rock which contains a fissure. Legend has it that this first opened to hide St Govan when he was being pursued by hoodlums. It’s said that if you make a wish while standing in the fissure it will come true, provided you don’t change your mind before you turn around. Outside the chapel there is a large rock boulder known as the Bell Rock. The legend is that St Govan was given a silver bell which was stolen by pirates from its bell tower. St Govan prayed for its return and angels retrieved it and placed it inside a rock where it would be safe. St Govan used to tap the rock which gave a note a thousand times stronger than the note of the original bell.