The Shell Guide to Britain

The Sailor's Safety enjoys an enchanting location just yards from the beach at Pwllgwaelod in north Pembrokeshire and is popular with families, fishermen and snails alike.


I guess you have to be a certain age to catch my reference to a once-popular, mid-20th century, series of guidebooks aimed at people with cars and sponsored by, of course, the Shell petrol company. Absolutely nothing to do with molluscs although many motorists must have fretted at the snail's pace  required of rural lanes such as the one leading down to the local hostelry where we dined with Waipushrink and his wife two weeks ago. Like them, these Vineyard Snails are not native to our Atlantic shores but come from Southern Europe.  They have subsequelty 'invaded' North America and Australia where they are considered a serious agricultural pest. Owing to their habit of aestivation by climbing stalks (and other objects)  presumably to avoid heat and to escape from ground-living predators, they get caught up in harvesting machinery and  spoil the crops. It's been suggested they were accidentally introduced to Britain by the Romans but, since they are eaten as tapas in Southern Spain, it wouldn't be surprising if the Romans also enjoyed them cooked with olive oil and garlic. Maybe the pub here should follow suit. Snails are everywhere around the beach.