Gower

Three Cliffs Bay, Gower

The Gower peninsula is known and loved by many the world over. Stunningly beautiful and only 16 miles by 7 miles.

Spend even a few hours on Gower, and you’ll quickly understand why it was designated as the UK’s first ever Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1956 and why travel writers, celebrities and devoted visitors, cannot praise it highly enough. Gower is probably most famous for its jaw dropping bays, beaches and coastline. It’s certainly these that get the most column inches in the media (for all the right reasons!) and ‘Three Cliffs Bay’ is reputedly one of the most photographed views in Europe!

With over 50 named beaches, bays and coves, the choices are as naturally beautiful as they are diverse. Golden, sandy beaches such as Rhossili, Llangennith, Oxwich and Whiteford mean you can walk to your heart’s content or just relax and enjoy the magnificent views.

Natural beauty aside, there’s usually something else to watch too - Llangennith is recognised as one of the UK’s premier surf beaches due to the consistency of its surf – perhaps helped by the area having one of the highest tidal ranges in the world. These long, open beaches are also much loved by kite surfers, the somewhat less energetic kite fliers, and in the case of Three Cliffs, rock climbers – all fascinating spectator sports!

Oxwich Bay, Gower

Langland Bay, Gower

There are also numerous smaller, but no less beautiful, beaches; two of the most popular are Caswell and Langland. The latter still boasts its iconic beach huts, has its own tennis courts and is great for rock pooling! Caswell, meanwhile, is often used by those learning how to surf and is another family favourite. Both are easily accessible from the city centre.

Or head to one of the intimate tiny coves such as Pwll Du, Mewslade or Overton – they might be a bit further off the beaten track but they are certainly worth the effort!

Gower is not just about beaches and the varied landscape is key to Gower’s universal appeal. Grassy sand dunes and dramatic cliff top paths border much of the coastline, along with woodlands and glades – full of bluebells, rabbits, wild garlic, pine cones and birdsong! A walkers’ paradise, Gower has nearly 400 miles’ worth of rights of way, offering the chance to be at one with nature. There are dedicated reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest with as diverse a range of habitats as you'll find anywhere in the UK.

Rhossili Bay and Worm's Head

Inland, the scenery is made up of large swathes of common land and moorlands, including the dramatic Cefn Bryn; home to King Arthur’s Stone, as well as a plethora of farm and wild animals! North Gower, meanwhile, is famous for its salt marshes and their culinary bounty of samphire and Gower Salt Marsh lamb. The sea surrounding Gower provides sewin, sea bass and cockles, all equally noted for their quality and much used in local restaurant and home cooking.

In fact food is something which is never far away in Gower….there are tea rooms and cafes at many of the most popular beaches, a sprinkling of the ubiquitous fish and chip shops, traditional country pubs, boutique style hotels and fine dining restaurants, rated in the good food guide...all very good reasons to stop for a drink or a bit to eat!

Mountain Biking, Gower, Grant Hughes-Dowdle

For history lovers, Gower provides a wonderful, often mythical, backdrop to explore with castles, ancient sites, churches, shipwrecks and standing stones. The Paviland caves are the earliest scientifically excavated caves in Britain, and were home to ‘The Red Lady of Paviland’ skeleton - the oldest dated modern human remains in the UK. In a surprise turn of events, The Red lady was recently revealed to be a man who lived some 26,000 years ago! Further around the coast, the salt-stripped remains of the ill-fated vessel, ‘The Helvetia;’ can still be seen at Rhossili. Gower’s past is often richly interwoven with folk tales and legends – stories of smugglers, royalty and blood thirsty warrior chieftains abound at Brandy Cove, King Arthur’s Stone and Pennard Castle!

There are opportunities to get active at every turn too – from a laid back stroll or cycle ride along country lanes, to adrenaline charged hangliding over Rhossili, light aircraft flying at Fairwood, a spot of archery, or a round of golf. Not forgetting the more usual seaside pleasures of swimming, body-boarding, surfing, fishing, sailing, diving, windsurfing or just paddling!

So whether you want to get active, chill out, explore the past, indulge in fine food, or simply find a quiet spot and drink in the glorious views and surroundings, Gower really is the place where you can have it all.

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