The Gower peninsular is a place of wonder west of Swansea (map). It has a bit of everything - country pubs, picturesque cottages, brilliant scenery, lots of sheep and some of the best beaches in South Wales. The following is a short guide to some of those beaches. Many thanks to Suzanne Martin who lives in the Gower for the local perspective:(Sorry about the lack of piccies, more to follow soon.....)
Bracelet Bay
Small sandy beach near Mumbles pier and lighthouse. Good for rockpools. Plenty of parking but can get busy. Toilets and cafe/restaurant nearby. Drive to Mumbles and follow the road to the end of the village with the sea on your left. Follow the road round and the beach will come into view. (map)
Langland
Large sandy/rocky beach with easy access, toilets and ice-creams. Famous for its bathing huts. Busy in summer. Drive to Mumbles and turn right at the White Rose pub. Up the hill, left at the top and follow the signs for a further half a mile. (map)
Caswell
Attractive, large beach but quite small when tide in. Easy parking (but not large car park so get there early in summer). Several seaside shops selling ice cream, chips and drinks, buckets, spades and other beach paraphernalia. Good rock pools! Very popular. Follow the signs from Mumbles. (map)
Foxhole
Small beach with no facilities but worth the scramble down to get there. Sand and rock pools, often deserted. Head towards Mumbles from Swansea City Centre. Turn right at Blackpill (Woodman pub on your right) and follow the road for approx 5 miles towards the village of Southgate. Park at the roundabout at the end of Southgate and follow the little gravel path down to the beach. (map)
Pobbles
Drive towards Southgate as described above. Park near Pennard golf club (you can't miss it on your right). Follow the path just to the left of the golf clubhouse, down through the valley. Large, extremely beautiful sandy beach which joins onto Three Cliffs beach. No facilities. Popular with locals but never crowded. Watch the rock climbers! (map)
Three Cliffs
Either walk from Pobbles or park at Penmaen - follow signs to Oxwich and South Gower from Pennard. Keep following road through village of Parkmill and up the hill on the other side. Park near Penmaen church on your right. Cross the road and follow farm track. Take next right down lane past some houses. The track goes right down to the beach. Stepping stones cross the river onto the beach. No facilities. Can also walk up the valley and visit Pennard Castle half way up. If you walk right up the valley you arrive back at Parkmill. (map)
Torbay
Pass through Penmaen (described above) and park at the next (small) car park on your left. Go through farm gate and walk across the cliffs and down onto this small but beautiful sandy beach. (Takes about 15 mins from car park) Again, no facilities. (map)
Oxwich
Large popular sandy beach with many facilites. Follow the signs for South Gower (map)
Port Eynon/ Horton
Popular beaches with sand/rock pools backed by sand dunes. Can be windy so good for wind surfing. Plenty of car parking with easy access. (map)
Rhossili
Huge sandy beach popular with surfers and hang gliders due to the large, dramatic cliffs. Lots of long cliff walks including one to Worms Head when the tide is out. Path down to the beach but quite steep for little children on the way back. Interesting shipwreck on the beach. Car parking, but not cheap. Can park in the small church car park on right as approaching the village, donations welcome. Good facilities, toilets, tea rooms and National Trust shop. (map)
