Gower Peninsula on Wales Coast Path: Part 3
near Swansea, Wales (United Kingdom)
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Trail photos
Itinerary description
Walking around the Gower peninsula is one of the best parts of the Wales Coast Path especially in sunny weather. Starting from Swansea the first section to Mumbles Head is along a tarmac promenade, the long sandy beach of Swansea Bay on one side, and apartments, houses, parkland, cafes and restaurants on the other. After that a stretch of cliffs, coves, beaches and sand dunes follow until you reach Rhossili. Secluded Three Cliffs Bay with nearby Pennard Castle, Oxwich and its sand dunes and Port Eynon are the major beaches, although there are many others. From Rhossili north to Whiteford Point, it almost all long sandy beaches, most with sand dunes behind. In a dramatic change of landscape, the Coast Path then follows the edge of extensive salt marshes of grass cropped close by sheep and apparently wild horses, and clumps of yellowing reeds cut by tidal channels.
I have walked this route in three days from Swansea to Gowerton Railway Stations on a couple of occasions, but a little longer would allow more leisurely enjoyment. Surfaces include: paved paths; quiet road; footpaths, very muddy at times; sandy beaches, and dunes. Tides affects the trail in places and this gpx track includes the high tide diversions at Three Cliffs Bay and Llanmadoc. There is accommodation in B&Bs and pubs (the Kings Head at Llangennith is recommended), also camp sites although I have also discretely wild camped in dunes.
The previous section of the Wales Coast Path can be found at https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/cardiff-to-swansea-wales-coast-path-part-2-65564950 .The next section of coast path can be found on https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/carmarthenshire-on-the-wales-coast-path-part-4-69925290 .
Waypoints
Blue Pool Bay
The bay is famous for its deep rock pool (which is supposed to look blue). However as a secluded beach, away from the tourists crowds, it is attractive in its own right. Not much sand remains at high tide.
Caswell Bay
A childhood favourite, a sandy beach enclosed by cliffs, with some takeaways to provide sustenance.
Diversion due to broken bridge
A footbridge has been down for some time, the diversion starts here.
End of high tide detour
Gowerton Train station
On the main South Wales train line, this marks a convenient point to start or finish walking the Gower peninsula and a section of the Wales Coast Path.
Guildhall
The Guildhall was built in the 1930's with clean, white, modern lines. A brief architectural diversion off the coast path.
Langland Bay
One of the many popular beaches on the Gower, this one notable for its beach huts.
Coast Guard Lookout for Worms Head
This is a Coast Guard Station at the start of the path to the rocks and islands of Worms Head. A sign indicates the times between which you can walk to Worms Head when it is not cut off by the tides. Worms Head is the western most point of the Gower.
Oxwich Bay
Oxwich is a long curving bay of sand and shells backed by marram grass covered dunes.
Pennard Castle
Ruins of a Norman castle dating from the 12th century, located at a prominent stop looking down on a valley.
Port Eynon
The small village and large caravan park of Port Eynon is at the edge of the large Port Eynon Bay. Here, as on other beaches on the Gower, there are the remains of an ancient forest under the sand, left from a time of lower sea level.
Rhossili village
At the village there is a National Trust visitors centre, car park, toilets, cafes and restaurants.
Shepherds Shop
Handy shop, close to Glamorgan Heritage centre and on the high tide route around Three Cliffs Bay
Shop at Crofty
Handy place to pick up some lunch
Start of low tide route
This gpx track follows the high tide route, at low tide the alternative starts here and saves 1.75 kilometres of walking.
Swansea Castle
Ruins of a castle in the middle of Swansea started in 1290 to defend against the Welsh.
Swansea Marina
The old docks have been redeveloped and now include a museum of industry, cafes and a marina.
Swansea Train Station
Convenient starting or finishing point for walking a section of the Wales Coast Path with fast trains to Cardiff and London.
Three Cliffs Bay
A beautiful Bay enclosed by cliffs and dunes, and more special as it is a little walk from the car park at Southgate, deterring the crowds.
Three Cliffs Coffee Shop
Cafe, shop and car park
Whiteford Sands
Long length of sand that extend northwards along a sandy peninsula of dunes and pine trees at the end of the Gower.
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