3 Places You Must Visit in the South Gower Peninsula

Are you heading to South Wales? Then make sure you explore its most beautiful area, the Gower Peninsula.

The Gower has countless gems to explore but let me show you the 3 places you must visit, namely: Rhossili Bay, Three Cliffs Bay and The Mumbles.

About the Gower Peninsula

The 70-square mile peninsula was actually the first in the UK to become an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. If you’ve never heard of this designation before, it means that the area is both beautiful and important. Therefore, efforts are being made to conserve and enhance its beauty. 

The Gower is definitely famous for its sandy beaches, coastlines and caves. As such, it’s very popular amongst adventure seekers such as walkers, hikers, and surfers. 

Unless you’re planning on camping around the peninsula you can base yourself in Swansea. The city is located only a short drive from the Gower and actually has excellent public transport connections to the Mumbles, Rhossili Bay and Three Cliffs Bay. 

3 places you must see in the Gower

1. Rhossili Bay and the Worm’s Head

Rhossili Bay encompasses a 3-mile sandy beach – with an actual shipwreck on it – surrounded by dunes and sheer cliffs. It also has a tidal island called the Worm’s Head. These are just some of the reasons it is considered the best beach in Britain. I first visited it back in 2013 and I instantly fell in love with the place. 

How to get there?

If you’re based in Swansea, then you can take Bus 118 from the bus station all the way to Rhossili Bay. The bus runs every hour throughout the day and takes about an hour. (Further information on bus routes and ticket prices can be found here).

If you arrive by private vehicle, then there’s a car park where you can park for £6 for the whole day. It’s a National Trust car park which means if you’re a member you can park there for free. If you want a spot, then I suggest arriving early in the morning. 

If you don’t have your own car but would like to enjoy the freedom of a private vehicle, then you can always hire a car to get to Rhossili Bay.

Facilities -There are toilet facilities next to the car park. A café is also in operation and there are places to eat or shop in the village of Rhossili if you’d like to support the locals.

Rhossili Bay Beach

If you’re still unconvinced as to why you should visit Rhossili Bay, then maybe the following facts will change your mind:

• The beach was voted Wales’s Best Beach in 2017. (Okay, I know what you think. It’s within the country so not that hard to achieve this title…)
• It is also on the UK’s Top 10 Beaches list and has been awarded Britain’s Best Beach by TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice. (Sound more appealing? Just wait until you read the next couple of facts…)
• Rhossili Bay Beach is considered one of the best beaches in Europe by Suitcase Magazine. (Hang on a minute! A Welsh beach is one of the best ones in Europe? I know…and I have an even more shocking fact…)
• In 2017 it landed on Suitcase’s list of best 10 beaches in the WORLD! (Yes, I know it’s unbelievable, but I’m sure you want to check it out for yourself now!).

And there are many more awards the beach has received over the years such as the most dog friendly beach in the UK and the most photographed sunset. The list goes on… 

The actual walk down to the beach is rather steep but will totally be worth your efforts. During low tide the beach goes on forever and you’ll be able to see the Helvetia shipwreck. This Norwegian barque is definitely an awesome feature of the beach so make sure you come down during low tide.

The beach is a very popular spot for surfers, so you’ll see plenty of them. If you’d like to get some steps in, then you can walk across the bay to Llangennith Beach. 

The Worm’s Head

Rhossili Bay probably wouldn’t be the same without its best feature: the Worm’s Head. The small tidal island is also the westernmost point of the Gower Peninsula. If you’re adventurous, during low tide you can actually walk out to it! If you’re planning on doing that you need to time the tides well. Otherwise, you’re stuck on it until rescue teams can come and get you. At the Sea Watch Centre, the safe crossing times are advertised every day. Make sure you report your intention of crossing in case you miscalculate the tide times.

Top Tip – If you’re visiting Rhossili Bay during the summer make sure you check out the amazing sunflower fields.

Did you know? – Rhossili Bay was actually featured in an episode (New Earth) of Doctor Who. In addition, the iconic black horse in Llyods Bank’s TV commercial was filmed galloping along Rhossili Bay. 

2. Three Cliffs Bay

Another one of my favourite beaches in the Gower is Three Cliffs Bay. It goes without saying that the bay is named after the three massive limestone cliffs standing guard in the bay. Another unique feature of the bay is Pennard Pill stream meandering through the beach into the sea. The combination of the snaking stream and the 20 m cliffs in the background is definitely a recipe for some amazing Instagram photos. 

Therefore, I don’t think it will be a surprise to you when I say that it’s also one of the UK’s top 10 beaches. So definitely bring a picnic with you and take your time enjoying this spectacular view. 

The cliffs are very popular amongst rock climbers so if you love climbing it’s a beautiful place to do so. The beach is dog friendly, and you can even walk along it on horseback if you wish. 

Did you know? – There are actually ruins of a 12th Century castle (one of more than 600 in Wales) on the top of the hill visible from the bay. It is a Grade II listed building and also considered a scheduled ancient monument. Therefore, make sure you pay a visit to the ruins too when you arrive at Three Cliffs Bay.

How to get there?

Again, if you’re based in Swansea then you can take Bus 118 from the bus station and get off at St John the Baptist`s stop. The bus runs every hour throughout the day and takes about half an hour. (Make sure you leave enough time to walk back from the beach, as the walk can take a good 20 minutes or more uphill!)

If you arrive by private vehicle, then there are a few options for parking. You can park just past the St John the Baptist Penmaen church (SA3 2HE), at Penmaen Car Park (SA3 2HH) or at Three Cliffs Bay car park (SA3 2EH).

3. The Mumbles

Last, but by no means least, if you’re exploring the Gower you have to stop by the Mumbles. This fishing village is actually the gateway to the Gower and has been a popular tourist destination since the Victorian era. 

You can arrive by car and just park at one of the many designated car parks along the main road. If you’re feeling like getting some steps in, you can actually walk all the way from Swansea. (Be warned that it will take a good hour and a half to reach the Mumbles, but the view of Swansea Bay is pretty amazing along the way). Alternatively, you can of course cycle or just take the bus. 

There’s plenty to do in the Mumbles. You can visit Oystermouth Castle which was built in the 12th Century and offers some amazing views of the area. Make sure you walk along the 255 m long Mumbles Pier, opened in 1898. It acted as a terminus for the Swansea and Mumbles Railway which was the first passenger carrying railway in the world. 

Another well photographed landmark is the Lighthouse, which was built in 1794, so make sure you snap one yourself. If it’s a lovely day you can also soak in the sunshine on a small sandy beach located just next to the entrance to the Pier. After visiting the main attractions, make sure you pay a visit to the local shops, bars and restaurants.

Did you know? – This lively place was actually listed as the best place to live in Wales by The Sunday Times. 

Top Tip – Would you like a taste of THE BEST ice cream in the world? Then jump into the mile long queue in front of Joe’s Ice Cream Parlour and have a scoop (or two or three) of its world-famous vanilla ice cream. I swear this was the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted. Don’t believe me? There’s only one way to find out isn’t there?

Additional Things to do in South Wales

If you’re visiting South Wales, then you’re probably planning on spending some time in Brecon Beacons National Park. 

If so, then make sure you read the blog posts I prepared on the Four Waterfalls Walk Trail, Henrhyd Falls Trail and the Pen Y Fan Horseshoe Trail. 

Have you ever been to the Gower Peninsula before? How much of the area did you manage to explore? What was your favourite thing to do? Let me know in the comments below.