BEAUTY SPOTS

There are many beauty spots around Gower. Footpaths lead around most of the coast, to deserted beaches, pretty villages and nature reserves. The following is a selection:

Burry Holms, Llangennith: an island which can be accessed at low tide. There are signs of Iron Age dwellers, who hacked a ditch that cuts the island into two. Then the Vikings used it as a base. There was a small religious settlement here in the 12^th century. Today its 15 acres is home for thousands of sea birds. It is very good for rock fishing. If you do visit, make sure you plan properly and get back to the mainland (across the sandy gulley about 100 yards wide) before the tide arrives. If water is running through the gulley, do not attempt to cross.

10 minutes drive. Proceed through Llangennith and at roundabout go straight on to Broughton. Park and walk across dunes. Alternatively, turn right at roundabout and go to Hillend Car park. Walk onto beach, turn right and walk our to Burry Holms.

Cefn Bryn, Reynoldston: A bracken clad ridge, which is the backbone of the Gower, rising to 600 feet. On the ridge you can marvel at ArthurBronze Age burial chamber. There ’s Stone, a 25 ton capstone on a are fine views north towards the estuary and south over the rolling farmland of south Gower, Oxwich Bay, and in the distance, the North Devon coast.

At the foot of the ridge is Broad Pool, formed during the Ice Age, and now a nature reserve.

Llanmadoc Hill: Literally, on your doorstep! Look out of the front door and you will see it. A mile long ridge with a 600 foot summit, and major Iron Age earthworks. Spectacular views from the top over Weobley Castle and Llanrhidian Marshes.

Llanrhidian: The village of Llanrhidian is on a steep slope overlooking the vast green salt marshes, with the tidal sandbanks beyond, where cockles have been traditionally harvested for generations.

The tidal mud has been stabilised by salt hardy plants, and now provides grazing for sheep and ponies. Thousands of starling come to the marshes every day to feed, and there are lots of other birds feeding there – curlew, snipe, oystercatchers, geese, plover, teal, duck. Be wary of incoming tides and always keep on the paths – the area was a military firing range and loose shells are still found

Oxwich Bay: There are 2 main nature trails through the dunes and woodland. From Oxwich Point there are good views over the long sandy beach, which sweeps in a great crescent to Pwlldu Head on the opposite side of the bay.

Park Woods, Penmaen: Access is by foot only, along a Forestry Commission road. The road follows the path of the river that carved out the valley originally, but has now disappeared underground into the limestone beneath. Here also is Giant’s Cave, a 70 foot long prehistoric burial chamber. 4,500 year old skeletons were found here when the grave was first opened in 1869.

Pwlldu Bay: Pwlldu Head, at 320 feet high, is the highest point on the Gower Coast, which stands guard over many wrecks, including a naval ship in 1760 which was wrecked on these rocks, with 70 deaths. There are views across the Bristol Channel to Somerset and Devon.

The bay can only be accessed by foot. There are 2 whitewashed cottages, and a shingle beach, with sand at low tide.

Rhossili: A 250 foot cliff on the western tip of Gower, which drops down to a surf beach below. The bones of one of the many wrecks can be seen at low tide – it is the Helvetia, a coaster wrecked in 1887.

Rhossili Down rises to 600 feet above the village. There is a bracing walk up to the top, with fine views from the top. Watch the hang gliders.

Three Cliffs Bay, Penmaen: Named after 3 triangular crags of limestone at its eastern end, Three Cliffs Bay is a lovely sandy Bay, surrounded by a natural amphitheatre of heather and bracken slopes.

There are traces of Iron Age Man, and of a Norman Castle. Half a mile inland are the ruins of Pennard Castle.

Whitford Burrows: One of Gower’s largest beaches, backed by a desert of sand dunes, which is reachable only on foot. See under National Trust Land.

The strong tides along this part of the coast have led to many wrecks in the past. Amazingly, 16 ships were wrecked in one night in 1868, due to a heavy onshore swell.

Worms Head, Rhossili: see under Places to Visit. Worms Head is about a mile long and a few hundred yards wide. The promontory is joined to the mainland by a causeway, only walkable 2 hours either side of high tide – get back to the mainland in time, or you will be marooned for hours on Worms Head.