Gower Peninsula

Penclawdd to Llanmadoc

The walk begins in the former industrial village of Pen-clawdd, which in the seventeenth century was a fairly significant port, exporting among other things coal and copper, often on locally built ships. By late nineteenth century this had changed as a shift in the River Loughor’s main channel meant the village was only accessible by smaller boats. The newly arrived railway took on the task of exporting goods.

The route heads quickly to the village of Crofty before opening to a rural landscape and you’re introduced to Gower’s designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Field paths and marshland lead the way to Llanmadoc with the vast Llanrhidian Marsh permanently by your side. The village of Llanridian itself is pretty and is home to several historic buildings. An ideal location for a mid-way break. A slight detour would lead to Weobley Castle, a fortified manor house with magnificent views over the salt marsh. Llanrhidian Marsh gives way to Landimore Marsh and you pass beneath the impressive rocky outcrop of North Hill Tor before crossing Burry Pill with the help of huge stepping stones and onto Llanmadoc. It’s worth noting that at high water, the stepping stones are covered and a 1¼ mile/2 km diversion is required.

Llanmadoc to Rhossili

Llanmadoc takes its name from St Madoc, a sixth century saint, possibly of Irish origin and a pupil of St David and St Cenydd. The village’s church, dedicated to Madoc, dates back to the thirteenth century and is the smallest in Gower.

The walk to Rhossili combines cliffs, marshland, woodland and undoubtedly some of Gower’s finest beaches, including of course, Rhossili Bay. First up is Whiteford Burrows leading to Whiteford Point, the site of the now disused cast iron lighthouse. The lighthouse, built in 1865 is safer viewed from a distance as rapid incoming tides can quickly surround you. The Point is a 3,000 acre National Nature Reserve comprising dunes, beach, salt marsh and woodland. In spring and early summer rare butterflies and wildflowers colour the dunes. Whiteford Sands stretch round to Broughton Bay and the small tidal island of Burry Holms.

If the tide permits, consider crossing the short causeway onto Burry Holms to view the remains of the small medieval hermitage dedicated to St Cenydd. It’s thought that Burry Holms may once have been a base for Viking raiders. It’s also believed to have been the site of an Iron Age fort and earlier still a seasonal camp for Mesolithic hunters. Well worth a visit.

Three unbroken miles of golden sandy beach now sweep round to the small village of Rhossili on the southwestern tip of the Peninsula. Rhossili Bay is one of the most spectacular beaches in Britain. Above the bay is Rhossili Down. The walk along the crest of the ridge is considered one of the finest on the peninsula, particularly in late summer when the colour of the heather is at its most striking.

Rhossili to Oxwich

At Rhossili, all eyes are drawn to Worms Head. The iconic tidal headland, a nature reserve, is connected to the mainland by a rocky causeway for two and half hours at low tide. The end is two kilometers away and involves a little scrambling which some may find difficult. The going can be slow, therefor anyone set on reaching the end will need to be mindful of the time. Worms Head is not part of the Wales Coast Path.

Sticking with the path, this section of the Gower Peninsula serves up some of the most stunning coastal walking the country has to offer. Grassy clifftops interspersed with dramatic narrow valleys lead to Port Eynon. Beyond Port Eynon Bay the path passes beneath low lying limestone cliffs to Oxwich Point. It’s here you reach Oxwich National Nature Reserve and head into Oxwich Wood, a long strip of coastal woodland, emerging eventually to the sandy surf washed beach that is Oxwich Bay.

Oxwich to Mumbles

Oxwich Bay, as with Rhossili Bay and Broughton Bay before it, is a sweeping expanse of golden sand, backed with dunes and punctuated with a rocky outcrop. Great Tor is an immense and imposing rock face of limestone dividing the Oxwich Bay from Three Cliffs Bay at high tide.

Above Three Cliffs Bay stands Pennard Burrows and upon it, the ruins of Pennard Castle. The views over the bay from here are often cited as being among the best in the country.

From here grassy tops above dramatic limestone cliffs lead all the way to the surfing beach of Caswell Bay.

It’s onto the headlands again before one last opportunity to build a sandcastle at Langland Bay ahead of your final push onto Mumbles Head and your stroll into town marking the end of your Gower Peninsula adventure.

Easy to Moderate

This is a coastal walk, not technically difficult, and if walked at a comfortable pace, can be completed by people with limited walking experience. There are ascents and descents between the sandy bays and grassy limestone clifftops. Exploring the rocky promontories is optional.

Terrain: A coastal path mainly through farmland and over grassy cliff tops, with stretches along sandy beaches and short sections on quiet roads.

What’s it like underfoot? Generally good paths and tracks, although a few sections can get muddy after heavy rain.

How Much Up & Down? There are occasional ascents and descents to and from sea level.

Signposting: The Wales Coast Path is clearly signed and waymarked with its own distinctive logo.

Navigation: Pretty straightforward. In addition to the official guide, the Wales Coastal Path is marked on the Ordnance Survey map.

Good accommodation and friendly hosts are an essential part of any holiday. We understand this and go out of our way to find the best. We put a great deal of effort into hand picking our accommodation and matching it to individual customer requirements. As well as visiting the accommodation ourselves, we ask all our customers to complete a short evaluation on each night’s accommodation, which then gives us an insight into the day-to-day operation and lets us spot any potential issues before they become a problem.

We use a variety of accommodation. Over the course of your trip you might stay in a village inn, a bed and breakfast in a converted barn, a Victorian guest house, or on a working farm. In selecting the accommodation we look for helpful, friendly hosts with good quality, characterful accommodation close to the trail. Occasionally we may use a chain hotel.

We always try to arrange en suite accommodation, i.e. rooms with their own bathrooms for each night of your stay. However, in some of the more remote locations accommodation is limited and occasionally we may have to book rooms with shared bathrooms for one or two nights of your holiday, (especially if the booking is made at short notice), but we will always let you know if this is likely to be the case.

We are happy to book single rooms on our holidays but cannot normally book more than two for any one group. Single room bookings include a supplement.

Here are some examples of the accommodation we use on the Gower Peninsula:

In the village of Pen-clawdd, Katie welcomes you to The Old Manse. This former minister’s house is over one hundred years old and has retained some interesting original plasterwork, engraved glass and marble fireplaces. However it has also been updated with super new bathroom and ensuite, and new heating system providing plentiful hot water to the luxury showers. Visit their website

Steve and Pippa invite you to their 125 year old traditional Gower farmhouse at Llangennith by Hillend. Western House has featured in many interior design magazines and its bold and tasteful decor has been influenced by Pippa’s friend the ceramicist Mary Rose Young as well as the designer Kaffe Fassett. Visit their website

David and Giles guarantee you a warm welcome and a comfortable stay at Langland Road, a premier bed and breakfast in the heart of Mumbles. Local produce and Green ethics are an integral part of life at Langland Road. In their own words, “We genuinely care about recycling and minimizing our carbon footprint and DO something about it.” Visit their website

General travel information for the Gower Peninsula will be in your holiday pack.

Detailed instructions on getting to your first night’s accommodation by car, or on foot from the nearest train or bus station, will also be included in the holiday pack on individual accommodation maps.

To view train times please visit trainline where you can also purchase tickets in advance. For information on bus timetables please visit traveline

If you require secure car parking whilst walking this route, please contact us for information.

Getting There:

By Air: The nearest International Airport to the trail is Rhoose Cardiff. There is a railway station at Rhoose Cardiff Airport with services to Swansea and Gowerton.

If coming from further afield, London Heathrow or Gatwick may be a more convenient option. There is a railway station at Heathrow Airport with services to London Paddington from where trains run direct to Swansea and Gowerton or via Newport South Wales. There is a railway station at Gatwick Airport with services to Reading from where trains run direct to Swansea and Gowerton or via Newport South Wales/Cardiff Central.

By Public Transport: The nearest Railway Stations to Pen-clawdd are Gowerton (GWN) or Swansea (SWA). Both Gowerton and Swansea stations are located on the West Wales Line with services to Manchester Piccadilly and London Paddington via Bridgend, Cardiff Central, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Crewe and Stockport.

By Road: Leave the M4 at Junction 47 then follow signs for the A483 Swansea. At the next roundabout, follow the A484 Llanelli, then follow signs for B4296 Gowerton B4295 to Pen-clawdd.

Leaving from Mumbles:

By Public Transport: The nearest railway station to The Mumbles is Swansea (SWA).

From Oystermouth Square, the First South & West Wales bus service runs direct to Swansea Bus Station, Monday to Saturday. There are no bus services on a Sunday when it will be necessary for you to make the journey from Mumbles to Swansea by taxi.

By Road: From Junction 42 of the M4, follow the A483 to Swansea. Once in Swansea follow signs for the A4067 City Centre. Pass through the City and stay on the A4067 to the Mumbles.

Llangennith

If surfing is on your ‘to do list’, then Llangennith Beach is the place to do it. Factor in a rest day and enjoy a fun filled day with the Welsh Surfing Federation surf school. Their team of male and female fully qualified surf instructors have a wealth of teaching experience. There are lessons to suit all ages and abilities from beginner up.

Mumbles

Why not stick around for an extra day after your walk and take the bus into Swansea, it’s less than half an hour away. As well as the Marina, there’s a whole host of parks and gardens to visit and all appetites are catered for by the many independent eateries and boutique bistros. Looking for some culture, then visit the Dylan Thomas Centre, the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea Museum or view the exhibitions in the Arts Wing of Swansea Grand Theatre.