Gower Peninsula on Wales Coast Path: Part 3

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Photo ofGower Peninsula on Wales Coast Path: Part 3

Author

John P

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Trail stats

Distance: 58.11 mi
Elevation gain: 3,625 ft
Technical difficulty: Easy
Elevation loss: 3,615 ft
Max elevation: 316 ft
TrailRank: 59
Min elevation: -127 ft
Trail type: One Way

Time: 2 days 3 hours 53 minutes
Coordinates: 6553
Uploaded: March 7, 2021
Recorded: March 2021

2 Claps

near Swansea, Wales (United Kingdom)

Viewed 781 times, downloaded 19 times

Trail photos

Itinerary description

The Wales Coast Path is an 876 mile long distance walk around the entire coast of Wales.
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 .

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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.