Gower Peninsula

The beautiful Gower Peninsula (Welsh: Penrhyn Gŵyr) was the United Kingdom's first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Located in Swansea, the peninsula is famous for its stunning coastal scenery, wide sandy beaches and medieval castles.

Understand


This article covers the rural areas of Swansea. It has been given the title 'Gower' as the Gower Peninsula constitutes the largest portion of Swansea's rural area and is the district of most interest to tourists. However, the article also includes the highland areas of Pontarddulais and Mawr. On the peninsula itself, the article covers all points west of Bishopston, Pwll Du Bay, Fairwood Common and Upper Killay. Detailed information of the urban area east of this line is documented in the Swansea article.

The Gower Peninsula is about 29 km long by 8 km wide and, in many ways, represents a microcosm of the very best of British countryside. There are wide sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs, historic woodlands, salt marshes and open moors, all of which are interspersed with picturesque villages, country inns, castles, ancient churches and neolithic burial chambers. It is a land immersed in the mists of Celtic legends and secrets of smugglers tales. The peninsula is also home to an abundance of wildlife, with perhaps the wild Gower ponies that roam the moors being the most famous and well-loved. For recreation, Oxwich is the most popular bay for swimming and boating, while Llangennith is a surfers paradise and attracts boarders from all over the UK. Rhossili is a dramatic bay, and the sunset over the headland is one of the most photographed evening scenes in Europe.

The districts of Mawr and Pontarddulais are sparsely populated areas of Swansea's hinterland and offer wonderful opportunities for hillside walking and river-side recreation activities.

History
Historically, Gower covered an area of land under the jurisdiction of the Lords of Gower. It extended as far east as the River Tawe, and so it included what is now Swansea City Centre. This area corresponds very closely to the modern boundaries of the City and County of Swansea. However, nowadays "Gower" would be mostly understood to referring to the peninsula only.

The Gower "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty" (AONB) is an invention of post Second World War planning laws covering England and Wales, and represents a level of protection one step lower than offered by that of a "National Park".

Get in

 * The Gower Peninsula is located in South Wales (Map of Gower) a 10-minute drive from the city of Swansea.
 * Gower Explorer buses departing from Swansea's Quadrant Bus Station cover the entire peninsula. Traveline information.

By bus
Most of the villages and popular bays are connected by public transport. The Gower peninsula is served by the Gower Explorer branded bus services from the Quadrant Bus Station in Swansea city centre. The Lliw uplands to the north of the county of Swansea are served by Lliw Link branded bus services from the Quadrant Bus Station. (The Quadrant bus station is a good 10- to 15-minute walk from Swansea railway station, but there are frequent buses to the Quadrant Bus Station from the bus stop outside the railway station.)

On foot
There are some very well-established hiking routes on the Gower. The tourist office in Swansea city center offers good information.

Villages

 * (Llangenydd) – a quintessential British coastal village with hens clucking around the village green, a stone church, a traditional pub and sheep strolling down the road towards a magnificent surfing beach; several B&Bs. Very popular with surfers in the summer, and has a large camping area for families and youngsters alike.
 * and – two adjoining villages on north Gower – some lovely stone houses, a few B&Bs and a pub.
 * – a hillside village running down to the marshes of the Loughor Estuary - some lovely stone houses and a pub.
 * – nestled in the curve of Oxwich Bay and with its thatched roofed cottages and castle, Oxwich is perhaps the Gower's most picturesque village. The village has a wonderful Saxon church, a couple of shops and a hotel.
 * – a quaint village clustered around the sandy beach of Port Eynon Bay. There are a few shops and B&Bs, a pub and a youth hostel.
 * – an inland village surrounded by wild moorland with a good pub and accommodation.
 * – on a ridge offering spectacular views over Rhossili Bay and Worms Head - the village boasts a pub, café, shop and great National Trust gift shop.

Places of natural beauty

 * and . Famous for its breathtaking view at sunset, and the vista is widely considered to be one of Europe's most spectacular coastal scenes. An excellent National Trust gift shop marks the beginning of the cliff-top path, while the picturesque village of Rhossili provides an ideal setting for enjoying cream teas in the summer or for relaxing and taking a contemplative stroll at any time of the year. In addition, the conditions at Rhossili are excellent for hand-gliding and surfing; historians may also be interested to note that there is evidence of a stone-age settlement here. Visitors may also note a distinct lack of trees. The last real tree was at Ash Tree Farm, though this disappeared sometime during the early 1970s. The fierce westerly gales and trees are not a good match. The nearest trees to Rhossili are Middleton, the village just prior to Rhossili.

Walks

 * Lliw Reservoirs, near the village of Felindre. These small reservoirs are surrounded by recreational footpaths.
 * Oxwich Bay, a picturesque four-and-a-half hour walk as recommended in Times Walks

Driving
A less well-known destination in Swansea is the Lliw Uplands which contains some of the best mountain scenery in Wales: From the city centre, head towards the road junction at Dyfatty lights. Take the second left turning onto Llangyfelach Road (B4489) which will take you to the M4 Motorway (Junction 46). Head straight across the roundabouts on Junction 46. This will take you into the rural area of the Lliw Uplands. From here, much of the road consists of a narrow country lane. Follow this lane through the village of Felindre then on over Mynydd-y-Bettws with stunning views of the Lliw Lalley. The road takes you past Penlle'r Castell - the highest point in Swansea. It then descends into the farming village of Garnswllt and continues to Ammanford.
 * City Centre - Llangyfelach - Felindre - Garnswllt - Ammanford

Buy

 * Fruit and vegetables from the peninsula's arable farms.
 * Mumbles Local Produce Market, Oystermouth Square, Mumbles, in the car park near the junction of Oystermouth Road and Newton Road. Held on the second Saturday of every month from 9am to 1pm.
 * Mumbles Local Produce Market, Oystermouth Square, Mumbles, in the car park near the junction of Oystermouth Road and Newton Road. Held on the second Saturday of every month from 9am to 1pm.
 * Mumbles Local Produce Market, Oystermouth Square, Mumbles, in the car park near the junction of Oystermouth Road and Newton Road. Held on the second Saturday of every month from 9am to 1pm.
 * Mumbles Local Produce Market, Oystermouth Square, Mumbles, in the car park near the junction of Oystermouth Road and Newton Road. Held on the second Saturday of every month from 9am to 1pm.

Budget

 * Gower Seafood Hut is a horsebox on Mumbles promenade, open Tu-Su 1-6PM.

Talk
The people of South Gower are traditionally English speaking and cannot speak Welsh. However, North Gower and the district of Mawr has a high percentage of Welsh-speakers.

Connect
As of Aug 2022, there is 4G from all UK carriers down the main road A4118, but lots of dead areas along the coast. 5G has reached Swansea but has not extended down the peninsula.

Go next
Most routes take you back to Swansea, but you can head west by crossing the bridge towards Llanelli.