Beaches and Walking

Rhossili, is the most beautiful beach in my opinion, very long (3 miles) and wide at low tide, sandy, dog-friendly all year round.  It is a world class beach.  You will have seen this beach on the Lloyds Bank advert with the black horse galloping along a beach - its Rhossili.  Park by the Worms Head Inn, in the National Trust Car Park, and walk down to the beach.  The walk is quite long and steep, and be aware that there are no facilities at the bottom, and the walk is not suitable for the less able-bodied, and definitely no wheelchair access.  Take a look at the wreck of the Helvetia still visible at low tide in the sand.  Walk along the beach towards Llangennith and have coffee at Edy's Surf Shack at Hillend Campsite, or walk further on and at low tide you can climb onto a little island called Bury Holm, or walk further around and find the Blue Pool.  Surfing is best at the Hillend part of the beach.  You will quite often see paragliders above the beach, launching from Rhossili Down.  Parking is paid unless you are a National Trust member.  

Rhossili Down, is a challenging cliff-top walk above the beach from Rhossili to Hillend Campsite.  Its the highest point on the Gower.  Along the way you will be able to see the old Radar Station, burial chambers, and ship wrecks.

Llangennith Beach, this beach is the far end of Rhossili Bay.  Its family friendly, dog friendly.  Great for watersports and especially surfing.  Parking, food and toilets, all here! Access is via Hillend Campsite (you will need to pay or buy a season ticket for parking), or Broughton

Worm's Head, is just along from Rhossili, park at the National Trust Car Park, and the views are spectacular especially as the sun is going down.  You can walk across from the mainland onto the Worm's Head at low tide - its a tough walk, and is time restricted owing to the tides.  Dylan Thomas misjudged the tides and had to sleep the night on Worm's Head.  In August and September you can go and see the sunflowers in the Vile which is really close to Worm's Head

Brandy Cove Beach, you need to walk along a cliff path from Caswell for the most stunning views on this secluded beach.   Dogs are not allowed on the beach from May 1 to September 30.  Amenities are non-existent so go prepared - no parking, no food, no toilets.  You need to have an adventurous spirit and be a good walker.

Broughton Bay Beach, access to this fairly remote beach is via Llangennith campsite, or via a footpath by St Madoc's Church.  Its not family-friendly, though dogs are allowed all year.  Watersports.  Parking about a half kilometre away.  No food, no toilets.

Caswell Bay Beach, a Blue Flag beach with lifeguards May to September, and family friendly.  Watersports and surfing.  No dogs between 1 May and 30 September.  Parking, food, toilets are all close by.

Crawley Beach, a small beach which you can access from a footpath at Penmaen or via Crawley Woods.  Its small, private, and dogs are allowed all year round.  No parking nearby though there is a bus stop, no food, no toilets, so go prepared

Horton Beach, is ideal for families and watersports enthusiasts, with a life guard on duty from May to September.  Parking is nearby, food is a bit further away, and there are toilets.  Dogs are allowed to specified areas.  This beach is the other end of Port Eynon

Port Eynon Bay Beach, is accessed through the village which has a pay and display car park.  Its a very nice village with tea shops, a pub.  It has a blue flag award, and lifeguards.  Its great for families and watersports.  Dogs can go, but to only to certain parts of the beach.  Your children would probably love to go and find Culver Hole wall, which is a bit of an odyssey as no one knows why it was built, possibly a dovecote, but its a scheduled monument, medieval, and fascinating.  Parking, food and toilets, all there.

Langland Bay Beach, is a gem, Blue Flag awards, great for families and watersports with a life guard from May to September.  Dogs not allowed on the beach between 1 May and 30 September.  Parking, food, toilets, all there

Rotherslade Bay Beach, this is the other end of Langland Bay.  Its small and sandy, has blue flag awards.  No lifeguard.  Great for catching the sun or having a picnic.  No dogs May to September.  Parking at Langland, food yes, toilets yes.

Mewslade Bay Beach, access is via a car park in Pitton.  It is dog friendly all year round, and you will find lovely views from here.  Parking is about half a kilometre away.  No food, and no toilets.

Nicholaston Burrows, access is from Nicholaston (through Crawley Woods), Penmaen, and a goodly walk to get there: it is the other end of Oxwich Bay.  There is sand, scenery, space, dunes and bird and plant life.  No food, no toilets and 20 minutes from the carpark

Oxwich Bay, is family friendly, and good for watersports.  It can get busy.  Sand dunes.  Parking, food and toilets

Pobbles Bay Beach, you can access this beach through the car park at Southgate, or via a footpath at Pennard Golf Club.  Great for walking, and year-round dog friendly, and there are great views from the cliffs.  No parking, no food, no toilets.  Southgate has the amenities

Pwll Du Bay Beach, access is easiest from Bishopston, and you walk down Pwll Du Lane.  The beach is pebbly, and pretty rough, good for watersports, and is dog-friendly. No parking, food or toilets

The Three Cliffs, really pretty with sand dunes and salt marshes, and three limestone cliffs.  This beach is unsuitable for watersports of any variety because of the tides, though there are lifeguards at Easter and during the summer months.  You can access this beach via a walk from Parkmill (watch out for the cow splats as our dog rolled in one, disgusting), or you can walk there via Pennard.  Great views and picnicing, and year round for dogs.  Parking about half a kilometre away, with a bit of a rough walk from there.  Food and toilets, nope.  Really nice coffee shop and village store in Pennard

Tor Bay Sands, accessed by a clifftop footpath which takes 20 minutes from Penmaen which has some limited parking.  It is the other end of The Three Cliffs.  The beach is sandy and sheltered and is great for the scenery.  No lifeguard.  Food and toilets, no,

Whiteford Sands, park at Cwm Ivy just down the road from Llanmadoc and you will find the Britannia Inn here which is a nice eatery.  This is a beach walk of about two miles on the edge of the Loughor Estuary, and it will take you for a bit of a winding walk through dunes and onto the beach.  There is a fascinating old metal lighthouse: you can walk to it at low tide.  Parking, food and toilets are a bit distant, so go prepared.