Gower
Click on the thumbnails to see a larger version and for buying options.
Arthur's Stone
There are several legends connected with Arthur's Stone, one being that it was a pebble found in King Arthur's shoe. However, the capstone, in excess of 25 tonnes, is an erratic (a rock different in size and type to the local area) deposited by a glacier in the Ice Age. The tomb was dug under it and propped up with slabs to form the burial chamber.
135851
128539
128532
100664
Bluepool Corner
316006
104808
104741
Bracelet Bay
Bracelet Bay, nestled between Mumbles Head and Limeslade Bay, is a small stony beach offering great views of Mumbles Lighthouse. At the opposite end to the lighthouse is the coastguard station, shown in this photo at the back of the hill.
91318
91267
75557
74948
63296
48964
314625
300155
300117
213083
203312
101375
Brandy Cove
Brandy Cove, a short distance from Caswell Bay, is a small inlet with links to smuggling. A raised beach can be seen, proof that the sea level was once a lot higher than it is today. At the back of the beach is an old mine adit of Bishopstone Silver/Lead mine.
81117
81068
Broad Pool
Broad Pool is a natural shallow basin which is filled with water due to glacial boulder clay, which subsided into a sinkhole in the limestone below, causing it to be sealed. It is known to have been in existence since 1645 and has only dried out a few times, despite being just around a metre deep.
90289
90279
42367
Broughton Bay
Broughton Bay, backed by sand dunes, is a remarkably quiet beach, despite being close to two campsites. Bathing is dangerous due to strong rip tides caused by the Loughor Estuary (also know as Burry Estuary), although it is rated by surfers for longboard rides, as the waves are long and slow.
119135
119051
119016
118996
Caswell Bay
Caswell Bay, one of the few beaches on Gower with lifeguard support during summer, is very popular with both locals and tourists. Like Langland Bay, it is a popular haunt for surfers and is also regularly awarded the European Blue Flag. Directly behind the beach is Bishop's Wood Local Nature Reserve, with 46 acres of woodland and grassland.
96080
82632
76717
76517
53598
312908
300608
300577
300483
234640
229853
205852
127930
109850
105831
Culver Hole
A short distance from Port Eynon is the Culver Hole, which probably started life as a stronghold for the long since gone Port Eynon Castle. It was rumoured the owner of the Salt House was involved in smuggling which has led to further rumours of a tunnel leading from Culver Hole to the Salt House, although no trace of a tunnel has ever been found.
205261
205246
Fall Bay
Between Worms Head and Mewslade Bay is Fall Bay, a small beach popular for boat owners. During low spring tides, it is possible to walk from Fall Bay to Mewslade Bay.
99560
96797
96670
69261
49357
300759
232258
Great Tor
Great Tor is the most southerly point of Penmaen Burrows and separates Three Cliffs Bay from Tor Bay and Oxwich Bay. At low tide it is possible to walk around the base of Great Tor to Tor Bay.
95113
217111
207145
134113
Horton
Horton is a small village at the west of Port Eynon Bay. It is home to the Lifeboat Station, which was moved there from Port Eynon in the last century.
310108
206415
129637
129605
Langland Bay
Langland Bay is very popular and extremely busy, especially during summer and is also frequented by surfers. The beach is regularly awarded the prestigious Blue Flag for cleanliness, safety, facilities, etc. If there is one thing synonymous with Langland Bay, it's the beach huts. They were originally built in the 1920s and are managed by the City and County of Swansea.
96015
82611
77612
62708
56777
312964
301163
239258
233297
214668
128049
126809
101651
101505
100587
Limeslade Bay
Limeslade Bay is a small beach just to the west of Bracelet Bay comprised of mainly rocks with some sand. Near the head of the bay there is an iron mine, probably from Roman times, although it has now been sealed off. The coast path from here to Langland Bay a highly recommended walk.
92147
110245
Llangennith
Llangennith is at the north end of Rhossili Bay and is very popular with surfers. Behind the beach is a large area of sand dunes and to the north is Burry Holms, an island at high tide.
81842
310279
232297
202327
105425
105061
104883
Mewslade Bay
Mewslade Bay, owned by the National Trust, is a beautiful sandy beach with some very interesting rock formations caused by erosion of the Carboniferous Limestone. It is accessed by an enjoyable walk, partly through woodland, from Pitton. Its position on the coast makes it perfect for surfing, although the beach is completely covered at high tide.
76770
68295
301556
301510
129549
Mumbles
Mumbles, south of Swansea, is the gateway to Gower. Slightly further south east is Mumbles Lighthouse, Pier and Lifeboat Station. The lighthouse can be seen as you drive along Oystermouth Road and even from many places in Swansea.
99180
99123
76620
66295
63569
62943
40765
300998
300972
234153
209620
203941
202183
110123
108450
108367
106343
Overton Mere
208473
Oxwich Bay
Oxwich Bay, a huge sweeping bay from Great Tor to Oxwich Point, is another of the beaches on Gower to have a lifeguard and is popular with sun bathers, wind surfers, divers and boating sports. At the far west of the bay, partially hidden in the trees, is the tiny, picturesque Church of St. Illtyd.
78600
67384
300826
233183
232733
232703
231623
135656
13467
129851
128167
127806
Park Wood
Park Wood, or Parc le Breos was once a medieval deer park of the Lords of Gower (de Breos) and is home to Cathole Cave, which used by hunter-gatherers between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago. Bones from mammoths, woolly rhinoceroses, bears and hyenas have been found in the cave.
68797
68782
68772
Paviland Cave
Paviland Cave (or Goat's Hole Cave) is where the remains of the 'Red Lady of Paviland' were discovered. It was later found that 'she' was a Stone Age male, but the name of Red Lady has stuck. At the time of the ritual burial, about 33,000 years ago, the landscape was very different. Sea level was lower, so the cave would have provided views over grassland rich in game.
68722
68701
Penclawdd
Penclawdd is best known for its cockles which are collected locally and sold worldwide. It is on the tidal River Loughor which can flood at high tide.
68691
68648
68641
220039
Pennard
Pennard Burrows, largely a golf course, is well known for Pennard Castle which towers of Pennard Pill. Stunning views of Pobbles Beach and Three Cliffs Bay can be seen from here. Near the castle are the remains of the church of old Pennard. The village accompanying the church was lost when sand covered it, creating the dunes seen today.
56396
313032
210460
132163
Pobbles Beach
Pobbles Beach is a tiny cove just around the corner from Three Cliffs Bay. At high tide, the beach is completely covered.
82211
82193
62570
205791
205736
200535
Port Eynon Bay
Port Eynon Bay, another regular Blue Flag recipient, is one of the most popular beaches on Gower thanks to several campsites in the immediate area. It has lifeguard support during summer and is good for bathing and boating activities. In the past, it was a booming oyster fishery and remains of the oyster pools are visible at low tide.
43672
309699
234934
234867
207925
207888
203765
135983
135950
129864
120184
105681
Pwlldu Bay
Pwlldu Bay (Welsh for black pool) was once an extensive limestone quarry in the 19th century, the remnants of which can be seen in the cliffs and the pebbles on the upper part of the beach. The houses and pubs (now private dwellings) near the beach were once part of the quarrying community.
81202
63661
239547
233404
233399
213656
210602
210256
Ramsgrove
86399
107590
Rhossili Bay
Rhossili Bay is a great sweeping bay from Rhossili to Burry Holms. At the top of the cliff is the village of Rhossili, with St Mary's Church. Rhossili as seen today is actually the second incarnation of the village. Centuries ago when the village was nearer the beach, great storms engulfed the village and church in sand, completely burying it.
92633
86174
86124
81848
75383
75367
73065
66940
63189
50196
319216
314067
311196
310474
310414
309152
308930
308868
308844
302468
302455
302343
300771
239235
239191
238615
232361
231788
231749
219847
219383
219362
218123
218097
214234
211219
207244
207180
206397
206348
205158
205125
204100
202292
129886
129870
129833.
128764
127775
127745
127280
Rhossili Down
Rhossili Down is home to the highest point on Gower at 193 metres above sea level. Everybody who walks across Rhossili Down is familiar with the triangulation point and most people with the ruins of a radar station from World War II, which overlooks the bay. Spectacular views of Gower are the reward for anyone who makes the climb up this Old Red Sandstone ridge.
41119
41115
217223
136565
Slade
96709
124723
105696
Swansea
99196
99089
98989
234759
221321
215752
212020
211845
129561
129526
129511
128270
128245
107845
The Knave
96646
Three Cliffs Bay
Three Cliffs Bay is so named because of its three pointed cliffs, a popular location for rock climbers. Despite its calm appearance, dangerous rip tides are common in the bay. It has won several awards, including in 2002 one of the five Best Views in Britain by Country Life Magazine and in 2006 it was designated Britain's Best Beach as voted by BBC's Holidays Hit Squad.
IR10382
82322
78007
77965
67407
66415
60929
56440
40834
323485
315920
314930
314883
314870
314858
314857
314187
314170
312316
312256
310691
310647
302644
302205
237714
237606
237566
234513
234289
229755
221532
219522
219505
209221
209199
205796
205701
131766
131749
127195
109788
105750
102874
Tor Bay
Below and to the west of Great Tor is Tor Bay, a small sandy beach wih some beach left even at high tide. It is popular with bathers because it is so sheltered. At low tide, you can easily walk around Little Tor to Oxwich Bay.
95599
95198
78497
66471
231587
Whiteford
Whiteford Sands is, perhaps, the most remote beach on Gower. The sand stretches for almost two miles, yet solitude can almost always be found. The beach is backed by the sand dunes of Whiteford Burrows, a National Nature Reserve, while at the northern end stands the disused Whiteford Lighthouse.
99243
26456
25781
25762