The Gower Peninsula is a sprawling landscape ripe for a mixture of relaxation, adventure, education and adrenalin rushes, and what’s more, there is something for all ages and all tastes, so take a look at what is in store for you, as we explore some great things to do in Gower.
For the really athletic and adventurous amongst us, what could be more fun than scrambling, climbing, jumping and swimming our way around the rugged coastline of the Gower Peninsula, wearing a wetsuit, safety helmet and old trainers? Oxwich Watersports provides two hour coasteering sessions with a boat trip to the venue.
If you prefer taking life at a slower pace, then with the Gower Peninsula being recognised as the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK, you won’t want to miss a thing. The Wales Coastal Path ‘Section G’ runs from Port Talbot to Llanelli and includes the whole stretch of the Gower coastline.
En route you will come across the award-winning beaches and unparalleled cliff-top views, as well as being able to take in the landmarks and villages of rural Wales, should you divert inland. The added bonus for many, will be that their favourite furry companion will be able to accompany them along the way, as dogs are allowed on all routes providing that they are kept under close control.
Footpath marker in the Gower Peninsula
The natural breeze and wide, expansive beaches make kite-flying a popular pursuit. This is a great challenge for the kids and strangely therapeutic for adults too. So make use of the Gower Kite Shop just outside Rhossili that sell everything from cheap and cheerful kiddies’ kites to professional power kites and stunt kites.
As the only PGA standard course in the area, Fairwood Park is the most popular of several golf courses in the area – with 18 holes over 150 acres of mainly woodland terrain and with many man-made lakes, Fairwood has twice hosted the Wales PGA Championship, so be prepared to up your game.
Fairwood Park Golf Club
Perfect for a family day out with all the attractions you would want from a traditional seaside resort, but which still manages to retain its character. The pier is a defining feature of the area, built in 1898, and there is also a mini bowling green, a boating lake and an enclosed, golden sandy beach with rock pools and a great view of the lighthouse.
Based around a working 12th century corn and saw mill powered by water, this visitors centre features tea rooms, craft workshops, an animal park, children’s play area, guided tours and blacksmith demonstrations.
There are so many beaches in the Gower Peninsula, ranging from the small, enclosed and private, to those rocky beaches offering a world of exploration and then there are the large, golden beaches with plenty of space. Many have blue flag and green coast awards for high standards and a “natural, unspoiled environment” so choose from Bracelet Bay, Caswell Bay, Langland Bay, Port Eynon Bay, Mewslade Bay, Tor Bay, Pwll Du Bay, world-famous Rhossili Bay winner of many awards and Three Cliffs Bay voted the best place to picnic.
The natural geography of the Gower Peninsula provides the perfect environment for surfing and other adventurous watersports, and the beach at Llangennith provides the best conditions and the wide open spaces you need. On the western edge of the Peninsula, it has been named in the top 10 classic surf beaches in the UK. Surf boards are available for hire from Sam’s Surf Shack in Rhossili.
Jet-skiing at Oxwich Watersports
Oxwich and Swansea Watersports offer equipment hire and training for a variety of activities including Stand Up Paddleboarding, windsurfing, kayaking, sailing, jet skiing, water-skiing and wakeboarding as well as the exhilarating high speed power boat experience.
Oystermouth Castle sits high on the hills above Mumbles offering stunning views across the bay, and despite a recent renovation still retains some 14th century graffiti art, a medieval maze and secret staircases galore. The Peninsula has some of the best of the 600 castles in Wales, including Oxwich, Pennard and Weobley Castle which are open to visitors and Penrice Castle which is a private residence.
Discover where ancient pottery, animal bones and even human remains have been discovered in the dozens of mysterious caves that are dotted around cliff tops, quarries, limestone rocks and deep seaside ravines. Paviland Cave is one of the most famous archaeological sites in Europe due to the discovery of the “Red Lady of Paviland” in 1823.
We typically send out our newsletter once a quarter, with special announcements as and when required. We operate a no-spam policy. Your details will never be given to any third-party company and you can unsubscribe at any time.
