A Complete Guide to the Best Things to do in the Gower Peninsula
The Gower Peninsula is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (the first one in the UK in 1956) that should be explored and enjoyed. Therefore, there are so many wonderful, unspoilt places to visit and exciting things to do in the Gower Peninsula that it is difficult to know where to begin.
Near Swansea, the Gower Coast consists of beautiful, wild beaches that rival the best in the world. It is a 70 square mile slice of heaven with spectacular cliffs and exciting things to do for people who love adventure and those who love to relax too. You know it’s a place of beauty when it inspires writers, and the Gower was featured in the poet Dylan Thomas’ work. How fitting?
You can base yourself in Swansea, the Mumbles, or you can stay in one of the many campsites around the peninsula. It is a trendy part of Wales. However, it can be bustling in Peak Season, so book ahead and enjoy the natural playground whether you’re visiting on a family holiday or a couple’s retreat!
It is a good idea to travel by car, as although there are buses, you can reach the best places to visit and things to do in the Gower Peninsula more quickly and much more conveniently. There are plenty of places to park, but they are mostly paid car parks, which means if you want to visit numerous sites in one day, the cost can add up. The nearest train station is in Swansea, and if you are relying on public transport, you can catch the 118 bus (but it does not run on Sundays).
10 Best Places to Visit and Things to do in the Gower Peninsula
This is a handy list of the best places to visit on the Gower Peninsula from the best beaches, to villages and unique hidden gems for everyone to enjoy and discover the best the area has to offer.
Surf on Langland Bay
Blue Flag awards are not uncommon on the Gower Peninsula, and Langland Bay is an excellent example of a beautiful beach with beautiful facilities. It is popular with families because of its Lifeguard service in the summer months and surfers because of its different breaks.
There is wheelchair access on the promenade, which has an abundance of restaurants, cafes and traditional beach huts to admire. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on the beach from May to September.
Relax on Rhossili Bay
There are some sensational beaches, and Rhossili is no exception. It is 4.8km long and regularly makes lists of the best beaches in the world because of its beautiful surroundings. It has so many awards it is hard to keep track. However, as it is a long beach, there is plenty of space to find your spot on the beach.
There are flags for safe swimming in the summer, lovely for families. We also saw many people surfing and paddleboarding around the cliff edges too.
The National Trust is looked after and has a large Car Park (free for members or £6 all day), but it can get bustling in the summer months. So it is recommended to go early to get a spot. There is also a cafe and toilet facilities. In the summer, there are also very popular sunflower fields! It is an Instagram approved place!
Hike to Worm’s Head
One of the best places to visit on the Gower Peninsula is Worm’s Head. We parked at the National Trust’s Car Park and ventured towards the peninsula. It is good to know that you can only walk there for two hours on each side of low tide, or you risk getting stuck. You can see the tidal times on a board before you set off or look on the tides chart site, so plan accordingly.
We loved this adventure – especially crossing the bridge, and made it to the head. However, it took a surprisingly long time (2-4 hours return), so do not think you will be back anytime soon. However, we did see seals and would recommend it. But be prepared, if it is sunny, wear suncream, wear good shoes and take care of the uneven surfaces. The outer part of Worms Head is closed from March to August to protect birds but regardless of whether you can get there or not it is one of the best things to do in the Gower.
Read the full guide on what to expect here: How to reach Worms Head
Escape the Crowds at Tor Bay
Tor Bay is a large sandy beach popular with the climbing community and is only accessible on foot. However, you can park in Penmaen Village and walk 20-minutes to reach the beach. Tor Bay is a great place to come if you are searching to get away from the crowds.
However, there are no lifeguards at this beach, so be careful if you decide to go for a swim. You can walk to Oxwich Bay and Three Cliffs Bay from this beach if you fancy exploring and seeing more beautiful beaches in the area.
Marvel at Culver Hole
Culver Hole, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, sometimes referred to as Smuggler’s Cove, can be hard to find, and it is steep to reach, but it is like something we have never seen before. A 60ft high stone wall seals off Culver Hole. It is thought to date back from the 13th or 14th century and has many legends surrounding it, such as how it was connected to Port Eynon by a secret tunnel.
Culver comes from ‘culfre’, which means pigeon or dove and is thought to have been a pigeon house because the nesting boxes are fundamental to its structure.
To reach it, park at Port Eynon Car Park and walk about 15-minutes around the headland! Its position is on Google Maps, which is how we found it!
Admire Oxwich Bay
Oxwich Bay is a great spot and deserves a spot on the list of the best things to do in the Gower Peninsula. It is a unique village with Thatched Cottages which reminded us of Croyde in North Devon. There is a 2.5-mile-long beach and a Nature Reserve to spot wildlife. Parking is available at Oxwich Car Park and costs £5 per day.
Be sure to stop off at the Beach House Restaurant, which is highly regarded, but you will need to book ahead if you want to visit!
Explore The Mumbles
Known as the ‘gateway to the Gower’, the village of Mumbles is a beautiful spot to base yourself for your trip. There are also many beautiful things to do in Mumbles itself. You can walk along the Victorian Mumbles Pier, which is 225m long with lovely views over Swansea. Visit the 12th-century Oystermouth Castle and see the Lighthouse.
There are also numerous shops and restaurants to visit in the town. We ventured into Papi’s Pizzeria only to discover it is a Sardinian pizza place, so we enjoyed it. We found the village full of life and fun, which is why it is one of the best things to do in the Gower Peninsula.
Discover Port Eynon Village
One of the best places to visit on the Gower Peninsula (and the most southerly part) is Port Eynon. Although it is a small village, there are many things to do. For example, you can see an 18th-century ruin of an old Sat House, go to the beach (Port Eynon Bay), visit Gower Gin Distillery, Gower Brewery, or try them in the Ship Inn. It is a fantastic spot for watersports too.
There is a popular campsite and Youth Hostel (once a lifeboat hut) here if you are searching for a place to sleep. There are plenty of spaces in the car park, and we like that you do not have to pay for all-day parking if you only want to stay a couple of hours.
Swim in Broughton Bay Blue Pool
A natural pool, which you can swim in, can be found at Broughton Bay. However, unlike the famous Blue Lagoon up the coast, the tides determine when you can go for a swim in it. In fact, it isn’t easy to spot at high tide (which is when we went). Therefore, if you want to swim or see it in all its glory, you should visit low tide.
As you can see from our photos, there were some people jumping in at high tide. However, unless you know what you’re doing, we wouldn’t suggest it because the waves are extremely powerful. If you do visit when you cannot swim, the rocks are full of interesting fossils, which are great to admire and photograph.
You can park at Broughton Farm Car Park, which charges per day in the summer months, and you can only pay in cash. From here, you need to walk along the headland to find the Blue Pool, which is a lovely walk. We pinned the position on Google Maps and found it that way.
Photograph Three Cliffs Bay
It is not the best place to swim, but it is one of the most beautiful things to do in the Gower Peninsula to see sensational beauty. Unfortunately, you have to walk to reach it, which is part of its charm as it is quieter than some of the other beaches in the area.
Essentially it is three limestone cliffs (hence the name), and you will see Pennard Pill stream that heads to the sea and the ruins of the 12th Century Pennard Castle, a Grade II listed building. You’ll love it too if you are a climber because it is a spectacular spot to climb!
It is said to be one of the best beaches in the UK, so why don’t you add it to your list of places to visit on the Gower Peninsula and make your mind up?
We hope that this list of the ten best places to visit and things to do in the Gower Peninsula has helped you plan your next trip. With so much on offer, you cannot have a bad time. The only problem you’ll have is maximising your time to have the most fun.
If you are going to the Gower on a more extended trip to Wales, please read our guides to:
The Best Things to do in Aberystwyth
The Best Things to do in Tenby
The Best Things to do in St Davids
Complete Guide to the Blue Lagoon Wales
We only recommend things that we have personally tried and love using on our travels and hikes.
Please be advised that some of the links on our site are affiliate links. By clicking and purchasing using these links, you will help support the Average Lives travel blog to provide independent travel content at no extra cost to you.
Photo Credits: averagelives.com