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Secluded
coves, sandy beaches, surfing heaven and ruined castles –
that is visitors to the Gower will find.
Britain’s first area of outstanding natural
beauty was designated in 1957. The label of AONB means it has a
similar status to a national park, so the landscape’s natural
beauty is conserved and enhanced.
There are many beautiful beaches in the Gower,
including some of the lesser-known blue flag beaches such as Bracelet
Bay, Langland Bay, Caswell, Port Eynon and Limeslade. One of these
beaches may seem familiar – tall pine trees framing the entrance
to a horseshoe –shaped sandy bay, leading to an calm sea –
does it remind you of Australia? Caswell Bay has definite antipodean
echoes, or rather the other way round – visitors to Caswell
may recognise why Old South Wales inspired the naming of its newer
counterpart (New South Wales) down under.
Rhossili and Llangennith beaches belong to the
same stretch of sand, joining together to win the title of the area’s
most famous beach. Its long golden sands, and surfers, are best
viewed from Worm’s Head cliffs. You will often find yourself
admiring the view alongside a casual sheep, oblivious to your presence,
and the scenery. The beach can boast of being one of the most photographed
and iconic images in Britain, especially with the tiny white fronted
cottage nestled in the nothingness of the surrounding grassy dunes.
Rhossili was recently voted into the top ten of places to photograph
the sunset. The beach is a good place to take a first surfing lesson,
there are surf schools here.
Despite the main beaches filling up on summer
weekends, with the tiny winding roads almost busy, there are still
many lost beaches to be rediscovered. Three Cliffs Bay can only
be reached by a woodland walk, where wild horses can be spotted.
Pwlldu beach (or Black Pool) is also difficult to reach –
so why not visit by boat? Mewslade Bay is another too-easy to miss
small beach, but all of these places are worth the effort.
Aside from swimming, you could try hang gliding
in Rhossili, windsurfing in Port Eynon, water skiing in Pobbles
Bay or sea kayaking in Bracelet Bay? Catch mackerel in Oxwich Bay
or go to the Gower Heritage Centre or pony trek the hillside with
views of the sea.
There are plenty of Norman castles too, with
partially sand-buried Pennard Castle above Three Cliffs, Weobley
with its Gower history exhibition, 13th Century Penrice Castle,
the largest of the Gower Castles, and Oxwich Castle with its views
over the Bay towards Pwlldu Head.
The Gower celebrates its own mini Royal Welsh
agricultural show with the annual Gower Show, held early every August
on Fairwood Common. There is also the Gower Festival of Music, in
July and August, where churches, chapels and village halls host
live music.
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