Gower Weekend, South Wales (June 2016)

2 walks - Moderate 11 and 11 miles

This was a return visit to the Gower peninsula in South Wales, which stretches out into the Bristol Channel between Llanelli and Swansea. It is a secluded, remote and beautiful offshoot from the South Wales coast and is a closely guarded secret in Wales! Narrow winding lanes lead to quiet bays and harbours, while high cliffs tower above the sea.

This has become a very popular weekend. Some of us camped at Port Eynon – a pretty little village with a long sandy beach, backed by dunes. The campsite was within a stone’s throwof the youth hostel, and the cafes and pubs of the village.

Others stayed at the youth hostel, in a farmhouse B&B, or in a self-catering cottage. The walks included a magnificent panoramic walk along Cefn Bryn (the central spine of Gower) and along the wonderful sandy beach at Oxwich Bay; and a walk outwards through fields to Rhossilli Bay and its superb surf beach – possibly one of the most spectacular beaches on the Welsh coast. We returned along the Gower coast path, past a stunning succession of beautiful coves and inlets. The more observant of us saw gannets, seals and dolphins.