12 best things to do in the Gower Peninsula

At the top of your list of things to do in Gower should be a trip to the beach.  The Gower Peninsula was designated as a Heritage Coast in 1973 and is home to some of Europe’s most beautiful beaches.

Without exception, the Gower beaches are stunning.  With miles of golden sand and striking limestone cliffs, it’s no surprise they have won awards.

Whether you want to build sandcastles, go surfing or just a scenic walk, there is a Gower beach to suit everyone.  From the enormous Rhossili Bay to more secluded spots, like Blue Pool Bay, the beaches are one of the best attractions in Gower.

Probably the most breathtaking of all the Gower beaches is Rhossili Bay. This award-winning beach is the most famous of the Gower beaches and attracts visitors from all over the world.  It has many accolades, including Britain’s Best Beach, the 3rd best beach in Europe and the 9th best beach in the world.

Don’t worry, with over 3 miles of beach, it is extremely long, so there’s room for everyone.  On arrival, look down at the beach from the cliff top.  Expect to be blown away by the huge expanse of golden sand and dramatic coastline.  It’s a stunning landscape, which attracts visitors from over the world.

It’s a steep path down to the beach, so take everything with you, as there’s no facilities on the beach.  However, there’s plenty of other things to do on Rhossili Bay.  Explore the rock pools, try your hand at surfing, or look for the remains of Rhossili’s shipwreck, Helvetia.  On your way back up, you can stop and enjoy the views from the Worm’s Head Hotel.

In summer, one of the other main attractions at Rhossili Bay are the sunflowers.  Each year you can take a walk to the headland to see the Rhossili Bay sunflower field, where they grow about 40, 000 sunflowers.  It’s become one of the Gower’s most iconic sights and is popular with instagrammers!

 

One of the most exciting things to do in Gower is a hike out to the iconic Worm’s Head.

Worm’s Head is the narrow, serpent-shaped tidal island at the end of the headland at Rhossili Bay.  The challenge is beating the tide, so you have to plan your hike carefully.  You can only go two and a half hour’s either side of low tide, or you’ll be trapped by the water.

To access Worm’s Head, clamber across the rocks and mussel-covered causeway, before climbing up to traverse the Devil’s Bridge.  It is not the easiest walk but is an exhilarating experience, if you’re feeling adventurous.

Once there, the views are amazing and you have a good chance of spotting marine wildlife, such as seals.

High on your list of things to do in Gower must be a visit to the seaside town of Mumbles.

This pretty Victorian town has a traditional seaside feel and is a must-visit destination for families.  One of the top things to do in Mumbles is a walk to the end of Mumbles Pier.  You can see the lifeboat station, go fishing, or head to the amusement arcade.  Afterwards, stop for a coffee or ice cream at the seafront cafes such as Beach Hut Café or Verdi’s.

Another of Mumble’s best attractions is Oystermouth Castle, which sits on a hilltop overlooking the town.

Alternatively, if you visit Mumbles at low tide, you can walk across the beach to the lighthouse.  Then, climb up onto the island to get a closer look at the lighthouse and enjoy views across Swansea Bay.

If you’re feeling energetic, hire a bike and cycle along the promenade to Swansea.  This is a safe, traffic-free route and a great way to enjoy the views from the promenade.  Our bike ride in Mumbles was one of the most fun family things to do in Gower.

You can see that there are plenty of things to do in Mumbles, so definitely worth a day out if you’re in Gower.

Read more:  Our favourite 5 things to do in Mumbles, Gower

Wales is renowned for its castles and the Gower Peninsular is no exception.  One of the most impressive castles in Gower is Oystermouth Castle in Mumbles.

Oystermouth Castle is located on a hill, providing a majestic position over Mumbles.  It is just a short walk from the town centre.  The Norman castle has a rich history, which dates to the 12^th century.

Although it is not all intact, visitors can still walk inside the walls of the Oystermouth Castle and explore the crooks and crannies.

Another of our favourite castles in Gower is Pennard Castle, which has a dramatic position overlooking Three Cliffs Bay.  Although only the ruins of the gatehouse survive today, it has some of the best views on the Gower and is definitely worth a visit.

One of the hidden gems in the Gower Peninsular is Culver Hole.

Culver Hole is a mysterious, ancient cave in the cliffs next to Port Eynon.  You can access the cave from the beach, but only when it is mid or low time.  Otherwise, it is a precarious scramble down the cliffs to get there.

Apparently, Culver Hole was a former medieval dovecote from the Middle Ages.  Legend then says it was a popular hideaway for smugglers, who would keep their contraband here.  They claim it had a secret tunnel, which connected to a nearby salt house.

After your visit to Culver Hole,  head to The Ship Inn in the heart of Port Eynon.

Another of the best beaches in Gower is at Three Cliffs Bay.  This has an expanse of golden sand, rockpools and calm waters.

Part of the fun of a visit here is getting to the bay.  You have to follow the trail down through the woods and cross the river on the stepping stones.

Now, if you still have energy after that, you could climb up to the lovely Pennard Castle, which looks down from the cliffs over the bay.

For nature-lovers and hikers, walking is definitely one of the best things to do in Gower.

Luckily, there are plenty of opportunities for scenic coastal walks in Gower and the Swansea Bay area.  You can join any stretch of the Wales Coast Path which runs around the edge of the Gower.

One of the most popular walks in the Gower is the section between Langland Bay and Caswell Bay.  It’s a short walk, but has dramatic coastline and you can look for seals or porpoises in the sea.

Don’t forget to look for the iconic green and white beach huts when you get to Langland Bay.

Click here for more walks along the Wales Coast Path

If you’re a nature lover, one of the best things to do in Gower is a visit to the Nature Reserve at Oxwich Bay.  The combination of sand dunes, marshland, beach, and forest provides a varied habitat for all sorts of flowers and wildlife.  They also have a bird hide, which looks out onto the marshland.

After a stroll around the nature reserve, head to Oxwich Bay beach, one of the most popular family beaches in Gower.

Oxwich Bay is also one of the best destinations for watersports in the Gower Peninsular.  Oxwich Watersports offers a full range of water activities, for all ages and abilities.  Choose from kayaking, supping, coasteering, windsurfing and more.

Read more about Oxwich Bay.

Although the Gower Peninsula has many steep hills, you’ll still find plenty of family-friendly bike routes.  One of the best traffic-free cycle routes in the Gower is the easy cycle ride from Mumbles Pier to Swansea. This is a simple, scenic route which follows the promenade along Swansea Bay.

Another traffic-free cycle route in the Gower is the trail through the disused railway line in Clyne Valley Country Park.  This is another pretty route which starts at Blackpill (halfway between Mumbles and Swansea) and goes inland to Gowerton.  If you need a break, you can stop at the old Railway Inn along the way.

Family-friendly cycling is definitely one of the best things to do in Gower.

One of the best family attractions in Gower is the Gower Heritage Centre, which is just outside Oxwich at Parkmill.

The Gower Heritage Centre is a local crafts centre and makes a good family day out on a rainy day in Gower.  It is based in a working 12^th century water-powered mill.  Visitors can do a tour of mill and see a flour making display.   The Heritage Centre also has a 19^th Century sawmill and other vintage farm equipment.

For families with young children, there is a soft play area and sand pit.  Children can also see the ducks and chicks or take part in the programme of craft activities and events.

On a sunny day, you can sit outside in the tea garden to enjoy a drink.

 

With so many amazing beaches, it’s no surprise that the Gower Peninsular is a popular destination for water sports enthusiasts.

The best places for surfing in Gower are at Llangennith, at the far end of Rhossili or Langland Bay.  Another popular beach for watersports in Gower is Caswell Bay, where you can kayak, surf or sup.  We’ve also enjoyed the popular coastal walk from Caswell Bay to Langland Bay .

For adrenalin lovers, you can try more adventurous sports, such as coasteering and gorge-climbing in Gower.