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 has some of the UK’s best beaches.

Without exception, 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.

Probably the most breath-taking of all the Gower beaches is Rhossili Bay.  On arrival, you will be blown away by the sheer awesomeness of this long, golden beach and dramatic coastline.

Follow the steep path to the beach, where you can try surfing or discover the remains of Rhossili’s shipwreck, Helvetia.

Alternatively, stay at the top for walks along the cliffs or the headlands.  If you go in the summer, you can be dazzled by the multitude of sunflowers.

If you are feeling adventurous, hike out to the iconic Worm’s Head.  This is the narrow, serpent-shaped tidal island at the end of the headland at Rhossili Bay.

To access Worm’s Head, clamber across rocks and the mussel-covered causeway and across the Devil’s Bridge.  It is not the easiest walk but is worth a trip.

High on your list of things to do in the Gower should be a visit to the Victorian seaside town of Mumbles.  There is a promenade that goes all the way from Swansea to the iconic Mumbles Pier.  Stop for a coffee or ice cream at the seafront cafes such as Beach Hut Café or Verdi’s.

If you go at low tide, you can walk across the beach to the Mumbles Lighthouse.  Then, climb up onto the island to get a closer look at the lighthouse and get views across Swansea Bay.

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

Wales is famous for its historic castles and the Gower Peninsular is no exception.  If you are in Mumbles, you can take a short walk to Oystermouth Castle, which looks down on the town.

Or you could climb up to the ruins of Oxwich Castle, which is fact a Tudor manor house!

If you are feeling adventurous, one of the best things to do in the Gower Peninsular is find Culver Hole.

Culver Hole is a mysterious walled cave in the cliffs next to Port Eynon.  It is a precarious scramble down the cliffs to get there, but we enjoyed it (even in the rain).

Apparently, the cave was a former medieval dovecote from the Middle Ages.  Since then it is believed to be used by smugglers.  Afterwards you can 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

The popular family beach at Oxwich Bay makes up part of the nature reserve at Oxwich.  The combination of sand dunes, marshland, beach, and forest provides a varied habitat for all sorts of flowers and wildlife.

Play in the sand dunes or follow the path to the Reynoldson Woods.

Plus, leave some time to visit the bird hide, which looks out onto the marshland.

Read more about Oxwich Bay.

Although the Gower Peninsula has many steep hills, there are still plenty of family friendly bike routes.  We started with the easy cycle ride from Mumbles Pier to Swansea, which follows the promenade along Swansea Bay.

We later followed the trail through the disused railway line which starts in Blackpill (halfway between Mumbles and Swansea).  This traffic-free route follows a disused railway track in Clyne Valley Country Park.

Just outside Oxwich at Parkmill is the Gower Heritage Centre.  This crafts centre is a good family day out.  As well as a working cornmill from the 1300s, it has a 19^th Century sawmill and other vintage farm equipment.

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

Learn to surf at Rhossili, Caswell Bay or Llangennith or hire a paddle board at Oxwich Bay.  You can also sign up for more adrenaline-fuelled activities, such as coasteering or gorge-walking.