Welcome to Gower – Britain’s first designated Area of 'Outstanding Natural Beauty'. Spend just a short time here and you will quickly appreciate the reasons for this. Within a small geographical area you will find a huge contrast in unspoiled scenery and habitats. The amazing diversity you will encounter during a single day’s walk will ensure that this special area appeals to all tastes and interests.
Another feature on which many visitors comment, is the wealth of footpaths, bridle ways, farm tracks and public rights of way that create an intricate web of walking possibilities and enable us to explore the entire area on foot, usually away from traffic and often out of sight of any sign of human activity. In short, Walkers’ Bliss!
We strongly recommend you purchase Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 164 and use the following suggested walks as a starting point from which to extend your exploration of Gower. The Gower Society and West Glamorgan Ramblers have published many excellent booklets describing walks in all areas of the peninsula – available from Shepherds Store in Parkmill; Three Cliffs Coffee Shop in Southgate; National Trust Shop in Rhosilli;
By referring to OS Explorer Map 164, you will see that we are very fortunate to have a coastal footpath around the entire peninsula of Gower which is well marked and easy to follow. The 22 miles from Mumbles to Rhossili can be walked in a day and will stun you with breathtaking views all the way. Pick up any section of the route, walk in either direction and you will not be disappointed.
Please follow the Countryside Code:
PLEASE BE AWARE that these walks are undertaken AT YOUR OWN RISK and that you are responsible for your own safety at all times.
Circular walks
Please use the following notes in conjunction with OS Explorer Map 164.
(1) SHORT WALKS
(1) (a)
Hotel – beach – stream – dunes – hotel.
Enjoy this easy stroll after dinner or perhaps before breakfast!
About 2 miles
Head along the beach from the hotel until you meet the small stream – Nicholaston Pill. Turn left in-land and return via the back of the dune system, following pathways heading in the general direction of Oxwich. This area is rich in flora and fauna, especially butterflies during the summer. The route through the dunes will take rather longer than the beach walk, but you can easily return to the beach by heading left, over the dune ridge and onto the beach itself.
(1) (b)
Hotel – village – Oxwich Green – Oxwich Castle – hotel
This pleasant walk is along quiet but narrow country lanes – please be aware of occasional approaching traffic.
Just under 2 miles
Return to the cross roads in the village and continue straight ahead, through the village, passing thatched cottages (including “The Nook” where the preacher, John Wesley stayed in 1769). Continue up the lane to the T junction (house called Badger’s Hole on left). Turn left up the steep lane which soon levels out. At the junction (with Greenways caravan and camp site on the right) in Oxwich Green, turn left down the hill to return to the cross roads in Oxwich village, passing Oxwich Castle (worth a visit) on the right hand side.
If you have time, you can add twenty minutes to your return journey. Nearing the bottom of the hill, turn right through the wooden gate into the woods and follow the path gently up hill. At a junction, follow the sign left to Oxwich Church, which brings you down via steep steps to the church at the end of the lane beyond the hotel.
(1) (c)
Hotel – church – steps – woods – hotel
Less than a mile
Leave the hotel car park and turn right along the lane towards St Illtyd’s church. Continue on the path between the church and the rocks above the beach and soon turn right up a long flight of steps.
At the top of the steps, bear right and right again to follow a gently sloping path down through the woods to join the road. Turn right on the road and return to the cross roads in Oxwich village. Turn right to return to the hotel.