Beaches
Under an hour travelling time
Cefn Sidan and Pembrey Country Park 10 mins away
Cefn Sidan beach has been described as one of Europes best beaches.
The beach, (winner of the coveted Blue Flag award) is vast, probably 8 miles long and half a mile to the sea at it's narrowest when the tide is out. Cefn Sidan is also safe for bathing within the lifeguard patrolled area.
Even on a bank holiday, if you are willing to walk, you can leave the crowds behind and find a part of the beach where you won't see a soul for miles!
The beach itself is within the Pembrey Country Park and there is an entrance fee for vehicles, but the car parks are excellent. The park was once the site of a Royal Ordnance Factory producing munitions for the Allied Forces during the Second World War. The factory covered 500 acres and employed a workforce of 3,000.
In the country park there is a ski slope, toboggan run, minature railway,visitor centre, restaurant, and cafe.
There are nature trails, forest walks, and cycle tracks.
Facilities for the disabled are excellent.
Ferryside
Sandy beach at mouth of River Towy, good fishing but dangerous for swimming.
Approx 35mins
St Ishmael (Kidwelly)
Quite rocky beach with sand burrows
Approx 30mins
Langland
A superb stretch of beach and extremely popular with sun and surfing enthusiasts. Langland Bay is recommended in the 2003 MCS Good Beach Guide.
Approx 37mins
Swansea Bay
Swansea Bay stretches from Swansea Marina at the mouth of the River Tawe to Mumbles Head, a distance of some four or so miles. There is a promenade running along the edge of the bay, which is enjoyed by cyclists, runners and walkers for the dramatic views across the bay. About halfway between Swansea and Mumbles, is Blackpill, with a café and paddling pools, which makes an ideal stop for some much needed refreshment on a hot summer's day. The bay is ideal for watersports of all kinds, with national sailing competitions held every year.
Distance from Cottage Approx 30mins
Caswell
Caswell is a sandy beach with good access and facilities, a popular destination for both visitors and locals all year round, situated ten minutes drive from Mumbles village. The beach shops are geared towards young families, and are well stocked with all the essentials for building sand castles. Swimming is safe, and there is a Lifeguard patrol during the summer months. When conditions prevail, this is a popular surfing beach, particularly at mid to high tide. Close by is the Bishop's Wood nature reserve.
Distance from Cottage Approx 40mins
Oxwich
Oxwich Bay is another one of Gower's most popular beaches, with good access, plenty of parking, shops and two and half miles of golden sand backed by sand dunes, salt marshes and woodland. It is a haven for all types of watersports including, diving, sailing, water-skiing and windsurfing, with a slipway to the beach. It is a safe beach for swimming, but do not swim directly in front of the slipway as this is the boat area.
Distance from Cottage Approx 45mins
An hour or over travelling time
Amroth
A large sandy beach backed by cliffs. This beach marks the easterly end of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, which winds its way for 186 miles past all the coves, beaches and cliffs of the Pembrokeshire National Park. Amroth beach is famous for its drowned forest - at very low tides tree stumps can be seen poking through the sand and fossilised antlers, nuts, animal bones and Neolithic flints have been discovered. Free parking is available and a slipway for boats. Shops, toilets, cafes and pubs are all found close to the beach. Watersports including Windsurfing and Kitesurfing are popular.
Distance from Cottage Approx 1 hour 10 mins
Marros
Fine 2 mile stretch of sands accessible by steep footpath
Distance from Cottage Approx 1 hour 10mins
Pendine
Pendine sands has a mixture of sand sea shells and rocks, great for the kids with their fishing nets. The beach is vast and was once the scene of land speed record attempts. In 1927 J.G.Parry Thomas was killed trying to beat Malcolm Campell's record of 175 miles per hour.
Distance from Cottage Approx 1 hour 5mins
Llansteffan
Beautiful village at mouth of River Towy with good fishing and walks
Distance from Cottage Approx 1 hour
Rhossili
Rhossili Bay is the most westerly bay on the Gower peninsula and bears the full might of the Atlantic swells. It is the most consistent surfing beach on Gower, with the biggest waves at the north end at Llangennith. Access to the beach; a good path leads down the side of the cliffs, but its a steep climb back up to the car park. For spectacular panoramic views over the bay why not walk up Rhossili Downs, the climb and views will take your breath away, but well worth it!
Distance from Cottage Approx 1 hour
LlangennithThe 3 mile long beach is well known throughout the UK as The Wormshead lies on its southern point. With its Spanish wreck on the beach partly visible at low and mid tide, it attracts bathers and walkers in equal numbers. The west facing point of Rhossili known as Llangennith attracts waves as big as 12ft in the winter months. Although rare in the summer when its good its very good. Gower Surfing doesn't get any better than this when its a solid 6ft and its 25 degrees. If you want the current surf report check out GowerLive who have developed a cutting edge surf reporting system for the Gower Peninsula.
Distance from Cottage Approx 1 hour
