Walking the Gower Peninsula
The Gower Peninsula was Britain’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, having been designated the title in 1956, and you can certainly see why!
The first thing you’ll notice as you walk the Gower Peninsula is that it is home to stunning beach after stunning beach. The Gower’s coastline is the real deal – catch it on a warm summer’s day and you might as well have travelled hundreds or thousands of miles on a hot holiday. In fact, arguably the jewel in the Gower’s crown, Rhossili Bay Beach, has been named the ninth best beach in the world by TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice – an impressive feat!
But beyond just beautiful beaches, a coastal walk along the Gower Peninsula will also award you with views of dramatic limestone cliffs, wild moorland, impressive dune systems and much, much more. If you’re walking the entire Gower coastline, you’ll also walk through Swansea, the country’s second-largest city.
How Long is the Gower Peninsula section of the Wales Coast Path?
Including the current diversion at Cwm Ivy (as of April 2024), the length of the Wales Coast Path on the Gower Peninsula is around 55 miles.
What are the Start and End Points of the Gower Peninsula section of the Wales Coast Path?
The Gower Peninsula section of the Wales Coast Path starts (or ends) at Swansea Marina and ends (or starts) at Loughor. A bus service runs between Swansea and Loughor, making this an easy section of the Wales Coast Path to access via public transport.
Where Can I Find a Map of the Gower Peninsula section of the Wales Coast Path?
You can view an interactive map of the Wales Coast Path on the official Wales Coast Path website. You can also browse a list of temporary diversions along the path, to ensure you don’t get caught out. You can also find maps and suggested walking routes in the Carmarthen Bay and Gower Official Guide.
How Long Does It Take to Walk the Gower Peninsula section of the Wales Coast Path?
We walked the Gower Peninsula section of the Wales Coast Path in five walks, but it could be done in less.
NB. in my posts, I talk about walking the Gower in four walks across two weekends. Although Swansea is part of the Gower, it’s not part of the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, hence its omission in my write-ups – sorry, Swansea!
A lovely 10½-mile walk along the Swansea coast, Mumbles Pier, and a stunning and well paved cliffside path with coastal views all the way to Caswell Bay.
Arguably the beginning of the Gower Peninsula ‘proper’. Nine miles of stunning coastline, including the beautiful Three Cliffs Bay and Oxwich Bay Beach.
An initial walk through woodland, before taking to the cliffs and enjoying yet more beautiful beach views. This 12-mile walk finishes in Rhossili, with a stroll past Worm’s Head and a peek of the stunning Rhossili Bay Beach.
More views of Worm’s Head and a stroll alongside the three-mile Rhossili Bay Beach begin this 15½-mile walk. At the end of the beach, the path heads up into the cliffs, past more stunning coves and around Whiteford National Nature Reserve. A final walk through marshland takes you to Llanrhidian.
The least coastal section of the Gower Peninsula, this 9½-mile walk goes through Llanrhidian Marsh and through Penclawdd, before heading up into the hills towards Loughor Bridge, the end point of this section of the Wales Coast Path.
A walk along the Wales Coast Path is an amazing adventure, so what are you waiting for?!
Still not convinced? Read my ten reasons to walk the Wales Coast Path.
If you’re ready to start planning your walk, you can find lots of resources to help you on your way here.
