8 of the best walks on the Gower Peninsula
The Gower Peninsula, Britain’s first area of outstanding natural beauty, is home to some of the finest stretches of the 870 mile Welsh Coastal
Theoretically, you could walk every one of its 46 miles, however, I’m not sure everyone has the time nor stamina to do this.
Instead, I’ve picked 8 of my favourite walks along this beautiful stretch of coastline, ranging from short wheelchair accessible cliff path strolls to adventurous rocky scrambles on the very edge of the peninsula.
They aren’t listed in order however if I had to pick my three favourites it would be the Worms Head hike, closely followed by Three Cliffs Bay, and a loop of Tor Bay and Cefn Bryn.
Each walk has its own individual hike guide included with all the nitty gritty stuff and details. Including where to park, hike details, maps, and nearest watering hole so you can finish (or start…) your walk in the best way possible.
As much of Gower is common land and local farms use this landscape for grazing, don’t be surprised if you find yourself sharing your walks with sheep, cattle, and even wild horses.
Bracelet Bay to Langland point
Difficulty: Easy
Type: Out and Back
Distance: 10km
Elevation Gain: 110m
A gentle five mile out and back cliff top stroll which takes you from Bracelet bay around to Langland point.
The wheelchair friendly route hugs the clifftop giving you beautiful unobstructed views of the Gowers rugged coastline.
It’s a walk which is perfect for those who maybe short on time or dont want to tackle anything too strenuous. Just make sure you pack a towel and your wallet as there’s plenty of opportunities for a dip or a pint and a ice cream in one of the four bays you will pass.
Whiteford Lighthouse & Nature Reserve
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Type: loop
Distance: 6 miles
Elevation Gain:
A delightful headland walk on the Northwest tip of the Gower Peninsula. The walk takes you across a vast two-mile expanse of beach leading out along the edge of the Loughor Estuary and back through the unspoiled Whiteford nature reserve.
Alongside being a haven for wildlife, including wild horses, at low tide you will be able to access Whiteford lighthouse, the only wave-swept cast-iron tower in Britain. The 13m tall decommissioned lighthouse can be found at the northern tip of the beach and was built in 1865.
For all the information on the walk, including the best places to park, GPX routes and video blog, check out my detailed blog post below
Fall Bay and Mewslade Bay from Rhossili
Difficulty: Easy
Type: loop
Distance: 3.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 80m
A spectacular, circular walk at the western edge of the Gower Peninsula which passes the mythical Worms head, visits two secluded coves, and gives you some of the best coastal views that the peninsula has to offer.
If you are visiting Gowers most iconic beach and have some time to spare then this hike is a must do. For the more adventurous amongst you, this walk can be combined with the Worms Head island walk for one epic day out.
Three Cliffs Bay loop
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Type: Loop
Distance: 6.5km
Elevation Gain: 60m
Three Cliffs is a beach like no other. Its distinctive coastal peaks and golden sands warrant a visit in itself. However when you add in its winding green valley overlooked by the ancient ruins of Pennard castle then you have something truly unique.
This delightful clifftop and woodland walk stops by both Pennard castle and Three Cliffs viewpoint before dropping down onto the beach and weaving back through Pennard valley.
Tor Bay, Cefn Bryn, and Three Cliffs Bay
Difficulty: Moderate
Type: Loop
Distance: 11km
Elevation Gain: 300m
A fantastic five mile walk which offers a little dabble of everything, from sandy woodland burrows, gorgeous rugged coastline, and a trip up the backbone of the Gower Peninsula.
The views from the summit of Cefn Bryn, the second highest point on the Gower, are worth it alone, so make sure you save this one for a sunny day.
Also dont forget to pack a towel as you’ll stop by both Tor Bay and western side of Three Cliffs, two of the best beaches on the Gower.
Worms Head Peninsula
Difficulty: Moderate
Type: Out and back
Distance: 7km
Elevation gain: 110m
A hike which takes you out onto the tip of the magical Worms head, a sea serpent shaped tidal island located off the headland at Rhosilli Bay. This walk is only avaible to do around 2.5 hour either side of low tide and does involved crossing over some unstable and rocky terrain. For this reason its worth checking the tide times and only tackling it if you are a sure footed walker.
The views from the car park are absolutely majestical and you’ll get to see one of Wales most impressive beaches from a completely different perspective.
For a detailed route description, including where to park, alongside a video blog of the route check out my blog post below:
Pwll Du via Bishopston Valley
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Type: Out and back
Distance: 7km
Elevation Gain: 100m
A delightful four mile woodland walk through the tranquil Bishopston valley. En-route, you will pass a series of limestone caves and underground rivers before emerging from beneath the canopy onto one of Gower's most beautiful, but secluded beaches.
This hike is a great option is the weather is a little more wild as the majority of it is spend under shelter. I would also consider checking the tide times as at high tide Pwll Du becomes a rocky, shingled beach with no sand.
Rhossili to Llangennith
Difficulty: Moderate
Type: Circular
Distance: 7km
Elevation Gain: 210m
This circular five mile walk takes you up to the highest point on Gower, Rhossili Downs, before dropping back down into the village of Llangennith and completing the loop by walking across the beaches golden sands.
This walk has a little bit of everything, showcasing in some of the finest views that the peninsula has to offer alongside passing an old WWII Radar station and the ruins of an old shipwreck.
The hike is perfect for escaping the crowds and gaining a unique perspective over arguably Gowers most iconic and beautiful beach.
There’s my favourite eight walks on the Gower. Let me know what you think, have I missed any routes or locations out? Let me know in the comments below.
In all honesty the entire coastline is beautiful and you wont disappointed no matter what section you walk.
You can also combine several of these walks to make one epic day out.
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You can find more Welsh hiking inspiration in the following blogs
For more travel, & photography inspiration around Wales check out my in-depth guides to each of my favourite regions below.