The Best Beaches in Gower, Wales’ Wildest Coastline + Underrated Coves

The best beaches in Gower: this is quite possibly Wales’ wildest coastline.

Featuring limestone cliffs, shipwrecks, tidal islands, sunflower fields, and smugglers’ coves, the Gower Peninsula is a place of pure, unfiltered adventure.

Located just past the city of Swansea in a far western corner of South Wales, the Gower Peninsula’s claim to fame is that is was the first-ever designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the United Kingdom.

In the UK, this title is only awarded to the most unique and outstanding landscapes – and the Gower does not disappoint. Out of the 30-odd beaches in the Gower Peninsula, the best Gower beaches each have their own unique features and personality.

Expect to stumble upon miles-long expanses of firm golden sand, tiny tucked-away coves that only appear at a very low tide, limestone cliffs, metres-deep tidal pools, and caves, among other things.

One of my favourite things about the best beaches in Gower, however, is that they are less touristic than the likes of Cornwall, Devon or Dorset in England, as well as the Welsh Pembrokeshire coastline an hour or two’s drive to the north of Gower.

This makes the best beaches on the Gower Peninsula a fantastic offbeat travel destination with fewer crowds.

If you’re looking to explore other parts of Wales, the Wye Valley is another underrated destination. I count completing the Tintern Abbey walks as one of the highlights of my summer 2022.

Best Beaches in Gower: What is the Gower known for?

Worm’s Head, Gower

The United Kingdom has 34 areas designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). These are sections of land that are considered to be unique and exceptional.

The Gower Peninsula was the first area in the UK to be crowned an AONB, all the way back in 1956. This is largely due to the peninsula’s geologically-unique coastline, which features limestone cliffs, caves, tidal pools, causeways, shipwrecks, and sandy beaches.

The Gower coast also receives an impressive swell from the Atlantic ocean, meaning that many of its beaches are popular surfing destinations with big waves. Rhossili Bay is one of the most popular surfing beaches in the Gower, for example. The Gower Peninsula beaches are also popular for other watersports such as paddleboarding or kayaking on calmer bays or coasteering. At sea, wildlife such as grey seals, dolphins, and porpoises are often spotted.

The adventure doesn’t end on dry land, as the peninsula has a huge selection of coastal walks with dramatic scenery. Inland on the Gower Peninsula, the moors are populated with free-roaming cows and sheep. Experienced cyclists can descend upon road trails through the moors and over the coast.

To summarise, the Gower is known for:

• Being the UK’s first official designated Area of Outstanding Beauty.
• Unique geological formations such as limestone cliffs, tidal pools, and caves.
• Excellent surfing conditions.
• Coastal walks and watersports.
• Wildlife such as grey seals, dolphins, and porpoises.

The best beaches in Gower: How many beaches are there on the Gower Peninsula?

There are around 30 beaches on the Gower Peninsula. The beaches in Gower come in all shapes and sizes. There are miles-long sandy beaches backed by huge sand dunes, as well as more discreet mid-sized coves and tiny patches of sand or rock that are only revealed when the tide retreats fully.

The beaches on the Gower have a number of features, from shipwrecks buried in the sand to naturally-formed swimming holes in the rocks.

How to plan for the best beaches Gower Peninsula

Wild pony grazing next to Worm’s Head and Rhossili Bay

The best Gower beaches are not your typical drive up, park up, and set down on beach situation. Many require a short walk or a long hike; some also require scrambling over rocks, depending upon the tidal condition.

Being responsible and staying safe is the most important thing when you’re visiting the beaches of the Gower, whether it’s your first or one-hundredth time on the peninsula.

Keep in mind:

• Some of the Gower’s beaches or headlands are only accessible at low tide. You should check the tide times before you depart.
• The Gower Peninsula is a remote, rural area. Therefore, many of the beaches don’t have lifeguard services. Those that do have lifeguard services may run on a seasonal rota.
• Many of the beaches experience strong currents, so you should check the weather conditions and the tide times before attempting to swim. You should also be a strong swimmer.
• Obstacles on the beaches may range from shells and rocks to shipwrecks just below the surface of the water. Carrying a first-aid kit is a good idea.
• When swimming at Rhossili Bay or Llangennith Bay, keep watch for shipwrecks underneath the water at mid tide.

What to pack for the best beaches in Gower

Because so many of the beaches in Gower are located a fair walk from the nearest car park, you need to bring all of your kit with you. Most of the beaches on the Gower Peninsula also have limited or no facilities, so don’t expect to fall back on shops, snack stalls, or restaurants for food and supplies.

Essential items to bring to the Gower beaches:

• A first-aid kit, especially plasters, bandages, and sterile wipes.
• Mobile phone.
• Swimming costume or trunks.
• Sea shoes such to protect your feet from shipwrecks, shells, and rocks.
• Food and snacks. Many beaches do not have facilities for food or drink.
• A beach towel – ideally, a lightweight, quick-dry microfibre towel.
• A map/plan of your route. Wi-Fi and 4G signal may be scarce on the beaches in Gower. Even a few screenshots of your planned route stored on a mobile phone will come in very handy. Consider downloading an offline map from maps.me.
• A reusable water bottle or a flask. Consider bringing extra water.
• A change of clothes.
• Tissues or toilet paper. Many of the beaches on the Gower do not have toilet facilities.
• Dry bag. This is handy if you take part in watersports such as paddleboarding or kayaking and want to take your gear onto the water with you.
• Sunglasses, suncream and a sunhat.
• Doggie bags, treats and a water bowl.
• Portable charger (optional).
• Picnic blanket (optional).
• Watersports gear or surfboard (optional).
• Books, ear buds, and other entertainment.

How to get to the best beaches in Gower

As a rural peninsula, the Gower is mostly made up of countryside, moorland, and a handful of small villages and towns. There are no train stations or airports.

The nearest train station to the Gower is in Swansea, 10 miles away. The nearest airport is Cardiff Airport, over 55 miles away.

That leaves you with four main methods of getting around the Gower:

1. By car

The best way of getting around the Gower is by car.

There are no restrictions on the number of beaches you can visit in one day. You can change your plan at any given time. It’s also easy to reach local pubs, cafés, or shops when you feel hungry.

• Remember to drive carefully. The Gower’s roads consist of narrow country lanes with tight corners and roads which pass through open moorlands where there are free-roaming sheep and cows.
• Fill up your petrol tank in Swansea before embarking on your Gower beach day because there are limited petrol stations on the peninsula.
• Download an offline navigation map. 4G signal can be sketchy on the peninsula.
• Bring cash. Some of the car parks at beaches on the Gower peninsula require a fee and may not accept card payments due to the poor reception.

2. On foot

Unless you’re camping along the Gower Way (a 56-kilometre footpath over the peninsula) or the Welsh Coast Path over a period of several days, travelling to the Gower’s beaches on foot is going to be tricky and time consuming.

There are only several beaches where this is doable in a day from Swansea:

• Langland Bay is a 20-minute walk from The Mumbles in Swansea.
• Caswell Bay is a 45-minute walk from The Mumbles in Swansea.
• Pwll Du is an hour and 15 minutes’ walk from The Mumbles in Swansea.

To get to The Mumbles from the centre of Swansea, you will need to take the 72-seater land train that travels along the full length of the Swansea promenade. Stops include Blackpill Lido, Blackpill, Southend Gardens, and Mumbles.

If you are planning on walking the Gower Peninsula, I’d recommend downloading one of the following apps to access walking trails and shortcuts:

• The AllTrails app (available on Apple or Android) has a selection of walking trails to choose from across the Gower Peninsula and beyond.
• The This is Gower app (available on Apple or Android) has details of local trails, as well as facts about the peninsula.

3. By bicycle

Cycling is another option. However, I wouldn’t recommend tackling the Gower on two wheels unless you’re an experienced, confident, and capable cyclist who is accustomed to country roads and/or off-road paths. Cycling between the beaches in Gower takes time and expertise, and it would be helpful to have local knowledge of the best routes too.

4. By bus

The final option is to travel to the Gower Peninsula coast by bus. However, the bus services on the Gower are very limited. They are also prone to running off-schedule. This is something you do not want to happen, because it can skew your tide timings.

There are very limited bus stops around the Gower, meaning that you’ll still have to walk long distances. The bus stop locations put many of the best beaches in Gower out of your reach.

If you have no method of transport other than public transport, I would recommend searching for organised tours of the Gower Peninsula on Get Your Guide. These tours will arrange all of your transport for you.

If you still want to attempt to get around the Gower by bus, the main bus routes across the Gower include:

• Swansea to Rhossili: This bus service runs almost hourly on weekdays. Weekend services run in the summer season. It departs from the Swansea Quadrant Bus Station and the journey time takes around an hour and 15 minutes. The nearest beaches are Rhossili Bay, Mewslade Bay, and Fall Bay.
• Swansea to Llanridian: This bus services runs almost hourly on weekdays, with weekend services in the summer season. It departs from the Swansea Quadrant Bus Station and the journey time takes around an hour. The nearest beaches are Rhossili Bay, Whiteford Beach(an hour and a half’s walk) and Broughton Bay or Blue Pool Bay (two hours).
• Village services: Village services are varied and usually run on weekdays only. There are less frequent departures.

The 8 Best Beaches in Gower

1. Three Cliffs Bay

There’s no doubt in my mind that Three Cliffs Bay must be crowned the best beach in the Gower Peninsula. Not only is it incredibly scenic, but half of the adventure is getting to the beach in the first place.

Three Cliffs isn’t the sort of place where you can simply roll up, park up, and pick a spot on the sand. Instead, you must make your way through light woodlands and a lush, green valley with small sand dunes. The valley has a gentle estuary called Pennard Pill, which divides the bay into two distinct sections.

To the west, the main section of the beach is backed by a holiday park. To the east, the scenery begins. There are three limestone cliffs, which look almost like the humps of a sea dragon. These distinct cliffs are what gave the beach its name Three Cliffs Bay. They back onto a headland, which has a golf course and the ruins of Pennard Castle, an area with exceptional views over the beach.

To cross from the east side of the beach to to west, there is a wooden footbridge near Parkmill (and the car park) or stepping stones further down the beach. Timing is key for the stepping stones, as when high tide approaches, they sink under the water, leaving unsuspecting beachgoers with no way of crossing aside from a waist-deep ramble or returning to the footbridge at Parkmill.

Excellent hikes around the beach include climbing over the grassy headland to the three peaks or visiting Pennard Castle, which has views over the valley and beach. Sunset is best at Pennard Castle; the sun sets over the hills on the opposite side of the beach.

Car parking: Southgate, Penmaen or Shepherds in Parkmill (between 10 to 30 minutes’ walk). I recommend parking in Shepherds in Parkmill.

Facilities: There are no toilets. Food is available in the villages of Parkmill and Southgate.

Lifeguards: Lifeguards operate between July and September.

2. Rhossili Bay

Without a doubt, Rhossili Bay comes a close second to Three Cliffs as the best beach in Gower. The three-mile-long stretch of golden sand is just as impressive from the shore as it is from the headland. This is a very popular beach for surfers too, as there are big swells from the Atlantic when the conditions are right.

From mid to low tide, the water reveals the remains of Helvetia, a ship that was wrecked on the beach in 1887. The wooden posts are still buried in the sand, making it an excellent photography spot with the Worm’s Head peninsula in the background.

Just like Three Cliffs Bay, part of the appeal is the surrounding scenery. The headland above Rhossili Bay has fields of bright-yellow sunflowers in the summer, including a pick-your-own sunset field which costs just a few pounds to enter.

Past the sunflowers is Worm’s Head, a peninsula that’s separated from the mainland by a tidal causeway. The island, which looks like a worm’s head (hence the name), is accessible at low tide only and has been dubbed as ‘Rhossili’s sea serpent’ due to its unique shape. It gets its name from ‘wurm’, the Viking name for Dragon.

If you’re up for the adventure, you can scramble across the rocks to hike over Devil’s Bridge to Worm’s Head. However, you must get your timings correct because the return route is cut off when the tide starts to come back in.

You must set off for Worm’s Head two hours before low tide and make your break back to the mainland before the two hours after low tide is up. Back on the headlands, there is a pub and a coffee shop with seating over Rhossili Bay. The views are superb.

Car parking: Parking is available at Rhossili Bay Car Park, where there is a steep descent and ascent to the beach. This car park provides the easiest access to the headland and Worm’s Head. Parking is also available at Hill End Car Park, where access to the beach is through a short stretch of sand dunes. This car park is ideal for those who don’t mind a longer walk and a climb to the headland or just want to visit the beach.

Facilities: Toilets are available at the Rhossili Bay Car Park and Hill End Car Park. Food is available at establishments around the Rhossili Bay Car Park on the headland.

Lifeguards: No lifeguards.

3. Blue Pool Bay

The horse-shoe shaped Blue Pool Bay at mid tide, before the sand makes an appearance.

Blue Pool Bay isn’t as popular as Rhossili Beach and Three Cliffs Bay, but it’s just as unique. The beach has a deep natural swimming hole called Blue Pool, which forms in the rocks by the beach at low tide. It’s re-filled and covered every time the tide comes in.

Until the 19th century, Blue Pool Bay was used as a place to moor large sailing boats. Since then, it has drawn in treasure hunters looking for ancient goodies buried in the shifting sands.

The beach is only accessible at mid to low tide, so visiting Blue Pool Bay requires some planning. The same goes for the Blue Pool, which is covered by the seawater until low tide. The pool is around eight foot deep, so cliff jumping is popular, just as long as you check it’s deep enough beforehand by diving to the bottom.

I’ve decided to call Blue Pool Bay ‘the Durdle Door of the Gower’. The west end of the bay has a small rock arch named The Three Chimneys. At sunset, the views of the arch and the Blue Pool are spectacular, as the sun sets above the water. If you’re lucky, you might see a few dolphins.

Car parking: There is a free car park at Broughton Farm Caravan Park.

Facilities: There are no toilets. Food vans may operate from the car park during high season.

Lifeguards: No lifeguards. The beach’s proximity to the Loughour estuary means that there are sometimes strong currents which can pull swimmers out to sea. You should be careful with swimming at the beach, as there have been drownings in the past.

If you’re visiting the Gower not just for its beaches, but to tick off a few fascinating geological sites, and pack in the adventures, you might want to consider visiting Culver Hole. Culver Hole, based alongside Port Eynon beach, is a 60-foot stone wall which conceals a cave and an ancient pigeon nesting ground. Built into the cliff and with bare windows, it looks like something out of a film set.

4. Tor Bay

Tor Bay has a popular neighbour named Oxwich Bay. Oxwich Bay has long been marketed as one of the Gower Peninsula’s best and most well-equipped beaches. There’s a hotel, a fancy restaurant, a small coffee shop, a watersports centre, and low and behold, toilets (a rarity for the Gower).

As a result, many miss out on Tor Bay and head straight for its more popular neighbour. I also fell into the trap of visiting Oxwich Bay, which is rated as the top beach in the Gower on Tripadvisor.

However, Tor Bay’s compact, golden sand is of far better quality than its neighbour. Honestly, I’d recommend giving Oxwich’s sand worms and sharp shells a miss – the quality of the beach is more than sub-par, and my friend injured her foot on a sharp shell, cutting short our trip.

The horseshoe-shaped Tor Beach is sheltered on either side by tall cliffs and at low tide, it’s possible to walk all the way across the sand to Pobbles Beach and Three Cliffs Bay. Overall, it’s an excellent option for a relaxing beach day, although it doesn’t have quite the same adventure factor as Three Cliffs, Rhossili or Blue Pool Bay.

Car parking: Limited parking in Penmaen Village (20 minutes’ walk).

Facilities: There are no toilets or food establishments.

Lifeguards: No lifeguards.

5. Mewslade Bay

Mewslade Bay, in my opinion, is one of the ultimate offbeat beaches on the Gower. It’s not unusual to have the cove completely to yourself, or at the very least, share it with just a few others. It is another sandy beach which only appears when the tide retreats.

Mewslade Bay is not easy to get to, but that’s all part of the romance. From the car park in Pitton near Rhossili, there’s a hike through woods and down a steep valley before you reach the sand. Once you’ve made it to the sand, there are usually a few good swells for bodyboarders or surfers to get stuck into. Caves, tunnels and rockpools are scattered around the bay.

If you have time before the tide starts coming back in, you could stroll across the sand to neighbouring Fall Bay (even if it’s just for a quick picture). The coastal path also connects Mewslade to Butterslade to the east and Fall Bay to the west.

Car parking: The nearest car park is Mewslade Car Park in Rhossili.

Facilities: There are no toilets or food establishments.

Lifeguards: No lifeguards.

6. Broughton Corner

Many have heard of Broughton Bay, a lengthy sandy beach on the northwest corner of the Gower Peninsula. Not so many have heard of Broughton Corner.

In fact, the name of this tiny cove isn’t exactly official. The cove is nameless, but because it’s only separated from Broughton Bay by a short, rocky headland in its south corner, it’s been dubbed ‘Broughton Corner’ by locals.

If I hadn’t walked from the Broughton Farm Caravan Park to Blue Pool Bay, I wouldn’t have had a clue about Broughton Corner. It doesn’t show up on Google Maps, which is how you know it’s an offbeat spot. Despite it being within close proximity of the caravan park, there are usually very few people at the beach, especially later in the day.

The beach is tiny, but that’s exactly what makes it so appealing. You might want to take a quick detour on you way along the coastal path to Blue Pool Bay or sojourn a little longer, especially if it’s empty. There’s a short clamber to the sand from the coastal path.

Just make sure that you visit at mid to low tide, because the beach is submerged at high tide. You should also stay waist deep and be mindful of currents, because the nearby Loughour Estuary can produce strong currents in the whole Broughton and Blue Pool area.

Car parking: There is a car park a five to 10-minute walk away at Broughton Farm Caravan Park.

Facilities: There are no toilets. There may be a food van in the car park during the summer.

Lifeguards: No lifeguards.

7. Fall Bay

Photo by Richard Allaway (cc 2.0 – cropped)

Tucked around the back of the Rhossili Bay headland, Fall Bay is another beach that has a famous neighbour: Rhossili Bay. Fall Bay is a sandy beach with sheer cliffs on either side, including one steep ascent named Kings Wall. As with many of the Gower beaches, beach is comprised of nothing but a few pebbles past mid tide, so you must visit at low tide.

Getting to the beach is the fun part. There are two options for your approach. The first is to park in Rhossili village, where there is limited parking. Access to the beach is by footpaths through farm fields.

The second – and the option I advise – is to park at the Rhossili Bay car park on the Rhossili headland and walk towards Worm’s Head. When you reach the sunflower fields on the left, follow the path around to the left and continue down the coastal path until you reach Fall Bay. There will be a great view of the beach and neighbouring Mewslade from the clifftop.

Car parking: Car park at Rhossili Bay Car Park and limited parking in Rhossili village.

Facilities: There are no toilets. Food is available at establishments around the Rhossili Bay Car Park.

Lifeguards: No lifeguards.

8. Langland Bay

Photo © Eirian Evans (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Langland Bay doesn’t have the wild feel that I associate with most of the Gower Peninsula. However, if you’re looking for a wheelchair-accessible beach with good-quality sand, Langland Bay is a convenient option.

The short promenade is lined with typical British beach huts and there are four free tennis courts, two coffee shops, and a brasserie-style restaurant.

Langland Bay is a popular beach, largely in part to its easy accessibility and its proximity to The Mumbles in Swansea. There’s a well-formed path between Langland Bay and other beaches, including Caswell Bay, Langland Bay, Limeslade Bay, Bracelet Bay, and the Mumbles.

The surf is often packed with locals lining up out back to catch in the biggest wave. However, due to rocks in the water, you need to have some prior surfing experience.

Car parking: Langland Car Park is adjacent to the beach.

Facilities: There are toilets and outdoor showers. Food is available at the beach cafes and brasserie.

Lifeguards: Lifeguards in high season only.

Dog-friendly beaches Gower

If you’re planning on exploring the beaches in Gower with a furry companion by your side, you’re in luck. Many of the beaches in Gower are dog-friendly. At the very least, there are seasonal dog restrictions in place.

The following beaches in Gower permit canines year-round:

• Three Cliffs Bay.
• Rhossili Bay.
• Blue Pool Bay.
• Mewslade Bay.
• Tor Bay.
• Broughton Bay and Broughton Corner.
• Fall Bay.
• Pwll Du: There is a walk through Bishopston Valley on the approach to the beach.
• Horton Beach: Dogs are not permitted past the lifeguard station on the east of the beach towards Port Eynon.
• Pobbles Bay: Access to beach is across a clifftop walk and sand dunes. Dogs should be kept on a lead because there are no fences.
• Crawley Beach: Adjacent to Oxwich Bay and accessible through Crawley Woods.
• Whiteford Sands: A two-mile beach backed by a national nature reserve.
• Oxwich Bay: Oxwich Bay is dog-friendly all year round. At two and half miles in length and backed by the dunes of the Oxwich National Nature Reserve, there’s plenty of space to walk dogs. However, there are lots of shells on the beach when the tide is low, so I wouldn’t recommend visiting with a dog unless you keep to the back of the beach.

Some of the beaches in Gower have dog bans for five months between May 1st and September 30th. The following dog-friendly beaches have seasonal restrictions:

• Langland Bay: Out of season, the coffee shop and Langland Brasserie is dog-friendly.
• Caswell Bay: Out of season, the coffee shop is dog-friendly.
• Bracelet Bay.
• Limeslade Bay.
• Rotherslade Bay.
• Port Eynon Beach (from the eastern edge of the beach at Port Eynon to the Horton lifeboat station on the east of Horton Beach).

The three best beaches in Gower for sunset

Experiencing the Gower’s beaches at sunset is a must. There’s something about a golden-hour trip that’s special; the peninsula takes on a golden hue.

As a rule of thumb, the best sunset spots on the Gower Peninsula are those where the sun sets over the sea. The colours are more striking as a result, and the land is scattered with golden light.

Therefore, there are some beaches on the Gower that are more spectacular than others at sunset. Take Three Cliffs Bay, for instance. It’s not as impressive at sunset as Rhossili Bay because the sun sets over the hills and not over the sea.

Remember to pack a head torch if you’re walking in the dark after the sunset. Save any scrambling or swimming for the daylight, when people can see you.

1. Rhossili Bay and Worm’s Head

Rhossili Bay is by far the best beach for sunset in the Gower. The wide expanse of sand and the sloping green hills are spectacular enough by day, but when they’re showered with golden light, the sand and the cliffs takes on a new atmosphere.

There are many viewpoints across the Rhossili headland of the sunset too. They’re all so stunning at sunset that you’ll have difficulty choosing (or instead, you’ll have to run between all of them, like I did).

In the summer, Rhossili’s sunset fields are usually empty around sunset time. They make an excellent photography spot.

To avoid paying the entrance fee (£3) and to get an even better view over the lower field towards the sea, follow the coastal path left around the sunflower field, where there’s a public footpath at the back of the lower field accessible by a stile.

Don’t try scrambling across to Worm’s Head at sunset; the trek is dangerous in darkness because of the quickly-changing tides, which can cut off your route back to the headland.

2. Blue Pool Bay and Broughton Corner

Blue Pool Bay and Broughton Corner make for an excellent sunset. Ideally, you want to visit when the tide is fully out so that you can take a pre-sunset dip in the Blue Pool that forms along the rocks at Blue Pool Bay.

There’s only a short walk to reach Blue Pool Bay – around 15 minutes at the most – so there’s even more time for a golden-hour soak at the tiny beach at Broughton Corner. At sunset time, the beach may be empty or at the very least, have just a few people in the water.

I visited Blue Pool Bay and Broughton Corner at mid to low tide, so the sand at Blue Pool Bay hadn’t fully formed. Still, the sunset is one of the best I’ve experienced on the Gower.

3. Langland Bay

If you’re looking for a sunset spot that’s easily accessible from The Mumbles or Swansea, Langland Bay is your destination. Once again, at this destination, the sun sets over the sea, causing the ocean to turn all shades of orange, red and gold. There are benches positioned along the cliff path, which is wheelchair-friendly, but the best views at sunset can be found on Whiteshell Point or Snaple Point on either sides of the beach.

The best beaches in Gower: What to do on the Gower when it’s raining

If you’re visiting the beaches in Gower, it’s likely you’ve already pre-checked the weather forecast and tide timings. Unfortunately, when it comes to the Welsh weather, rain isn’t always predictable. Your beach trip could succumb to a sudden downpour or thunderstorm when you least expect it.

At this point, it’s probably best to abandon any thoughts of visiting any beaches on the Gower that require scrambling, a steep climb, or a clifftop walk to access the beach.

Rhossili Bay in the rain

If the weather and tidal conditions are safe enough for a swim, you could still go for a brief drizzly swim at the beaches which have good facilities and lifeguards. Rain doesn’t get in the way of the surf either. If you have a wetsuit and a surfboard, a little drizzle shouldn’t interfere with your plans too much. The same goes for paddleboarding.

If you’d rather head indoors:

• Consider taking refuge inside one of the Gower Peninsula’s pubs and coffee shops. I particularly recommend the pub and coffee shop next to the Rhossili Bay Car Park. They have good views even in the rain.
• Visit the Gower Heritage Centre, which is based in a 12th-century water mill on the outskirts of Parkmill Village near Three Cliffs Bay and Pobbles Bay. The museum has a working water wheel, corn mill, mill cottage, wood turners’ room, woollen mill, farming exhibit, and blacksmiths exhibit. It is open from 10pm to 5pm all week and runs pre-bookable crafts workshops.