Swansea & Gower

Wales's second city sits next to the Gower Peninsula, Britain's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where the clifftop beach at Rhossili Bay ranks among the UK's finest.

Swansea (Welsh: Abertawe) is the second-largest city in Wales, located on the South Wales coast along the northern shore of Swansea Bay, with the Gower Peninsula immediately to the west — in 1956 the Gower became Britain's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The city itself was the world's copper-smelting capital in the 19th century and was rebuilt after heavy bombing in World War II; its sights are concentrated in the Maritime Quarter (National Waterfront Museum, Dylan Thomas Centre, marina) and at Swansea Market in the city center. Eight kilometers west along the bay is Mumbles, a Victorian seaside village with a pier, lighthouse, castle and ice-cream parlors.

The Gower Peninsula is about 25 km long. Its south coast is a string of cliffs and beaches — Langland Bay, Caswell Bay, Three Cliffs Bay, Oxwich Bay and Port Eynon — ending at Rhossili Bay and Worm's Head, some of the most photogenic coastal scenery in Britain; the north coast is salt marsh and Whiteford Sands. The Gower coast path runs about 60 km and is a highlight of the Wales Coast Path. To the east, you can also visit Margam Country Park and Aberdulais Falls, and about 35 km north is the National Botanic Garden of Wales.

Best time to visit: May–Sep has the most settled weather for beaches, surfing and hiking; spring and fall are quieter, and winters are windy and wet. Getting there: GWR trains from London Paddington take about 3 hours to Swansea, and about 1 hour from Cardiff. Buses between the city and Mumbles are frequent, but services on the Gower are sparse (routes such as the 118/119 run in summer). Driving is most convenient, though country lanes are narrow and most beach car parks are paid National Trust lots. Allow 2–3 days: one for the city and Mumbles, and one or two for the Gower. Note: check the tide tables before heading to Worm's Head — it is only accessible for about 2.5 hours either side of low tide.

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