TEN DAYS OUT WITH GOWER EXPLORER


Here are ten suggestions for superb days out on Gower using the Gower Explorer bus. Just click on to the bus icon to download and print your personal bus timetable to help plan your day out.

1. Rhossili and Worm’s Head

 



The bus takes you directly to this picturesque village, with its ancient church, gallery, bistro and café. It is on the edge of a lovely National Trust property – entry free. Call at the NT Visitor Centre (open daily) for information about what there is to do and see before taking a half mile (1km) walk to the headland with magnificent views, and another three quarters of a mile (1.5km) to Worms Head – but check tide tables to ensure you are not stranded by income tide. Nearby Rhossili Beach is one of the most spectacular beaches for surfing in the whole of Wales.
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2. Port Eynon

 

Believed to be named after an 11th century Welsh prince, the pretty village of Port Eynon overlooks a beautiful beach. The village has a pub, cafes, a youth hostel, and a short walk away is an unusual 18th century Salt House where sea salt was extracted from specially designed salt pans. Close by on the picturesque headland is the Port Eynon Nature Reserve, and other walks lead to Horton by the dunes or along cliff top paths to Overton – all on Gower Explorer bus routes.

 

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3. Oxwich




One of Gower’s most attractive villages, with a medieval church, Tudor Manor House (open in summer), and pretty, former quarrymens’ cottages – with a popular beach only a short stroll from the bus stop.. There is a magnificent National Nature Reserve close by, noted for its rich and varied coastal habitats – fresh and salt water marsh, cliff, woodland, with over 600 recorded species of wildflowers as well as a variety of birdlife.


 
  


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4. Pennard


 
Take the bus to its terminus at Pennard Cliffs (coffee shop) you’ll find a choice of easy, level and well surfaced cliff top paths to East Cliff, Pwll Ddu Head or further to the Old Fort, with superb views across the Bristol Channel to the Devon coast. For a longer walk you can make your way past Pwll Du through the ancient woods of the Bishopston Valley or in the opposite direction, to spectacular Three Cliffs Bay and Penmaen – again with convenient Gower Explorer buses to reduce the need to retrace your steps
  


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5. Caswell Bay



 


One of the most popular and delightful beaches on Gower, notable for safe sands and rock pools, in a scenic setting. There’s a direct bus service (every half hour) straight to the beach in July and August, otherwise it’s a short walk from the village of Newton.
  

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6. Llanrhidian and Weobley Castle



 




Llanrhidian is an especially good place from where to explore the quieter paths and coastline of north Gower, with fascinating sheep-grazed salt marshes, rich in birdlife, and some delightful coastal footpaths, including the walk to Weobley Castle, magnificent ruins of a 14th century fortified house overlooking Llanrhidian Marsh, perhaps continuing to Landimore or Cheriton.
  


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7. Llanmadoc



 
From the pretty village of Llanmadoc with its inn, there are splendid walks to Whiteford Sands National Nature Reserve and Whiteford Burrows at the northern tip of Gower, a paradise for bird watchers and naturalists. Walkers can take advantage of the bus network by heading south via Llangennith and across Rhossili Down or on Rhossili Beach, to pick up your return Gower Explorer bus from Rhossili.
  


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8. Mumbles


 
There’s everything you can expect at a traditional seaside resort at Mumbles – beach, rock pools, fishing, cafes, amusements, bars, a lighthouse and lifeboat station, a splendid pier and wonderful views across Swansea Bay. But you’ll also discover fine walks around the dramatic crags of Mumbles Head to Limeslade and to Langland Bay. Mumbles is so easy to reach from Swansea with very frequent buses from Swansea.
  


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9. Gower Heritage Centre



 
Based around a historic 12th century water mill, Gower Heritage centre has a fascinating rural life museum and craft centre. You’ll find craft shops, activities, play areas, child friendly animals and ducks, and lots of events all year – Gower’s perfect all-weather attraction. The Woollen Mill at the centre offers a display illustrating the history of the woollen industry in south-west Wales using equipment from the former Abbey Woollen Mill at Neath, demonstrating how a sheep’s fleece is turned into finished fabric.

Show your bus ticket to get half price entry.

  

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10. The Gower Way

 

This lovely 35km long distance walking trail with its rich variety of scenery is a challenge for keen ramblers. The Gower Explorer bus network is the perfect way to access the Way, perhaps in three attractive day stages – maybe starting at Felindre on the 142 Lliw Link bus route, then walking down to Gowerton , the next day starting at Gowerton and walking via Three Crosses and Cilibion to Penmaen and finally from Penmaen following the Way over spectacular Cefn Bryn to Reynoldston, Rhossili and Worms Head. For full details of the route log on to http://www.gowersociety.org.uk/.
  
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