Due to the continued travel restrictions many of us are rediscovering places closer to home and looking at them in a new light. We may not have fully appreciated the sheer beauty of the coastlines and countryside which surround us here in Wales and around the rest of the UK.
As we do more walking to shift the take-aways and excess wine consumed over lockdown, one of our favourite places we are rediscovering over the summer is the Gower Peninsula on the South Wales Coast. Although the whole area is beautiful and is designated as an Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty our particular favourite is Rhossili Bay and the dramatic carboniferous headland known as Worm’s Head.
Rhossili Bay
Rhossili Bay is a stunning 3 mile stretch of golden sands with rugged cliffs at one end and the popular surfing beach of Llangennith at the other. Just behind the beach is Rhossili Down which is the highest point on the Gower Peninsula. On calmer days you can often see paragliders taking off from the hill and soaring for hours over the beach.
If you are looking for a great place to stay, the isolated Old Rectory is the only building on the bay. It’s been used as a location in a number of TV shows including the BBC’s Torchwood. It is available to rent from the National Trust, although the waiting list can be up to 3 years.
Walking To Worms Head
The walk from the National Trust Car Park to the tip of Worms Head isn’t particularly long, it’s just over 4 miles return but it is very rocky and steep in parts, especially crossing to the outer head.
Just one little moan before we go any further, it’s the parking. The car park is £6 over two hours but despite being 2020 the machine STILL only accepts change, who carries £6 of change with them! So make sure you come prepared.
Anyway, back to the walk, the causeway can only be crossed approximately two and a half hours either side of low tide. If you’re too slow and get stuck, you’ve got at least a 7-hour wait before you can cross over again, so make sure you check those tide times.
As you cross the causeway, keep an eye out for the old anchor from The Samuel, a ship which ran aground in November 1884. It’s on the right-hand side of the causeway as you head out towards Worms Head and it’s closer to the mainland than the head itself. It can only be seen at low tide so if you’re heading across when the causeway is first passable, it will still be underwater.
Once you’ve crossed the causeway, you can walk around the inner head by taking the path to the left but we would recommend climbing the 150 feet to the top to get great views of the bay and the headland itself. Generally, the left-hand side of Worms Head is more sloping whereas the right side has rugged cliffs plunging to the sea below.
Devil’s Bridge
As you continue along the middle section of the headland you’ll reach the natural rock bridge known as Devil’s Bridge. If the dreaded ‘Instagram’ is your thing, this is the spot where you do the stock IG pose with your arms in the air.
The Wildlife
As you cross the bridge take a look to the right, this is a good place to spot seals basking on the rocks. The water is very clear so you may be able to see them swimming amongst the rocks. The outer headland can be closed during the Spring and early Summer to protect nesting birds such as Kittiwakes, Razorbills and Guillemots who come here to lay their eggs between April and mid-July.
The Outer Head
Finally you reach the outer head, at 184 feet it is the highest part of the headland. Again, as you look back along Worm’s Head there are spectacular views of Rhossili Bay and the channel.
The walk to Worm’s Head is definitely worth doing so make sure you check out the tide times to make sure you get enough time to fully explore. The headland is accessible within a 5-hour window but allow yourself at least 2 hours for the return trip, just take plenty of time to let those stunning views soak in.
