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Walking on Gower

30 walks exploring the AONB peninsula in South Wales

By Andy Davies

ISBN

9781852848217

Availability

Published

14 Oct 2015

Reprinted

21 Nov 2022

Edition

Second

Pages

192

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.15cm

Weight

220g

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The 30 circular routes in this guide to walking on the Gower peninsula, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in South Wales, cover the rugged coastline, beaches and inland valleys and ridges. The walks visit a variety of landscapes and range from 2½ to 14 miles long. Packed with historical and geological information.

Seasons

wild winter storms promise dramatic seascapes; in springtime cliffs and valleys are carpeted in flowers; summer months allow a refreshing dip along a coastal walk

Centres

Mumbles is the largest village at the eastern end of Gower

Difficulty

only short ascents but some of the footpaths are uneven in places; a variety of routes with differing lengths to suit every ability

Must See

Gower is an exceptional area for coastal landscapes, wildlife and geology; scenic unspoilt beaches combine with a rich cultural history

ISBN

9781852848217

Availability

Published

14 Oct 2015

Reprinted

21 Nov 2022

Edition

Second

Pages

192

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.15cm

Weight

220g

Overview

This guidebook describes 30 circular day walks in the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, taking in the rich variety of landscapes across this beautiful area of South Wales. Ranging from 2.5 to 14 miles long, there are walks to suit all abilities. The peninsula is famous for its spectacularly steep, rugged coastline and perfect golden sand beaches but this guide also takes walkers to the inland valleys, hills and ridges little explored by most holidaymakers.

Many of the routes combine a section of coastal path, which may visit a secluded cove or wide-sweeping beach, with a ridge offering stunning panoramic views or with a tranquil stream valley. All avoid road-walking wherever possible. Coastal areas such as those around Langland, Oxwich and Port Eynon are well frequented, but this guidebook concentrates on places where walkers can escape the crowds to find peace and solitude in this exceptionally beautiful and unspoilt area.

Route descriptions are illustrated with 1:50,000 OS mapping extracts and inspiring photography and accompanied by a route summary table to help you choose walks to suit your location and ability. Along the way, the author provides a wealth of information on the plants, animals, geology, history and archaeology of a region with something for everyone, all within a compact area easily accessible from Swansea and Mumbles.

Table of Contents

Map key

Overview map

Introduction

Geology

History

Wildlife habitats

Transport to and around Gower

Staying in Gower

Using this guide

Walk 1 The Mumbles, Langland and Caswell

Walk 2 Caswell, Pwlldu and Bishopston Valley

Walk 3 Bishopston Valley

Walk 4 Pwlldu Head and Bishopston Valley

Walk 5 Pobbles, Three Cliffs Bay and Pennard Pill and Castle

Walk 6 Three Cliffs Bay, Pennard Pill, Ilston Cwm and

Bishopston Valley

Walk 7 Pennard Pill, Three Cliffs Bay and Parc le Breos

Walk 8 Cefn Bryn, Broad Pool and Parc le Breos

Walk 9 Three Cliffs Bay, Tor Bay, Nicholaston Woods and Cefn Bryn

Walk 10 Millwood, Cefn Bryn, Reynoldston and Berry Wood

Walk 11 Penrice Castle, Cefn Bryn, Three Cliffs Bay and Oxwich NNR

Walk 12 Oxwich National Nature Reserve

Walk 13 Oxwich Point

Walk 14 Oxwich, Horton and Millwood

Walk 15 South Gower Cliffs and Port Eynon

Walk 16 Thurba Head and South Gower Cliffs

Walk 17 Rhossili Down, South Gower Cliffs and Port Eynon

Walk 18 Rhossili Down and Bay, Fall Bay and Mewslade Bay

Walk 19 Rhossili, Fall Bay and Mewslade Bay

Walk 20 Rhossili Down, Llanmadoc Hill and Broughton Burrows

Walk 21 Gower Coast NNR, Rhossili Down and Hardings Down

Walk 22 Mewslade Bay, Fall Bay, Rhossili Down and Hardings Down

Walk 23 Llanmadoc Hill, Llangennith, Burry Holms

and Broughton Bay

Walk 24 Llanmadoc Hill, Broughton Bay and Whiteford NNR

Walk 25 Whiteford National Nature Reserve

Walk 26 Landimore Marsh, Cheriton, Burry Pill and

Weobley Castle

Walk 27 Landimore Marsh, Arthur’s Stone, Llanrhidian and

Weobley Castle

Walk 28 Cefn Bryn, Llanrhidian and Weobley Castle

Walk 29 Llanrhidian and Weobley Castle

Walk 30 Llanrhidian, Cil Ifor Top, Parc le Breos and Cefn Bryn

Appendix A Walk summary table

Appendix B Index of information boxes

Appendix C Useful websites

Updates

March 2021

2021 reprint updates

821 Reprint 2021 (8.153 MB)

December 2017

Route updates and corrections.

Route amendment Walk 8 page 66.

Replace “This path brings you back to the road which you follow downhill. “ which is preceded by the wording Iron Age hill fort on the summit on Cil Ifor Top. with “ Leave the path and head across the open moorland as best you can using pony tracks through the heather and gorse heath “ to Broad Pool.

November 2017

Route change :

New distance for Walk 6 - 17Km (10.6 miles)

Time : 4.5hrs

Page 56 replace the wording

" Cross the bridge, ignoring the turning on the left, and continue to the main road.

Cross over and take the road to Kittle. Turn right in front of the Beaufort Arms and cross over the road to the green."

to

"Do not cross but take the path on the left and cross to a stile which takes the path into Moorlakes Wood. Follow this with the stream on your right until to come to a gate in the fence with private access signs on your left and right. Cross the fence and follow the path though a scrubby and sometimes boggy area until it comes to the perimeter fence of the aerodrome. Turn right and follow this to towards the road, crossing over to take a track across the common which is open access, bear left at a fork and then turn left and follow along the hedge to Swn-y-Coed.
Take the path on the right just past the farm and follow the way-marked signs over fields to meet a stream at Brookside House. Follow the road across Barland Common to the B4436, turn left up the hill and cross over, taking the minor road immediately on the right that drops down to St Teilo’s Church. Cross over the stream and follow the road to Kittle and to the green."

N.B Map in book will not match the above amendment until it is reprinted .

Reviews

"Really good book for walks on the Gower with loads of information."

Amazon, 2015

"The walks [in this guidebook], suitable for walkers of all abilities, are described in detail, with a little introduction to and summary of each walk, describing the distance, time required, ascent and places to take refreshments. The instructions are succinct and include maps, beautiful pictures and interesting local, historical and cultural information. This book is much more than a great walking guide to a very special place.

Margaret O'Brien Hillwalker, member of Galway Walking Club, Irish Mountain Log, Winter 2015

[this is a] compact, vibrant and well-researched volume... it's the ideal walking guide and companion to exploring the Gower on foot for both new and returning ramblers. Highly recommended.

Walk Magazine

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Andy Davies

Andy has been a professional photographer for over 20 years and specialises in wildlife and landscape photography. He moved to West Wales in 1999 to be immersed in the environment which inspires him and wrote and photographed Coastline Wales in 2008. He regularly takes his stills and video cameras underwater and is currently working on a number of new books and video projects. A former university lecturer, he now combines his love of photography and his passion for passing on skills to others in a series of photographic and video workshops in West Wales. He is also an external tutor for Aberystwyth University in outdoor and wildlife photography.

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