Swansea Tourist Information Centre (01792 468321 *[email protected] Open All Year Other Tics / Visitor Centres
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Attractions coveroutside2014:Layout 1 04/03/2014 14:14 Page 1 Finding Out Swansea Tourist Information Centre (01792 468321 *[email protected] Open all year Other TICs / Visitor Centres Image Credits and Copyrights Mumbles & Gower Mountain Biker p9: Cognation, Rhossili (01792 361302 Nat Trust p11: NTPL/John Millar, Blue *[email protected] Plaque p14: 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, Glynn Open all year Vivian Art Gallery p22: Powell Dobson Architects, Penllergare Valley Woods p29: National Trust Visitor Centre Richard Hanson, Walkers at Three Cliffs Coastguard Cottages, Rhossili, Gower, Bay p33: Visit Wales © Crown Copyright Swansea SA3 1PR (01792 390707 The Council of the City & County of Swansea cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this brochure and accepts no Useful Contacts responsibility for any error or misrepresentation, liability for loss, disappointment, negligence or other damage Swansea Mobility Hire caused by the reliance on the information Swansea City Bus Station, contained in this brochure unless caused by Plymouth St, the negligent act or omission of the Council. Swansea SA1 3AR Please check and confirm all details before (01792 461785 booking or travelling. Coastguard This publication is available in (01792 366534 alternative formats. Contact Swansea Tourist Information Published by the City & County of Centre (01792 468321. Swansea © Copyright 2014 A&A cover2014 inside:Layout 1 04/03/2014 14:10 Page 1 Swansea Bay Mumbles, Gower, Afan and The Vale of Neath Scale Key to beach awards 0 6 km Blue Flag and Seaside Award Seaside Award 0 3 miles This map is based on digital photography licensed from NRSC Ltd. © City and County of Swansea 2014 visitswanseabay.com Contents 02 Introduction 04 Adventure 09 Cycling 10 Discover 12 Dylan Thomas 14 Dylan Thomas Events 18 Entertainment 19 Events Diary 21 Fishing 22 Galleries 23 Golf 24 Heritage 27 Horse Riding 28 Parks & Gardens 30 Shopping 32 Walking 35 Watersports & Swimming 39 Getting About Finding Out & Area Map (back cover) visitswanseabay.com 1 Introduction What’s the attraction? Make the most of your visit to Swansea Bay, Mumbles and Gower with this great Guide jam-packed with exciting activities and fun places to visit. From historic to horticultural to exotic and energetic - and that’s just in the city centre itself. Swansea’s home to the oldest and newest museums in Wales - and they’re next door to each other! Not forgetting the award winning botanics, tropical hothouse with aquariums, animals and amphibians and indoor surfing! And with its snug spot on the shoreline, you can be beside the seaside in a few minutes. Whether you want to surf, swim or simply just spend some time on the sand - there’s a reason why we’re a Watersports Centre of Excellence. We’re also home to the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the glorious Gower Peninsula - walk it, bike it or just sit back, relax and enjoy the fantastic views, there’s plenty to choose from! Savvy shopper? Head for Swansea’s bustling city centre, where you’ll find big names, big bargains and Wales’ biggest indoor market - tuck into some local produce, try fresh cockles and laverbread (it’s seaweed!) and warm welshcakes. For fine dining, take to the Marina and its stylish sister, SA1, enjoy cosy cuisine and wonderful waterfront views. 2 visitswanseabay.com Make the most of Mumbles Follow the five mile sweep of Swansea Bay ‘til you reach the cosmopolitan corner of Mumbles. A seaside village with a stand alone spirit. Capture its colourful charm from the promenade and pier, the bistros and boutiques, and the cafés and medieval castle. Go green, go Gower Explore 39 miles of captivating coastline and countryside. Ramble atop rugged limestone cliffs, undercover a cluster of castles or simply wander at the waters edge - a breathtaking backdrop is a given. Check out this Guide for heritage, adventure and entertainment, and begin a great day in Swansea Bay. But with so much choice, you’d best book for a week, or at the very least come back tomorrow! Whatever you do, we want you to have fun and play safe (see p40). visitswanseabay.com 3 Adventure Catch a glimpse of the Gower Coast on a wild white water ride, set your sights high and take a tree top adventure, or for fast-paced fun, kart your way around our exciting indoor karting track! Get dirty at the muddiest assault course ever; go mountain biking, quad biking or paintballing. Want to have a go but not sure how? Our multi-activity providers have the gear and the know-how. Try abseiling, coasteering, kayaking, climbing and bushcraft - what are you waiting for? Adventure Britain Call of the Wild Ltd. 83 Church Road, Seven Sisters, Neath SA10 9DT Adventure Britain offer great ideas for outdoor activity breaks, adventure holidays, family activities, stag weekends, hen weekends, team building including canyoning, climbing & caving. Open daily, all year, hours depend on activity- please contact. www.adventurebritain.com (01639 700388 Clyne Farm Riding and Activity Centre Clyne Farm, Westport Ave, Swansea SA3 5AR Your one stop for activities for all ages and abilities, stag and hen, riding, climbing, archery, quads, clay pigeon, surfing, Challenge Valley - the muddiest assault course in the world! Open daily, all year, 10am-6pm. [email protected] (01792 403333 4 visitswanseabay.com Down to Earth 72a Manselfield Road, Murton, Swansea SA3 3AP Down to Earth is an award winning not-for-profit education and adventure activity organisation offering a wide range of practical outdoor experiences in Swansea and on the Gower Peninsula. Open daily, all year, 10am-5pm. www.downtoearthproject.org.uk (01792 232439 Dryad Bushcraft Gower Dryad Bushcraft is one of the UK's leading Bushcraft and Wilderness Survival training organisations. As featured on Channel 4's 'Time Team' and BBC 'Wales in Four Seasons'. Open all year, prior booking required. See website for details. www.dryadbushcraft.co.uk (01792 547213 Dulais Valley Quads Nant y Cafn Isaf Farm, Seven Sisters, Neath SA10 9EU Take your breath away with the adventure and thrill of navigating the latest Honda 250cc quad bikes through 175 acres of hills, woodland, streams and mud. Open all year, prior booking needed. www.dulaisvalley-quads.co.uk (07854 864724 visitswanseabay.com 5 Dynamic Rock Adventures Ltd 16 - 18 Hebron Road, Clydach, Swansea SA6 5EJ Dynamic Rock is a dedicated climbing centre, great for both beginners and advanced climbers. We offer Kids Birthday Parties, Taster Sessions and Courses for those that catch the bug! Open daily, all year, Mon-Fri 2pm-10pm, Sat & Sun 10am-6pm. [email protected] (01792 845655 Go Ape Margam Margam Country Park, Port Talbot SA13 2TJ Go Ape is the UK's No.1 Tree Top Adventure at Margam Park. We brief you for safety before you fly down zip-wires, leap off our Tarzan Swing and tackle our obstacles whilst enjoying breath-taking scenery (Min. Age 10 years). Open daily Feb-Nov, 9am-5pm. www.goape.co.uk/margam (0845 094 9639 Gower Activity Centres Port Eynon, Rhossili & West Cross Gower Activity Centres specialise in delivering the very best in outdoor activity experiences for groups of all types on the Gower Peninsula. Challenging and fun for all ages and abilities. Open daily, all year, 9am-5pm. www.goweractivitycentres.org.uk (01792 401548 6 visitswanseabay.com Gower Coast Adventures Gower Gower Coast Adventures provides breathtaking, interactive boat tours of the South Gower Coast, leaving our passengers with unforgettable memories. Open daily, Mar-Oct, 8am-8pm. www.gowercoastadventures.co.uk (01792 348229 Skidz Karting Ltd Unit 1 Rear of Queensway, Swansea West Business Park, Swansea SA5 4DJ Swansea's only indoor karting track! Arrive & Drive, Birthday parties, Stag/Hen parties and corporate team building events all catered for. With karts for all ages and abilities from 4yrs+. Open daily, all year, please contact for opening hours. www.skidzkarting.co.uk (01792 580927 Teamforce Paintball & Activity Centre Llangyfelach Road, Swansea SA5 7PE Located only 1.5 miles off J46/M4, with 15 acres of purpose built Paintball zones TEAMFORCE is the ideal destination for an action packed adventure day for Paintball, Archery and Air Rifle. Open daily, all year, 10am-4pm. www.teamforceuk.com (01792 772311 visitswanseabay.com 7 8 visitswanseabay.com Cycling Want traffic free routes with great views? We’ve got lots! Cycle along Swansea Bay Prom to Mumbles (you can even stop for an ice cream along the way!). Many of our routes are part of the Celtic Trail and National Cycle Network. But if you’re more of a mountain biker, head to Afan Forest Park. It’s got a worldwide reputation for exhilaration, but families and newbies can go for the green trails, still a challenger - but it’s the views that will be taking your breath away. visitswanseabay.com 9 Discover Unlock Gower’s hidden histories at the National Trust Centre, Rhossili. Or delve into your past and discover your ancestors in our historical archives. Exploring the present is easy too! Head to our Tourist Information Centres for information and local gifts, then sit back and relax on a river cruise. Swansea Tourist Information Centre Plymouth Street, Swansea SA1 3QG Your one-stop shop for Swansea, Mumbles and Gower: booking accommodation, advice on how to get here and information on places to visit, to eat and local events. We can also help with event tickets, maps and gifts. Open all year, Mon-Sat 9:30am-5:30pm. www.visitswanseabay.com (01792 468321 Mumbles & Gower Tourist Information Centre Mumbles, Swansea SA3 4DH Call in or phone us, and our friendly staff will be happy to introduce you to our lovely area, help you find somewhere to stay, eat or visit, and advise you about maps and books.