Swansea and the Gower: what Wales’s shores have to offer The maritime heritage and stunning coast lines of Swansea and the Gower are well worth exploring. Beautiful bays 2 and an array of castles are also waiting to be discovered along the Wales Coast Path in the Gower, the UK’s first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and home to Oxwich and Weobley Castles. Further west Kidwelly Castle stands guard overlooking the River Gwendraeth. All this and more is just a stone throw from the city of Swansea. Located just five minutes from Swansea city centre in Swansea’s Maritime Quarter is the National Waterfront Museum which tells the story of industry and innovation in Wales, now and over the last 300 years. 1 Weobley Castle Just under 30 minutes drive from Swansea in north Gower, along the Wales Coast Path, visitors to Weobley can admire one of the few surviving fortified manor houses in Wales. From Weobley Castle (pronounced web-lee) rare panoramic scenery of the north Gower National Waterfront Museum marshlands and mudflats can be enjoyed. There aren’t At the heart of Swansea’s thriving marina is the many places left where a person can stand at the same National Waterfront Museum , housed in an original window as someone did half a millennium ago to waterfront warehouse linked to a new, ultra-modern witness the same, unspoilt view. The manor house was slate and glass building. Via cutting-edge, interactive a desirable residence, including many domestic niceties, technology married with traditional displays, visitors and the spectacularly crafted and decorative windows can explore how the Industrial Revolution affected the are worth a peek. The house had a number of high people and landscapes of Wales and the huge impact society owners over the centuries including the Mansels, Welsh coal, steel and iron had on the rest of the world. who also owned nearby Oxwich Castle in south Gower. Visitors can get lost in the rich and enthralling history of Welsh industry and innovation, where the technology of today puts the past at your fingertips. Admission is free. The beautiful Gower peninsula is loved by heritage buffs and beach bums, and is easily accessible from the city of Swansea. The wealthy Mansel family chose 3 a beautiful spot on a wooded headland above Oxwich Bay to build their dream home. Oxwich Castle , a grand Tudor house built in courtyard style, was positioned to take full advantage of the panoramic sea views, and was equipped with the latest luxuries — including inside toilets! Located in south Gower along the Wales Coast Path, it can be reached in just under 30 minutes Oxwich Castle from Swansea. Swansea and the Gower: what Wales’s shores have to offer 4 Further along the Wales Coast Path, 45 minutes from Swansea, is home to Kidwelly Castle , a truly medieval monument on a par with the other great castles of Wales. Kidwelly shrouded in the early morning mist is a magical sight. The earliest castle on the site was Norman and made of earth and timber, but was Kidwelly Castle re-built in stone by the 13th century. The town is equally ancient, established around 1115 AD. Kidwelly benefited from the latest thinking in castle design. It had a Visit cadw.wales.gov.uk to discover the storie s and concentric design with one circuit of defensive walls set people behind our 128 historic sites. ‘Like’ Cadw on within another to allow the castle to be held even if the Facebook and follow @Cadwwales on Twitter or outer wall should fall. The gatehouse was started in the download our smartphone app to stay up to date. 14th century, but not completed until 1422. Outside Visit museumwales.ac.uk , ‘Like’ Museums Wales on the gatehouse stands a memorial to Princess Gwenllian, who died in battle in 1136 not far from Kidw elly. Faceb ook and follow @AmgueddfaCymru. rd Castle Newcastle A4 82 Emlyn 5 Newport 8 4 A Pentre Ifan Llandovery 4 Brecon Gaer 8 Burial Chamber 4 i A th Roman Fort Co A 8 4 B 7 Llanwrda 0 4 4 3 1 3 A Talley Sennybridge Us k au Abbey dd le 9 C Llangadog 2 40 3 rn Bre d 4 A d te Dinefwr A au B s 4 a A4215 A 0 E Dryslwyn Castle 6 4 9 0 Castle i Llandeilo Tyw Llawhaden Carmarthen 7 Castle 6 0 4 ton Castle A A48 40 2 Carreg Cennen B r i d e s St Clears A 1 3 4 Castle A40 B B Llansteffan Brynamman Narberth A Haverfordwest Castle 4 59 0 0 A 6 4 A 6 4 7 Priory 4115 3 8 A A 7 0 48 4 4 Laugharne Ammanford 22 0 5 A 6 1 A A 7 477 7 4 A 0 Castle 4 7 4 Ystalyfera A 8 Kidwelly r A 66 o A40 h g A Carew Castle u 4 o A 7 4 49 L Glyn-neath 7 4 Pendine 7 Cross e 9 4 w a 0 A T Kidwelly 1 5 4 6 Saundersfoot 4 4 th C 8 y Burry Pontardawe A A a n Castle 4 e o 48 N Aberdare n Port A M4 4 A 0 40 Pembroke Tenby C a r m a r t h e n 6 5 1 9 Carswell Llanelli 47 45 Lamphey 46 Medieval House B a y Loughor 44 NatioNnael ath Abbey A4 Bishop’s Palace 23 Castle 43 Waterfront Afan Treorchy 3 Caldey Island 5 Neath Weobley B429 1 4M2 useum 4107 A CastlWe eobley A483 Blaengarw 2 B Castle 4 A A 27 1 405 1 4 SWANSEA Maesteg 6 41 0 Swansea Port 0 6 Parc le Breos Burial Chamber 4 4 40 A A4118 Castle Talbot Margam Stones Pontyp Worms Head Oxwich Museum A4093 A Castle 4 0 3 Oxwich The Mumbles 6 38 3 Coity Port-Eynon Castle Newcastle S w a n s e a M4 Castle (Bridgend) 36 B a y 37 35 6 410 A A 4 St Quentin’s 8 (Llanblethi Porthcawl Ewenny Ogmore Castle Priory B Cowbridge Old Beaupre Castle St Lythans Burial Ch 65 B42 The journey time from Swansea to Weobley and Oxwich is just under 30 minutes drive, and 45 minutes from Swansea to Kidwelly. .