FAIRYHILL restaurant rooms relaxation Things to do Gower is a small peninsula that’s packed with things to do and places to discover. It’s just a few miles from the buzzing city atmosphere of Swansea and the popular village of Mumbles. It has some of the most spectacular beaches in Britain where a host of boating, fishing, surfing and water sports can be enjoyed. It’s a great place for outdoor and city lovers alike. Fairyhill, in the centre of Gower, is an ideal base from which to discover this designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Whether you enjoy an energetic day, a gentle walk, or a time browsing the shops, it’s all on the doorstep. There are many places to head for a coffee, lunch or tea, and so many are individual in character, rather than the standard style of much modern catering. In the following pages you’ll find a number of interesting things to do close to Fairyhill, and we hope everyone will find something of interest. They are all within a short drive and enable you to return to the hotel in time to relax before enjoying our award-winning restaurant, with menus drawing extensively on local produce. And remember: the hotel is in 24 acres of its own grounds, with interesting walks through the woodlands, along the banks of the Burry Pill, around the ornamental lake and through the walled gardens. Coffee, tea, lunch and drinks can be served on the large patio, or in our comfortable lounges. EXP L O R E T H E WONDE R S O F GOWE R The Gower Peninsula was the cliffs between Rhossili and of which are single-track and topography, with many caves, However, the flooding sea on either a short walk or a long take in the Swansea and A N D the first place in Britain to Port Eynon. There are many so driving anywhere takes time. dry river valleys, sheer cliffs and a spring tide can rise as fast as and energetic ramble. There Neath valleys, the Brecon be designated an Area of ancient monuments dating Also, there are many wild broken screes. There is a series ten feet an hour. Strong are many natural features of Beacons, the Llanelli Wetlands, BE Y OND Outstanding Natural Beauty, back to the stone age. animals, particularly ponies, of rocky headlands and sandy currents and tidal races can be immense beauty; numerous Pembrey Sands, The National in 1956. The peninsula is Throughout history Gower and farm animals such as cattle bays on the south and a vast very dangerous. Therefore trips man-made places from ancient Botanical Gardens of Wales, fourteen miles from east has been civilised and churches and sheep that wander onto estuary on the north. to some beaches and remote Neolithic monuments to a Aberglasney Gardens and the to west, five miles north to date from as early as the Fifth unfenced roads. Therefore great Everywhere there is evidence areas must be carefully planned. large number of charming Towy and Cothi valleys. south. Fairyhill is in the centre Century. Gilaldus Cambrensis, caution must be taken when of limestone quarrying and small churches, castles, farms of Gower and hence a perfect in 1188, toured Gower and driving anywhere, day and night. lime kilns dating from the Gower is accessible from and mills. The popular village Please note that in many places base for exploring the noted its rich history. Do not plan to get anywhere 18th Century and before. Fairyhill and nowhere is more of Mumbles, and the City a mobile phone might not fascinating area and beyond. quickly; take your time and than a half-hour’s drive away. of Swansea are just twenty function, so if you are going Many of the most interesting enjoy a slower pace. The coast is subject to one of A large number of short trips minutes away. to any less accessible areas as Gower has been inhabited sites are only accessible by the highest tidal ranges in the can be planned according to indicated, it is as well to inform since humans colonised the footpath and Gower is riddled Gower is formed of mainly world, second only to the Bay time available and one’s energy. Beyond Gower the area reception before departure. land. One of the oldest with numerous routes to every carboniferous limestone topped of Fundy in Nova Scotia. Hence Many places just have continues to be striking in the Investment in Ordnance Survey skeletons ever discovered was corner. Gower has a network with glacial drift soil. There are at low tide big areas of sand wonderful views from parking post-industrial and coal mining landranger map 159 and a tide unearthed in Paviland Cave in of roads and small lanes, many many fine examples of karst and rock are exposed. areas, whereas others are era. A half or full-day trip can table is worthwhile. O N T H E G OWE R O N T H E G OWE R 1. Cefn Bryn the mirror pond Broadpool to 3. Rhossili walks high tide mark, below which the the dry stone wall to the old and Arthur’s Stone the Brecon Beacons, west to The cliffs are very high and sand can be very wet and soft in coastguard station before the The rounded hill behind the Pembrokeshire, south to Lundy dangerous. Grassy slopes can places. The remains of the timber causeway is flat and gentle hotel is an old red sandstone Island and Devon, and East to be very slippery. It is essential to vessel, The Helvetia, that foundered taking about 15 – 20 minutes. ridge along the centre of the vale of Glamorgan. Perched control children and dogs. Never one night in 1887 are clearly visible. It becomes more challenging Gower rising over 600ft. It is on the summit is the ancient venture close to the cliff edge, At low tide great expanses turning east to Fall Bay and the but five minutes drive away burial chamber Arthur’s Stone, a ideally stay on the paths. Good of sand are uncovered, but the path eventually leads back up turning right from the hotel 25ton boulder standing on a ring walking shoes are preferable. sea floods very quickly and at to the village at Middleton. car park. Though best seen of smaller quarry, one of Gower’s The Beach – the path is behind times the surf is heavy. Generally Allow 60-90 minutes at sunrise or sunset, any time most notable land marks. the hotel and leads down wide swimming is safe in summer for this walk. At low tide the panorama is spectacular: The walk time is just steps to the raised level above the months with usual precautions. walking on the beach north across the moor and 10 minutes sands. Several paths lead to the The Cliffs – the walk along to Mewslade is safe 2. Rhossili and headland. ‘the Worm’ sends a spout of dramatically from the beach, 4. Mewslade This is a small village on the The sunset can be seen water close on two hundred and along the three miles of Worm’s Head – the causeway to extreme south west of the from here in comfort, best feet over the towering rocks. sandy beach to the small island the Worm is uncovered two-and-a peninsula but has endless viewed on a summer evening. The view takes in Rhossili Bury Holms, Llanrhidian dunes, half hours either side of low water. staggeringly beautiful natural In winter the famous ‘blow Downs, the highest point and across Carmarthen Bay to Always check the tide times before land forms. It has towering hole’ on the end headland of in Gower at 630ft, rising Caldy Island. crossing. With good walking shoes cliffs, a three mile stretch of or boots the walk is relatively easy golden sand, and a headland and takes an hour to reach the outer that reaches out a mile into head. Always keep to the footpaths the Atlantic Ocean. The sunset and control dogs and children. The here is documented as one of views from all parts are spectacular. the ten greatest in the world. The walk encounters the causeway Turn right from the hotel where the seven foot anchor of the and next right at the end of coal vessel The Samuel has laid since it the hotel’s wall. Follow the was wrecked in 1902. Skirt the south single track road to Llandewi side of the inner head and over the and the A4118 turning right ‘low neck’ that is just above the high at Scurlage onto the B4247 tide mark. Go across ‘Devil’s Bridge’ to Rhossili where there is a a natural archway, to the towering large car park. The Worm’s 300’ outer head. Here the water flows Head hotel has a large bar past ‘as though on an ocean liner’, and terrace and restaurant as Dylan Thomas described it. with fine views over the bay Never venture close to the edge. O N T H E G OWE R O N T H E G OWE R 7. Three Cliffs Bay head is the tiny secluded bay 9. Gower Heritage Centre history of Gower. It has a Oxwich Bay is a wide sandy of Pobbles, easily accessible at Parkmill – the small village in pleasant tea room and is a beach that takes in some of low tide. All these beaches are the wooded valley has a car good way of spending half Gower’s most beautiful land suitable for a picnic, but check park and shop.