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Swansea, Mumbles and Gower Accommodation Campsite Guide A - Hillend Campsite (Llangennith). B - Pitton Cross (Rhossili). |
Extract from Practical Motorhome July 2009 In three nights of bombing raids in 1941, hundreds of years of Swansea's history were reduced to burning ruble, Now portions of the reformed city of the 1950s compete with the medieval. In fact, Swansea has many surprises - it boasts the largest indoor market in Wales ans was the first c ity to have a passenger railway, a pupose built museum and a tidal barrage across a river. It's also the birth place of Catherine Zeta Jones and Dylan Thomas, Wales's most famous literary figure, who was born in 1914 and lived here until his 20s. You can discover various landmarks associated with his early life and writing throughout the city and its award-winning gardens. The closest sites to Swansea are Riverside Caravan Park near the motorway or Gowerton Caravan Club site.. But after a long day we ventured further into the Gower Peninsula to Three Cliffs Bay Caravan Site, as we had heard it was in a stunning location. It certainly is, but the ground is far from level and booking is essential. The ever-changing views as the bay was slowly covered by the incoming tide made up for this, however. At just 18 miles across and eight miles wide, the Gower Peninsula juts out into the Bristol Channel with nearly 400 miles of public right of way and 23 nature reserves. It's a breathtaking mix of spectacular, unspoilt scenery, with golden beaches fringed by dramatic cliffs, while the interior landscape is totally different, being either salt marsh or thickly wooded valleys. Prehistoric burial chambers and ancient remains are dotted around, pointing to Gower's colonisation by the Celts and Romans. If you only visit one site within the Gower - one of the UK's Areas of Outstanding Nartural Beauty - it has to be Arthur's Stone. A Neolithic burial tomb dating back to 2500 BC. A 25-tonne lump of quartz is perched upon a set of small pointed supporting stones. Before 1693, the boulder was some ten tonnes larger; many theories exist as to how ir was cleanly broken. You could walk from our site along the dunes to Oxwich Castle, re-built as a Tudor manor house in 1541 and incorporating relics from the 14th century stronghold: we did this on a wet and windy day. The next day, in brilliant sunshine, we rested on the beach and paddled in rock pools with few other people around. Another view, and a stunning walk, can be found to the far west at Rhossili. Ghosts are said to race across the sands, under the midnight moon, and the area is awash with smugglers' tales. Pitton Cross Camping and Caravan Park offers a pitch near here, and even has its own stone circle. Rhossili Downs towers 632ft above a three-mile arc of golden sands - it is absolutely stunning. At low tide, golden sands reveal the remaining timbers of the 'Helvetia', pounded by Atlantic rollers. Our final base, Gowerton Caravan Club site, was to the north. Driving sometimes along narrow lanes, we stopped off at Weobley Castle, dating from the 13th and 14th centuries. The substantial remains are gathered around a courtyard but its pretty setting belies its war-like function; it too has been rebuilt as a fortified manor house. The glorious views out over Llanrhidian Marsh made us want to walk onto the tidal salt marsh among the lambs, but time was tight so we returned the next day. It's a walk not to be missed. It was time to head home to the Midlands the following day with many happy memories. |
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| Nine pages of detailed information with 37 photographs and a series of maps that will give a step by step guide to one of the most scenic and variety filled walks on Gower that incorporates Marshes, Beaches and a Castle. | Ten pages of detailed information with 48 photographs and a series of maps that will give a step by step guide to this dramatic walk that has excellent panoramic views over Three Cliffs Bay, Tor Bay and Oxwich | Nine pages of detailed information with 48 photographs and a series of maps that will give a step by step guide to this dramatic walk that has excellent panoramic views over Mewslade, Fall Bay, Worms Head and Rhossili Bay. |
Price £2.00 each |
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