The most amazingly beautiful Welsh coast - Backpacking the Gower Coastal Path

[@japglish]

I was a student at Swansea too, possibly around the same time as you and like you, I found my love of open spaces while there, walking the same paths. I once ended up, after a long night of excess, up near Pennard castle, as dawn broke. A low mist hung over the valley and from time to time, the heads of the wild ponies would appear out of the mist, a pause in their foraging, to look at the sky. I think about that night often, the beauty of the place, that dawn, that mist, the iconic cliffs and the castle, one of the most perfect moments of my life. Thank you for the video, inspired to go back there.

[@longsufferinghiker]

Beautiful memories. Walking there I could almost imagine being 19 again; it was worth it for that alone! 😁 I considered walking back towards Pennard over the downs, to avoid the less scenic roads around Crofty; it would make a nice circuit.

[@seratonia1]

What a beautiful warming memory

[@LazzPerry]

I'm a born and bred Swansea girl and spent many a happy summers around the Gower Peninsula throughout my life. Watching this reminded me of how lucky I am to have been raised in close proximity to such a wild and wonderful place. Thanks!

[@longsufferinghiker]

It’s a very special place. You were lucky. I’m surprised that the Coast Path isn’t more popular.

[@felixfelucci6955]

Beautiful lanscapes! And big thanks for all the useful tips you shared regarding the Lanshan 1 & 2.

[@longsufferinghiker]

Aw, thanks 😊

[@shaunedwards9729]

Thanks, I enjoyed that. I’ve just watched a few of your walks up in the mountains so this made a nice change. Shame about the weather! I seem to have the same luck when I get some time out.

[@longsufferinghiker]

Cheers. The weather was a bit grim, yes 🙂

[@surfaceten510n]

Nice to see someone actually walk the full path for once.

[@longsufferinghiker]

Thanks. The North coast might not be as scenic as the rest of the path, but it is very beautiful too. At least, I suppose it is when it’s not raining heavily 😁

[@JananRuhaniyah]

My old walks. Summer it's georgous

[@debsmostexcellentadventure5353]

Happy weekend ,really enjoyed this video with my hot chocolate ☕ debs xx .......

[@longsufferinghiker]

Thanks Debs; I'm really pleased that you enjoyed it - and the hot chocolate :-)

[@seratonia1]

What a wonderful walk...id loved to do this,wonder if im fit enough though or wishful thing hahaaha Thank you for sharing

[@longsufferinghiker]

You should! There are plenty of places to stay along the way, and it's an amazing coastline

[@JananRuhaniyah]

Horton is lovely

[@longsufferinghiker]

Yes, totally. Nice & quiet, with a superb beach :-)

[@tombarrows5332]

Love this video! It's inspired me to do it. Do you have any info around the route you followed and the campsites/camp spots? It would be good to follow along!

[@longsufferinghiker]

That’s great. It’s a gorgeous path, full of variety. And hopefully you will get better weather than me 😁 It’s part of the Wales Coastal Path, which is marked on the Ordnance Survey maps and by frequent (but not dependable) signposts. I’d suggest doing fewer miles per day than I did, to allow enough time to enjoy it. The excellent campsite is at 3 cliffs bay; threecliffsbay.com/ The 2nd night I camped in the dunes at the North end of Rhossili Bay. The only campsite around there is Hillend, which has minimum stay of 2 nights, so is expensive!! I spent a last night camping at Gowerton, but the road there from Crofty is grim, so I wouldn’t bother; just get bus back to the start. Hope you enjoy it; let me know how you get on!!

[@hugolitner7079]

HI really enjoyed your video, it has inspired me to have a go. This will be my first multi-day hike. Would this be a good path for a beginner? thanks.

[@longsufferinghiker]

Hi. I'm really pleased that it has inspired you to try the Gower path. Yes, it's a good route to start out trying, because there are plenty of places to stop for food & drink, and campsites along the way, too. The walking is surprisingly physical, with plenty of ups & downs along the way, so it's best to limit your daily mileage, and book campsites along the way (NB be warned; the Hillend campsite at Rhossili is expensive, and insists on 2 nights minimum...). The section after LLanrhidian is pretty featureless road walking, so I recommend stopping there and getting a bus/taxi back to the start. Good luck!

[@BasicBeachCommunity1]

Which is better- Exeter and cornwall region or Swansea and Gower for hiking....????

[@longsufferinghiker]

Erm, that’s a tough one to answer. But Exeter & Cornwall have the South West Coast Path, plus Exmoor, which offers many miles of hiking. Try both!!

[@BasicBeachCommunity1]

@longsufferinghiker thank you... I lived in Swansea for a year and I loved it. I love nature hiking was close by, beaches were close by...

[@longsufferinghiker]

@BasicBeachCommunity1 yes, I loved it too when I was at Swansea University. But a lot of The Gower is very popular and not very wild. Wild camping spots are hard to find…

[@BevBailey-e2i]

What was the name of the campsite at 3 cliffs bay please

[@longsufferinghiker]

It's Three Cliffs Bay Holiday: threecliffsbay.com/ A bit of a walk up from the beach, but well worth it :-)

[@caroleh4900]

0:07

[@thevalleywalker]

Wondered why my comment disappeared

[@thevalleywalker]

Great to see one of my fave locations on video. The Gower is a wonderful coastline and I have spent many an hour down there on various beaches. I have walked a fair section of the coast but not all. One of my fave walks is from Rhossili to Port Eynon - I park up in NT Car Park, walk to Port Eynon then bus back after a bag of chips. There is a family of chough on the section near Fall & Mewslade Bay I look out for. Rhossili has got to be my fave beach of all time. If you thinki Rhossili is a big beach you ought to check out Pendine or Pembrey Sands - both VERY large beaches. It's a pity the section around Whiteford Beach was shut - there is a very old abandoned lighthouse on the corner - made of cast iron, built in the 1860ts. The Gower Salt Marsh lamb is stonking if you are into meat. Charles, I would think your statement as the most beautful coast in Wales would probably be a conversation piece in many a Welsh pub. It certainly is one of my faves and ranks high on evryones list who has ever seen it - I would hasten to say though, put the PembrokeshireCoastal Path on your itinery if you haven't done it - I have walked sections of it and it is stunning. I have the PCP book by Jim Manthorpe as a friend & I had decided abt 8 years ago to do it (193miles) but sadly he died suddently. I have since walked parts of it but not much. atb Al

[@longsufferinghiker]

Sorry Al; I realised that in a moment of lunacy I had uploaded the unfinished edit of the video, so I have replaced it with the finished version.

[@longsufferinghiker]

Nice to hear from you again :-) I did the PCP in my youth a couple of times, but being young and stupid I attacked it and did 25-30 miles every day, which was exhausting and meant that I didn't have time to appreciate the scenery.