Top things to do in The Gower Peninsula

With its beautiful coastline, stunning scenery, glistening beaches, and array of activities and things to do, it’s not surprising that gorgeous Gower was crowned the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

Adored by walkers, surfers, families, couples and four-legged friends, Gower is a hive of activity for those looking for a refreshing coastal break in West Wales.

With so much on offer in this glorious area, we’ve rounded up the top things to do in Gower to help you make the most of your holiday in West Wales. 

Skip to:

• Gower beaches
• Gower walks
• Historic sites in Gower
• Gower restaurants
• Gower surfing and water sports
• Gower boat trips
• Stay in Gower

Why not stay at one of our self-catering holiday cottages in Gower and get to know the area like a local? We have a lovely range of holiday accommodation in Gower from sea-view apartments to family-friendly getaways, dog-friendly stays, and romantic retreats.

Gower beaches

Gower is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the UK, perfect for a relaxing day of sunbathing, swimming, and exploring. Here are some of our favourite Gower beaches:

Langland Bay Beach

Family-friendly and multi-award-winning Langland Bay Beach is a popular sandy haven known for its crystal-clear waters and stunning natural beauty. Enjoy long beach days with a wide range of activities and facilities including sheltered swimming, surfing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

There’s also a picturesque promenade lined with eye-catching beach huts backed by cafes, limestone cliffs and a golf club with breathtaking views across the spectacular Bristol Channel and the distant Brecon Beacons.

Just a short walk over the hill from Mumbles, Langland is one of the UK’s most striking city beaches. Browse our assortment of Mumbles holiday cottages and visit this blissful beach.

Rhossili Bay and Worms Head

Set on the edge of Gower, Rhossili Bay will take your breath away with its vast 3-mile expanse of golden sand that stretches to the giant sea-serpent-shaped headland of Worms Head, one of Gower’s most famous landmarks.

You can also experience a range of thrilling water sports, the Helvetia shipwreck of 1887 puncturing the golden sand, spectacular sunsets, and a lonesome cottage framed by the dramatic cliffs that line the beach.  

Refresh with a sea-view meal after a delightful day of exploring and browsing the village's quaint gallery and shops - an all-around unforgettable experience!

Take a look at our full guide to Gower’s top beaches and dream of warm beach days splashing in glittering waters and relaxing on soft powdery sands. 

Gower walks

Gower is a great place for a variety of walks from leisurely beach strolls to coast path hikes. We’ve rounded up some favourites here for you and your four-pawed pal to enjoy. To stay safe, make sure to follow the Countryside Code and keep dogs on a lead when near sheep, cattle or breeding birds, leave gates as you find them and take your litter home.

Gower Coast Path

Part of the Wales Coast Path, the 38-mile Gower Coast Path takes on average four to five days to complete and offers breathtaking sea views, luscious landscapes, glorious golden beaches, dramatic cliffs, saltmarshes, and sand dunes. You can split up the path with a selection of coastal walks ranging from ‘easy’ to ‘challenging’ so gear up for a long hike or take a leisurely stroll. 

The Gower Way (Southern Sector) - Rhossili to Penmaen

The Gower Way runs for 35 miles from Rhossili through to Penlle’r Castell in upland Mawr, we’ve picked out a section here where you can enjoy the views of the incredible Worm’s Head at the beginning of the hike.

Experienced walkers can also enjoy beautiful views of Oxwich Bay and Three Cliffs Bay on this strenuous 8-mile linear trail that takes around 4-5 hours to complete. Take a look at our Oxwich Bay cottages for somewhere cosy and comfortable to stay during your coastal adventures. 

Langland Bay to Caswell Bay

This leisurely 2-mile circular route takes about 1-2 hours to complete and offers the chance to spot a rare selection of birds such as coughs, peregrine falcons, ravens, green woodpeckers, skylarks, buzzards, goldfinches, bullfinches, and stonechats. You may even spot other beautiful wildlife such as seals, porpoises or even a basking shark. 

Historic sites in Gower

Rich in history, there are many historic sites to explore in Gower, the site of the oldest buried human remains in Britain dating back more than 30,000 years!

Journey on your own quest below for historic sites to discover on your holiday in Gower. 

Arthur's Stone

This impressive 25-ton capstone proudly sits on top of Cefyn Bryn Common. Legend says that King Arthur, on his travels through Carmarthenshire, took a pebble from his shoe and threw it across the water and by the time it reached Cefn Bryn, it had become an enormous boulder!

Find yourself here at the site of a fascinating Neolithic tomb that dates back to 2500 B.C. and was one of the first sites to be protected under the Ancient Monuments Act of 1882. 

Oystermouth Castle

Dating back to the 12th century, Oystermouth Castle rests on a hill with magnificent views over Swansea Bay. The castle has had a significant amount of restoration work which has uncovered views hidden away for centuries and a whole maze of rooms have been made accessible, there’s also a series of fun-themed events that run throughout the year. 

Gower restaurants

Known for its scrumptious local cuisine and seafood, Gower is packed full of delicious places to eat. We’ve picked out a few favourites to help you decide where to eat during your stay in Gower.

Beach House Oxwich

Dine in style on the freshest local produce at this Michelin Star restaurant overlooking the iconic Oxwich Bay. 

Beach House delivers a refined dining experience with beautiful interiors and highlights the full flavours of the fresh Welsh produce on offer. 

Langland’s Brasserie

You won’t forget the views from this superb beachfront dining experience. Langland’s Brasserie is a seafood delight with platters and mouth-watering specials just waiting to be enjoyed. 

Sit back and relax on the extensive terrace which welcomes dogs and breathe in the beautiful scenery of Swansea’s famous Langland Bay in marvellous Mumbles.

King Arthur Hotel

This beautifully situated pub and restaurant in Gower is renowned for using a lot of local produce with daily specials including seasonal game, fresh fish, and vegetarian and vegan options.

Dine indoors in the stylish restaurant or outdoors for lovely village green views and the chance to spot the pretty wild ponies grazing away the day. 

Gower surfing and water sports

A popular destination for surfers, Gower is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts and has a host of surf schools, shops and surf hire available for all experience levels from beginners to those seeking something new. 

Gower has some of the best waves in Britain due to its coastal location and positioning along with a variety of surf breaks thanks to it being a peninsula. 

Popular surf spots include Llangennith, Langland Bay, Caswell Bay Beach and Rhossili which offer a variety of waves depending on the tide. 

Gower Surf Academy

Gower Surf Academy in Caswell Bay provides surf lessons for all ages and abilities including group sessions and parties and you’re sure to be in safe hands with their fully qualified team. All equipment is provided so all you have to do is book and show up for a fun day out on the water. 

They strive to ensure you leave the water with a smile on your face, their number one goal is to have fun in a safe environment.

Oxwich Watersports

If you’re looking for a fun family day out or a thrilling group trip powerboating, then Oxwich Watersports has got you covered.

They offer water sport equipment hire and a wide variety of activities for you to get involved with such as coasteering, stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing, kayaking, sailing, jet ski safaris, self-drive boat hire and inflatable rides. 

Take a look at our full Gower surfing guide for a full rundown of the best places to surf in the Gower along with where to get lessons and where to find Gower surf shops and surf hire.

Boat trips from Gower

Get out on the water and explore the great Gower coast by boat. Gower Coast Adventures run guided wildlife spotting boat tours of the beautiful Gower Peninsula from their 'Sea Serpent'.

The team of experienced, professional, and qualified crew will take you on a thrilling journey of stunning scenery and marine wildlife. 

Spot an amazing array of wildlife including seals, harbour porpoises, kittiwakes, guillemots, and razorbills and if you’re lucky you may even encounter common dolphins, Manx shearwaters, fulmars, peregrine falcons, a variety of jellyfish, sunfish and sometimes even turtles!

Stay in Gower

Highfield House, Gower

Enjoy all these fantastic things to do in Gower from the comfort of one of our handpicked holiday cottages.

Take your pick from our dog-friendly retreats, family-friendly boltholes, group getaways, solo trips and romantic escapes and discover this wondrous Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Start planning your memorable coastal escape by browsing our wonderful Gower cottages, and treat yourself to a well-earned holiday in West Wales.