The best sunset locations on the Gower Peninsula
Designated as Britain’s first area of outstanding natural beauty in 1956, the Gower is a magnificent stretch of coastline on the South Coast of Wales.
This little slice of Wales has arguably some of the finest coastal views in the UK and is a haven for any landscape photographer or anyone looking to up their Instagram game.
Hidden amongst the peninsulas rugged cliffs are over 25 beaches, sweeping panoramic vistas and a plethora of historic landmarks ranging from cast iron lighthouses to ruined castles.
In the blog post below I have listed my 7 favourite sunset locations on the Gower peninsula and how to reach them.
1. Rhossili & Worms Head
Undoubtedly the best sunset location on the Peninsula.
Located on the southwestern tip of the Gower Rhossili Bay is made up of three miles of sandy shoreline. The beach is regularly voted as one of the best in Europe and has feature in the top 10 beaches in the World. At the tip of Rhossili is the spectacular Worms head, a giant sea-serpent shaped island which marks the most westerly tip of Gower.
As well as having the most dramatic coastal landscape on the whole of Gower. Rhossili is also the best place to watch the sunset as you can see the sun drop directly below the horizon from behind Worms head, .
My recommendation would be to walk along the rugged and dramatic coastal cliffs towards the old coastguard station situated at the end of the headland. The one mile stretch has endless composition opportunities and is the perfect spot to capture a sunset from.
Down on the shoreline are the remains of the Helvetia shipwreck, A Norwegian ship which run aground back in 1887. Its ruined remains are mostly submerged beneath the surface, however the hull of the ship still protrudes from the sand and makes for a great foreground for a shot of worms head or the sunset. Another option is to hike up to Rhossili Downs which is directly behind the beach. At 193m it is the highest point on the Gower and offer tremendous 360 views over the peninsula.
The view From Rhossili Down
The view from the Cliff top
2. Three Cliffs Bay
The view from the Headland above the Cliffs
With its iconic three peak adorning postcards across the peninsula, Three Cliffs Bay is a spectacular location no matter the season.
This beach is one of the most popular spots on the peninsula and for good reason. If the weather forecast looks promising then I would recommend heading down here for sunset or sunrise with the former being the preferred choice.
The most sought after shot and the one that gets the most attention is from the dune covered headland which separates Three Cliffs from the neighbouring Pobbles bay. This spot is a great location for sunset and is best reached by parking in the village of Southgate and walking around or across the golf course.
The view from the dunes which overlook the beach
Another great location is from the other side of the bay just below Three Cliffs Holiday park. This view also makes for a great spot for sunrise especially if you can time it with high tide. Parking For this location is available behind Three Cliffs Care Home and from here its a short walk down to the beach.
For those wishing to capture both angles in one visit, make sure to check the tide times. The beach is separated by a winding river which flows down the valley into the ocean.
As the tide comes in, it flows up the river and overspills into the valley, submerging the stepping stones which allow you to cross downstream. The alternative is to follow the hightide line up the valley to the head of the river where you can cross via footbridge.
3. Pennard Castle
As dramatic as it is beautiful, this 12th-century ruin is one of six castles located here on the Gower Peninsula. The view from the castle walls is my favourite view on the Gower and is best when combined with a visit to the iconic Three Cliffs Bay.
Perched on the clifftop, the castle has sweeping views towards Three Cliffs bay. If that wasn’t enough it overlooks the winding Pennard pill in the valley below which is a GCSE geography teachers wet dream.
Free parking is available in the villages of Pennard and Southgate. and from both, you can stroll across the golf course to reach the ruins. If you’re lucky you might even have some company in the form of the cows and wild horses which frequently graze the Gower’s common land.
If you get you angles and timings right you can often get the sun poking through the castle ruins.
4. The Great Tor
Another hidden gem on the Gower coastline. Tor bay is a sheltered sandy beach at the eastern end of Oxwich Bay. At low tide it becomes part of the huge stretch of sand that connects Three Cliffs, Tor bay, Crawley and Oxwich bay.
Situated high above the beach is the Great Tor, a rocky headland which separates the beach from the neighbouring Three Cliffs Bay. Its a great location for sunset as you can watch the sun drops behind the horizon whilst gazing upon the vast sweeping sands beneath you.
The nearest parking for Tor Bay is it at Penmaen. Here you will find two small car parks, one on the south side of the road, and the other just across the cattle grid on the north side of the road. The walk from the car park to the Tor is one mile and should take around 20 minutes.
The view over Tor & Oxwich Bay from the Great Tor. Little tor can be seen directly beneath the sun
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5. Langland bay
Situated just outside the seaside village of Mumbles, Langland bay is the most accessible location on this list. Its also the best place to go if you’re short on time or down want to travel too far onto the peninsula
The beach and surrounding cliff path are wheelchair friendly and there is a large pay and display car park situated 10m from the beach.
You have a couple of options for watching the sunset here. You can stroll onto the beach itself or if you want the best views make sure make sure you take the short 800m stroll out to Langland point. You can either watch the sunset from the several benches perched on the point or walk a little further to the highest point on the path which looks over Caswell Bay.
6. Kilvey Hill
Technically it’s not part of the Gower, however, the view from the summit is pretty spectacular and offers unrivalled, panoramic views of Swansea.
The top of Kilvey hill can be reached by a number of routes, with the quickest and easiest being from the South West. On-street parking is available near Danybeacon road and from here you ascend via the lane. It should take around 20 minutes to reach the top which is marked by a large electrical pylon.
7. Arthurs Stone
Referred as the "backbone of Gower", Cefn Bryn is a 5-mile-long ancient ridge which traverses the Gower Peninsula. On the the tail of the ridge sits one of Wales’ most famous prehistoric monuments, Arthurs Stone. The 25-ton capstone sits majestically on top of Cefyn Bryn Common.
Fee parking is available on the road side on Cefn Bryn and the monolith can be reached via a short 5 minute walk.
I hope you found this blog post useful, If you did (or didn’t) let me know in the comments below.
For more inspiration consider checking out my guide to the best sunrise spotsGower below or giving me a follow on Instagram.
For more travel & photography inspiration around Wales check out my in-depth guides to each of my favourite regions below.