Beach Guide: Wales

Bracelet Bay is the first beach you come to on the Gower Peninsula. It's proximity to Swansea makes it popular with summer holiday-makers, although the currents of the Bristol Channel and Swansea Bay can make it a treacherous place for swimming. The rockpools are good though! A bar and restaurant is available and lifeguards patrol the beach during the summer. To find it, follow the signs for the Mumbles from Swansea and then the B4433 to Bracelet Bay.

Next along from Bracelet Bay is Limeslade Bay. Easily reached by road, with car parking facilities, and refreshments shared with those of Bracelet Bay. Limeslade Bay is a stony cove worth exploring for its geological interest.

Langland Bay faces SW and can hold some big hollow waves on the sandbanks in a decent swell. Rips can be strong here, especially in big swells. Not really a suitable beach for windsurfing. To find Langland Bay follow the A4067 from Swansea to Mumbles and then follow the signs along the B4593. There is a small car park at the top of the beach.

Several waves break in Langland bay, withlefthanders at Rotherslade, a middle reef and the outside point being good at low to mid tide. When the surf is big, Cab Island at the SE of the bay is one of the best right-handers around, but only works at low tide

A similar beach to that of Langland. Suitable for surfing and it can get quite good, but not usually as crowded as its neighbour Langland. It is usually smaller than Langland and better for beginners, with the best peak being the left-hander at the westerly end of the beach. To find it follow the B4593 from Swansea and follow signs through to Caswell. Parking (at a charge) is available next to the beach and there are shops, a cafe and toilets.

Following the magnificent cliff path from Caswell Bay, takes you past the smugglers haunt of Brandy Cove and onto the secluded pebbly beach of Pwlldu Bay. Both are inaccessible by car, but worth seeking out if you are after peace and seclusion (or a spot of skinny dipping!)

The postcard favourite Three Cliffs Bay is one of The Gowers most picturesque beaches. Its relative innaccessibilty however means that it remains pleasantly uncrowded. To find it follow the the A4118 from Swansea. From the carpark (limited spaces) at Southgate follow the footpath down to the beach. At low tide Three Cliffs Bay is joined to the small, remote Pobbles Beach to the east and to the large sweep of sand of Oxwich to the West. The currents along the beach at Three Cliffs Bay can be dangerous and caution should be exercised whilst swimming here. Not really a popular surfing beach, but the rivermouth beach break can be good at times. The limestone cliffs that back the beach contain some good quality climbing routes.

A large, protected bay, backed by a sand-dune and salt marsh nature reserve. To find it follow the A4118 from Swansea, through Nicholaston and then then left following signs for Oxwich. There is a large private car park for which a charge is made. There is a also a height restriction in this car park, which may mean that high-topped vans won't be able to get close to the beach. There is a hotel in the bay and plenty of caravan and campsites, and the usual shops and amenities associated with these. The beach itself is long wide and sandy and its enclosed nature makes it perfect for beginner windsurfers and kitesurfers. The headland to the SW protects the bay from any swell so flat water sailing is the order of the day. SW winds are cross-onshore and perfect for slalom blasting and for beginners. Waves can develop in SE winds, which are onshore, but can produce some good bump and jump conditions. Not really a surfing beach, as even in huge SW swells, it is usually still too well protected. However, on occasion it does go off, and when it does it produces some left and right-hand barrels that dreams are made of

Horton and Port Eynon share the same stretch of sand in Port Eynon Bay. Horton is at the eastern end of the bay and car parking and a grassy rigging area is available just behind the beach. A perfect beach for windsurfing and kitesurfing, and the surf can be good too. Horton is generally quieter than Port Eynon, but has correspondingly less facilties too. Depending on the conditions, Horton can offer windsurfin to suit all tastes, from long-board crusing to full on wave sailing. Southerly through to NW winds are best.

At the western end of Port Eynon Bay is Port Eynon itself. To find it follow the A4118 to its end from Swansea. There is plenty of car parking right next to the beach, cafes, restaurants, caravan sites, toilets and all the other usual beach facilties and lifeguards on patrol during the summer. The beach and town can be busy in the summer months, but are quiet out of season. Conditions are very similar to those at Horton and are perfect for windsurfing of all levels, kitesurfing and sometimes surfing. All westerly wind directions are sailable, with NW winds being offshore. SW's are the best, and low tide better as there is no wind shadow. Big SW swells and northerly winds can produce some quality surf, but these days are rare. Port Eynon point however picks up plenty of swell and offers a sucky right-hand waves in shallow rock bottomed water.

Another thing of note on this beach is the gradual disappearance of the sand, exposing the rocks that lie below it. This coastal erosion has been blamed on large scale sand dredging in the Bristol Channel.

The five mile stretch of coast between Port Eynon and Mewslade Bay is the best piece of coastal path on the Gower Peninsula. The path itself perches on the sides of the limestone cliffs and affords spectacular views of the coastal landscape. Of particular interst to surfers will be the few top quality reef breaks along this section of coast. All are definatley not for beginners, breaking in shallow water over sharp, barnacle encrusted rocks with difficult entry and exit points. For the more experienced and those willing to explore, the reefs along this stretch of coastline (Petes, Sumpters, Overton and Boiler) may be well worth the effort involved in finding and getting to them. When everywhere else is flat, one of these hidden wave may well be working. All are badly affected by SW winds though and exit points become difficult (or impossible) at high tide. Sumpters is the easiest fo the waves, Boiler Reef is probably the best lefthand wave on the gower, with barreling sections breaking in very shallow water.

The secluded Mewslade Bay can be accessed from a path at Pitton, near to Rhossili. The sandy beach here faces south and in big swells holds a lefthand wave. I have little other information on its suitability for 'forces-of-nature' sports. If you can help, please submit a listing. Climbing routes on the cliffs in this area are excellent.

This massive west facing bay bears the brunt of SW storms thrown at the Gower Peninsula. Rhossili is at the southern end of the bay, where the unusual promontory of Worms Head does give it some protection from the worst of the SW winds. Rhossili Bay picks up any swell going and can therefore be a good place to head for some wave-sailing when everywhere else is flat.

Acces to the beach from Rhossil itself is fairly difficult, so windsurfers tend to head to Llangenith instead. Offshore SE and Southerly winds can produce some excellent beach break surfing conditions, or wave sailing conditions. SW can be good too, but the waves will start to lose their quality. Westerly winds result in blown out waves and North and NW winds don't tend to generate any swell here.

To get there, follow the A4118 from Swansea and turn right onto the B4247. Follow this road to Rhossili. From here a steep path leads down the cliffs to the beach. Cafe, toilets, parking etc are all available in Rhossili.

Rhosilli Bay is also the place to head for on The Gower for hang-gliding from the cliffs.

This massive west facing bay bears the brunt of SW storms thrown at the Gower Peninsula. Rhossili is at the southern end of the bay, Llangenith is in the middle of the Bay and is particularly exposed.

Llangenith picks up any swell going and can therefore be a good place to head for some wave-sailing when everywhere else is flat. Offshore NE, Easterly, SE and Southerly winds can produce some excellent beach break surfing conditions, or wave sailing conditions. SW can be good too, but the waves will start to lose their quality. Westerly winds will result in mad blown out conditions and in big winds all but the most advanced windsurfers are likely to take quite a battering. North and NW winds don't tend to generate any swell here, but can produce some pleasurable bump & jump conditions.

To get there, follow the A4118 from Swansea and turn right onto the B4271. Follow this road to Llanrhidian and then continue west towards Llangenith. Walk through the sand dunes to the beach. Shops and a pub are to be found In Llangenith village and a large caravan site is found behind the dunes at Llangenith.

The large and very sandy Broughton Bay is accessible at its southern end from the lane that leads from Llangenith and at its northern end from the lane that leads to Llanmadoc. Both of these lanes end in caravan sites. The strong tides, powerful waves and shifting sandbanks make it an unpopular and dangerous place for most watersports, although in calmer conditons windsurfing and kite-surfing is possible. The large expanse of sands makes for excellent kite-flying and buggying though. In big SW storms Broughton Bay can have some excellent waves at high tide, with an extremely long left hander breaking off the point into the bay.

Whitford boasts A two mile stretch of sand that curves from the cliffs of Broughton Bay towards Whitford Point . It is difficult to get to, with no real access for cars and a long walk through the dunes of Whitford Burrows. Even during the height of summer, the beach is likely to be virtually desserted. This obviously makes it ideal for beach based sports such as kite-buggying or landsailing, if you can be bothered to carry all the necessary equipment for an hour though the dunes. The ebb and flow of the tide into the Burry Estuary creates some strange currents so swimming or other watersports from this beach can be risky.

A walk through the National Trust owned dunes to Whitford Point and its views across the shifting sands and currents of Burry Estuary is a definate must for those seeking solitude.

Not much of a beach really, and certainly not very good for most 'forces-of-nature' sports. You can windsurf here an hour either side of high tide, but its better to head elewhere. Strong tidal currents and shifting sandbanks are hazards to be aware of.

This south facing beach can provide good windsurfing and kitesurfing conditions in Easterly, through Northerly to NW winds. Strong currents from the large estuary can be a hazard though.

To find the beach follow the main Lllelli Burry Port road (A4884) and turn left towads Burry Port. At the level crosing turn right. go past the inshore rescue boat station and then turn left onto a concrete road that runs parallel to the beach. Parking is available on a grass verge at the end of the beach road. Shops, toilets and accomodation are available in Burry Port.

This seven mile sandy beach backed by sand-dunes and Pembrey Forest is perfect for kite-buggying or Kite-mountainboarding. Windsurfing from here could be OK, but its too far to carry all the kit. Currents and shifting sandbars are the main hazards in the water.

This sandy west facing beach with views across the calm waters of the Tywi to Llansteffan Castle is only suitable for windsurfing or kites-surfing one hour either side of high tide. Ideal conditions are NNE winds and SSW winds which channel along the esturary providing good cross shore conditions and flat water sailing. OK for beginners in light winds, but the tidal stream can be strong.

The village of Ferryside has toilets, shops, cafes and pubs and there is a car park close to the beach. To find the beach follow the road that runs alongside the railway from Kidwelly.

Exactly the same conditions as Ferryside, but the beach faces East and looks out across the calm waters of the Tywi to Ferryside. Windsurfing for beginners one hour either side of high tide. Best in SSW or NNE winds.

From Carmarthen take the B4312 to Llansteffan. Parking is available close to the beach and camping, toilets, pubs, cafes etc. are available in Llansteffan itself.

This 5 mile long sandy beach is as suitable for kite-buggying and kite-mountain-boarding as nearby Pembrey, but access is much easier, with parking (at a charge) permitted all along the sands. Toilets are available at both ends of the beach and accomodation, shops and pubs are found in nearby Pendine village.

Windsurfing and kitesurfing from this beach is also possible and can be excellent in the right conditions. Being able to park on the sands saves carrying your kit too far as well. NW and NE winds are offshore, but provide good flat water blasting for windsurfers competent enough to be out in offshore winds. Westerly through SW to SE winds can produce bump and jump conditons and occasionally swells may offer wave sailing conditions.

To find the beach from the A40, turn onto the A4066 and follow the road to Pendine then follow the signposts to the beach.

Restricted access to the beach may be in place during the week as it is a MOD training area, but the beach is open at weekends.