Three Cliffs Bay
Penmaen, Swansea, SA3 2HB
Category: Places to visit, Swansea Bay
Three Cliffs is one of the Gower's most picturesque beaches – and one of the most photographed. It’s simply breathtaking – a valley, fringed by dunes and the eerie ruins of Pennard Castle. Despite its beauty, it’s a relatively quiet beach, largely due to it being slightly off the beaten track, but it is frequented by horses and their riders who enjoy a good gallop on the beach and it’s a popular beach for surfing too. The cliffs are popular with climbers and you can walk underneath them through an archway but the sand dunes are very steep so be prepared for some strenuous walking. There are also stepping stones to cross the river on the Penmaen side of the bay (west), but make sure you can get back – when the tide is in, it becomes impossible to cross the river. Paths lead north to Pennard Burrows, east to Pobbles and west to Tor Bay. The best approach to the bay is from the car park at Southgate, from here you can hike a mile or two along the cliff tops which are inhabited by semi-wild ponies.