(11) Swansea Bay, Mumbles and Gower

Distance from Craig-y-Nos Castle 17 Miles

Swansea, Wales’ “City by the Sea”, is set on the curve of Swansea Bay and is one of the fastest growing destinations in the UK. The city is the ‘Gateway’ to the coastline and countryside of the beautiful Gower Peninsula, the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  

With 19 miles of coastline, there is a choice of accessible, family beaches with golden sand and secluded coves in which to relax and sunbathe.

Attractions include museums and art galleries, indoor and outdoor children’s activities and award winning parks and gardens. Heritage hunters will enjoy the Norman keeps, Tudor mansion and Victorian Pier. Summer 2005 sees the opening of the National Waterfront Museum in the award-winning Maritime Quarter, promising an exciting and interactive insight into Wales’ past and looking forward to our future.   

As night falls a diversity of entertainment includes theatres, friendly pubs and cinemas. Choose from the café quarter on Wind Street or the picturesque seaside resort of Mumbles, with its many speciality shops, pubs and restaurants.

Picture by kind permission of City and County of Swansea

Shops in the city range from famous names to boutiques selling everything from love spoons to antiques. The traditional covered market is Wales’ largest - try the local delicacies of fresh cockles and laverbread (seaweed)! In the centre of the city are pedestrian retail and entertainment areas including Plantasia, a tropical garden with butterflies.

Eating out is always a pleasure, from Swansea’s vibrant café quarter to lunch in one of Gower’s country pubs, there is something for all tastes - ranging from Welsh fusion, to Cantonese and Austrian.  

Swansea boasts excellent indoor sports facilities, including the Wales new National Pool and the new Stadium at Morfa. The stunning coastline and countryside offers lovely beaches, watersports, walking and cycling. A range of centres in the area provide activities such as outdoor adventure, horse riding, surfing, sailing, pottery and watercolour painting.  

To find out more about the area, contact >>>

Tourist Information Centre

Plymouth Street

Swansea

Tel: 01792 468321

Email: tourism@swansea.gov.uk

Website: www.visitswanseabay.com  

Travel Information:

Road:   M4 direct, links with M50, M5, M42 and M6

Rail:     City Centre based mainline station to London Paddington direct in under 3 hours

Sea:     There is a daily ferry service from Swansea Docks to Cork in Ireland. Most sailings depart from Swansea at 9.00pm and arrive in Ringaskiddy, Cork at 7.00am.