Day One
09:00 Chow down on a full Welsh breakfast after spending the night at 19th-century hunting lodge-turned-B&B Parc-le-Breos (parc-le-breos.co.uk), set on 70 acres of manicured parkland, within striking distance of the village
of Parkmill. B&B costs £37pppn.
10:00 Take a stroll. Designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1956, the Gower is a 15-mile stretch of coastline that boasts a bucketful of stunning beaches, rugged cliffs and rocky outcrops, the perfect spot for walkers and photographers.
11:00 Delve into the life of Wales’ most celebrated poet, Dylan Thomas, at a permanent exhibition of his life at The Dylan Thomas Centre (dylanthomas.com), stuffed full of books, posters and memorabilia.
12:00 Visit the area’s most fabled rock, King Arthur’s Stone, in Cefn Bryn, a massive boulder which dates back to 2500 BC. According to legend, King Arthur found a rock in his shoe which he hurled from Llanelli to Cefn Bryn, where it swelled with pride after being touched by such a great man.
13:00 Feeling adventurous? Feast on cockle and laverbread (cooked seaweed) bake, a Welsh delicacy, at the 18th-century The Dolphin Inn, in Llanrhidian, which also offers a wide selection of ales. Sit in the garden to watch birds of prey and wild horses.
15:00 Grab a board and spend the afternoon surfing in Rhossili Bay which picks up any swell going. Waves tend to be mellow and small, so the beach is a favourite with longboarders. There are occasional fast waves that are good for shortboarders too. If you want to take a lesson, get in touch with surf school GSD (surfgsd.com), which offers courses for all ability levels. In summer, keep your eyes peeled for paragliders who land on the beach. If surfing doesn’t float your boat, Rhosilli also offers windsurfing, hang gliding and rock climbing.
17:00 After an arduous session in the surf, watch the sunset while treating yourself to a pint at the nearby Worm’s Head Hotel (thewormshead.co.uk), which affords award-winning views over Rhossili Bay and Worm’s Head, a small tidal island. If you’re feeling peckish, the hotel has a top-notch restaurant which serves up Gower lobster and crab, sea bass and sea trout, as well as locally sourced meat dishes.
20:00 If you’re not too exhausted, you can find a hotbed of fun on The Kingsway and Wind Street, a hub of jumping bars and superclubs. If you prefer live bands and indie music, swing by Sin City (sincityclub.co.uk).
Day Two
10:00 Explore the area’s gorgeous coast on horseback by going pony trekking. Ride along open moorland and white-sand beaches, backed by grey limestone cliffs. Anyone from beginners to experienced riders can book classes with Parc-Le-Breos, where everyone helps to groom and tack up their horses. Half a day’s ride (from 10am-1pm) costs £33pp.
13:30 Head to the picture-perfect village of Parkmill for lunch at stylish eatery Maes-yr-haf (maes-yr-haf.com). A three-course set meal is £19.95, served Tuesday to Saturday from 12pm and 2pm. Mains include duck leg and pan-fried cod, while desserts include rice pudding parfait and white chocolate panacotta. You can also stay in the stylish boutique hotel’s luxurious double rooms from £140pn.
14:30 Walk from Parkmill to Three Cliffs Bay, a beach described by Welsh songstress Katherine Jenkins as giving her “the feeling of being hugged”, and the winner of numerous popularity polls for its dazzling good looks. The stroll will take you past golf links, the ruins of 12th century Pennard castle and moorland where wild ponies roam. Only accessible on foot via a steep set of stairs, the bay is gloriously remote and unspoilt. It’s even been used as the backdrop for several music videos. The 20-metre limestone cliffs offer 20 easy routes for rock climbers. At low water, walk from Three Cliffs to the equally pretty Pobbles Bay.
16:30 Try your hand at the fast-growing sport of kiteboarding. A one-hour lesson costs £15 with Gower Kite Riders (gowerkiteriders.com).
20:00 Enjoy a night out in Gower’s nearest big city, Swansea. Follow in the footsteps of local girl Catherine Zeta Jones and hubbie Michael Douglas who recently dined out at Italian restaurant Gallini’s (gallinisrestaurant.co.uk) which overlooks the marina. You won’t have to pay A-list prices though – mains cost from £13 and desserts from £4.75.
