Walk #838: A circular walk from Rhossili

P20096130091 My tent at the campsite in Kennoxstone.		P20096130094 Looking north over Rhossili Bay.

General Data

P20096130096 Jacqui and Sencan.		P20096130100 Heading west towards Kitchen Corner.

P20096130110 Worm's Head.		P20096130111 Worm's Head and Kitchen Corner.

Map of the walk

P20096130117 Looking north over Rhossili Bay.		P20096130124 Sencan on the beach.

P20096130127 The Helvetia Shipwreck, Rhossili Bay.		P20096130128 Looking north along Rhossili Bay.

Notes

A few months ago I had arranged to go on a short weekend walking trip with Jacqui, an old friend and work colleague of mine. After looking at going to Pembrokeshire, we decided to go to the Gower instead, as it was less of a journey for both of us. It was an interesting choice for me; I had only ever been there on the coastwalk, and it was the only time on the entire trip that I had felt like giving up. I had expected the scenery to be great, but bad weather had meant that it was an extreme disappointment. Now we were heading back, and until the Thursday the forecast was for heavy rain. Sencan and I drove up to the campsite I had booked at Kennoxstone Farm on Friday afternoon; Jacqui arrived a while later after a long journey. The campsite is very nice, with good, clean facilities. Fortunately the weather was bright and clear, although there was a short shower just after we had erected our tiny tent.

This was Sencan's first camping trip, and it was therefore a relief that she had a good night's sleep. We then got all our kit together and jumped into our car for the drive to Rhossili. The car park in the village was not too busy when we arrive, and we were soon ready for the walk. Fortunately, my fears of rain were unfulfilled, and it was a gloriously sunny day. Although our plan as to walk along Rhossili beach, we decided to go and have a look at Worm's Head first. Instead of following the motorway-like path down from the car park, we headed back into the village and then took a footpath along to the headland. The first path we tried was a little too overgrown, so we doubled back and took another path.

The views over towards Worm's Head were superb, and it was good to see it in fine weather after the dreary weather on my previous trip. There were lots of people around, and soon we were heading back up towards the village and down the steps that led onto the southern edge of the beach. Soon we came across a few wooden spars sticking out of the sand, the wreck of the Helevetia, the sad remains of a once-proud ship. It is interesting to compare what we saw with other photos of the wreck - the level of the sand obviously varies considerably.

A little further on we came across the first of what were many dead common jellyfish on the beach. They are very strange looking creatures - circular and transparent except for four rectangles which are, apparently, their gonads. As we walked on the beach became increasingly less busy, as people had further to walk from the entrance to the beach. Then it became busier once more as we neared the stream of Diles Lake, and another entrance onto the beach.

We soon reached the end of the beach at Spaniard Rocks, and we walked across the slippery rocks to try and reach the headland of Burry Holms. Unfortunately the tide was too high, and the channel between the rocks and the headland was flooded. I could remember exploring the ruins on the headland on my previous trip, but there was no getting across it today. Instead, we climbed up above the rocks and sat down to have lunch. As we ate, the tide receded, until eventually a man waded across to the island.

After lunch, we headed up over the sand dunes along a path that skirted the edge of the cliffs, giving us superb views over the bays to the north. At one point a natural arch was visible, and there were lots of pretty butterflies around on the vegetation. Frankly, I loved the walk. It then descended down to end at a caravan park, and a series of tracks and paths took us back towards the beach. Compared to what we had just experienced, this was a boring and uninteresting stretch. We had to walk back onto the beach to cross the stream called Diles Lake, which had hundreds of tadpoles in, and we then haded back inland into another massive caravan park. This had a café in it, and we stopped off to get a couple of ice creams and three bottles of water. Jacqui did not have an ice cream, and this proved to be wise.

What followed was a steep climb up onto Rhossili Downs. This was a bit of a puff, and both Sencan and I felt a little sick after the lovely ice creams. We soon reached the first summit, and we climbed up to some old brick and concrete ruins to admire the view to seaward. It was a beautiful spot. Off to our right was a large area of concrete ruins, the remains of a Second World War 'Chain Home Low Station' - a radar complex. Another climb then followed, thankfully gentler this time, up to the trig pillar on The Beacon, the highest point of Rhossili Downs and the entire Gower peninsular. Again, the views were superb.

The descent down to Rhossili was steep, although not too steep for a couple to be cycling up. In the village we stopped off for another ice cream, before heading back to the car. It had been a fulfilling and beautiful walk, if a little short. After we got back to the car we drove along the coast to Oxwich, to have a stroll along the beach there and watch all the pleasure boats be hauled up the beach by tractors.

P20096130132 A common jellyfish.		P20096130140 Burry Holms.

P20096130150 Looking across to Burry Holms.		P20096130159 The path east over Broughton Burrows.

Directions

This walk starts off at the car park in Rhossili. Leave the car park and turn right to follow the B2427 eastwards. Just past the church, turn right along a footpath. This heads southwards for a few yards, and then turn right along another track that heads westwards past fields. At SS411877 turn left along another track, and then after a couple of hundred yards right along another path that heads west-southwestwards for a few hundred yards until it ends at the top of the cliffs. Turn right and follow a path that runs along the top of the cliffs until above Kitchen Corner.

Here turn right and follow a good path that heads northeastwards along the top of the cliffs. Pass the car park and visitor centre, and then turn left along a footpath. This descends down steps to reach the southern end of Rhossili beach. Turn right and follow the breach northwards for two and a half miles until Spaniard TRocks are reached by Burry Holms. Turn right and follow a footpath that heads eastwards along the edge of the cliffs, climbing steeply before settling on a more level course. The path starts descending, and follows a boardwalk before ending at a road in a caravan park.

Turn right and follow this road southwards. Just after a car park on the right, a footpath leads off to the right. Follow this path as it heads south-southwestwards, squeezing between Moors Hill on the right and Llangennith Moors on the left. This eventually meets a stream on the left, and follow this back out onto the beach. At the first opportunity cross the stream, and then follow the southern bank of the stream until a track is reached.

Follow this track southeastwards through a caravan park; it turns to the left to head eastwards. Pass a café and head for the exit of the caravan park. Exit the park, and then turn right along another footpath. This climbs rapidly to the south. Once at the top the gradient levels off, before descending down towards the concrete cases of the old radar station. It then climbs once more, eventually reaching the trig pillar on the Beacon, the highest point on the entire Gower.

Continue on the path to the south, following it as it starts to descend from the hill. This eventually ends at the B4247 road in Rhossili; turn right and follow the road as it passes the church and heads back to the car park, where this walk ends.

P20096130162 The path east over Broughton Burrows.		P20096130166 Sencan crossing the outfall of Diles Lake.

P20096130168 The climb up onto Rhossili Down.		P20096130175 The climb up onto Rhossili Down.

Distances

This makes a total distance of 10.7 miles, with 1837 feet of ascent and 1837 feet of descent.

P20096130177 Rhossili Down.		P20096130181 Sencan on Rhossili Down.

P20096130192 Sencan and myself by the trig pillar on Rhossili Down.		P20096130193 The trig pillar on Rhossili Down.

P20096130207 The descent down from Rhossili Down to Rhossili.

Disclaimer

Please note that I take no responsibility for anything that may happen when following these directions. If you intend to follow this route, then please use the relevant maps and check the route out before you go out. As always when walking, use common sense and you should be fine.

If you find any information on any of these routes that is inaccurate, or you wish to add anything, then please email me.

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And finally, enjoy your walking!

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