UK Tourist & Leisure Attractions

On the third day of our holiday we hit Rhossili on the western end of the Gower Peninsula.  Starting off with a visit to the local coffee shop, we contemplated our proposed walk over Rhossili Down, just seen here on the far right.
 

The only way is up!  The moorland walk over Rhossili Down is reckoned to be the best dramatic coastal walking in Wales and rises to over 184 metres.  It reminded us a bit of our Brean Down walk a few years previously.

 Apparently Rhossili Down has a number of prehistoric remains, hmm, we see what they mean!  Here's a shot looking back towards Rhossili, the rocky outcrop is Worm's Head which we were to return to a few days later.

The Beacon is the highest point on the Gower Peninsula, so no wonder we found the walking strenuous, phew!  From here we enjoyed uninterrupted views in all directions and found a sheltered spot for our picnic.
 

We can tell you that it was really rather windy on Rhossili Down.  Still, from here the only way was down, heading for Burry Holms, the little island outcrop seen jutting out at the end of the beach.

The sandy beach runs for three miles along Rhossili Bay and is popular with wind surfers.  We climbed down over the sand dunes, called The Warren, and continued towards Burry Holms.
 

Burry Holms can only be accessed at low tide.  Our reason for visiting was to find a Geocache, one of many we searched out using our handheld Sat Nav during our Gower holiday walking.

The walk over Rhossili Down and back along the lower level was certainly spectacular (and windy).  At this point we saw the skeletal remains of the shipwreck Helvetia poking out of the sand.
 

It would be too much to expect every day in Wales to be rain free!  So when it bucketed down on the forth day we had to make the best of it so took ourselves off to The Gower Heritage Centre in Parkmill.

Here's the 800 year old working water wheel that powered the original sawmill.  Gower Heritage Centre runs guided tours throughout the day around the many interesting displays and exhibits.
 

We were enthralled by the corn mill cottage, laid out with typical household items as it would have been in times past.

Venturing out into the open part of the rural life museum we headed to the farming museum section with its animal pen, stable and farming machinery.
 

The mock-up of an air raid shelter contained some second world war memorabilia and a land girl - steady on there Mike!
 

Our final port of call at the Gower Heritage Centre was the fascinating blacksmiths workshop, where the blacksmith admirably demonstrated how horse shoes and other metal items were cast in the furnace and bashed into shape.  Wonder is that's where the expression to strike while the iron's hot came from?

Belinda pours the wine and Mike eats the Spag Bol cooked up in our lovely comfortable Gower holiday cottage.

Tourism resources for the areas we visit are on our UK tourist websites page.

See our review of our new digital camera, used to take many of these Gower photos.

On the last page of our Gower holiday we head to the stunning Three Cliffs Bay and pay another visit to Rhossili and Worm's Head >>>