Visiting Swansea Bay for a long weekend in Autumn was a perfect getaway to relax and reconnect.
We headed along the M4 into Wales arriving in Swansea Bay a few hours later.
The Horseshoe Cottage at the beautiful Clyne Farm Centre would be our home for the weekend. We were greeted with a welcome basket full of activities for the children and a well stocked kitchen. The farm is set on top of a hill, surrounded by animals and with views of the countryside, sea and Swansea.
From castles to coastlines, there’s so much to explore with kids in Swansea Bay. The boys have chosen their five favourite things we did while we were there:
1. Rhossili Bay, Gower
Head to the picturesque village of Rhossili on the far tip of Gower for the most beautiful coastal walks and beach. Park at the National Trust Centre (SA3 1PR) and embark on a beautiful journey.
Rhossili Downs
From the National Trust Centre, follow the signs for a walk across the dramatic clifftops of the Rhossili downs. Take in the fresh sea breeze, panoramic views and watch the wild horses grazing. The terrain is fun for children with craters and many smaller trails but there are no barriers and steep cliff drops so keep young children on the main paths.
If you are looking for a challenge, head out to Worms Head – a route that’s only above sea level for 2.5 hours either side of low tide. This route is manageable with young children if they have good stamina or carriers.
Rhossili beach
Possibly the most beautiful beach we have visited in the UK. Rhossili beach is regularly voted among the top beaches in the UK and even the world. The three mile expanse of sand, surrounded by rolling hills and cliffs is certainly a beautiful place to spend time together.
In Autumn the beach was deserted so the boys played for hours barefoot in the waves and collecting seashells. It was the perfect time to go!
From the National Trust centre it’s a short but steep path down to the beach. This path is not suitable for pushchairs with sets of steps, loose gravel and steep drops. There are no facilities or shelter on the beach.
At low tide the beach is flat and wide but be sure to keep an eye on the tides as the sea comes in to cover the entire bay at high tide.
Top tips for visiting Rhossili bay with kids:
- Sturdy shoes for the terrain which is uneven, slippy and steep in places.
- Child carrier for younger children as the trail to the beach is steep and not pushchair accessible
- Theres public toilets and plenty of cafes near the National Trust Centre, we loved The Lookout which was really friendly with a great range of food.
2. Horse Riding, Gower
See the Gower peninsular from a different perspective on horseback. The boys haven’t stopped talking about the ride since! Clyne Farm Centre took us out on their beautiful horses for a family hack across Gower with views of the countryside and sea.
Beginners and experienced riders will enjoy this picturesque ride. Be sure to dress for changeable weather and wear boots.
3. Bracelet Bay, Mumbles
Whilst exploring the Mumbles we unexpectedly stumbled upon Bracelet Bay. This beautiful cove had dramatic rock formations, huge pebbles and sand which made it perfect for the kids to explore! The lighthouse sits in the distance warning passing ships, and it was completely empty when we visited.
The car park is near a restaurant, decent public toilets and a great ocean themed wooden playground. A steep trail leads from the car park down to the beach where there are no facilities or shelter. Beware of the tides here as the sea rises quickly and crashes dramatically against the rocks at high tide.
If you are in the mumbles area we recommend lunch at Verdi’s Italian on the seafront for some delicious Italian food (try the specials!) and huge ice cream sundaes.
4. Clyne Gardens
A babbling stream runs through these beautifully curated gardens which are free to explore. Monuments, towers and bridges are scattered throughout the garden and there’s lots for the kids to explore. The boys loved paddling in the stream, climbing the tower and collecting autumnal treasures.
There’s a small food vendor but no other facilities. Some paths are paved but most are uneven trails so carriers for small children might be best.
5. Explore the Outdoors
Outdoor rock climbing, surfing and bushcraft skills are all on offer for a family day out. We chose to learn some bushcraft skills with Clyne Farm Centre, building a shelter, learning to start a fire and roasting marshmallows of course!We learnt about local wildlife, plants and ecosystems which was great for the boys.
Other places to explore:
- As with much of the UK, plan for all weather conditions as you may experience all four seasons in a day. Suncream and raincoats!
- Parking quite easy to find and reasonably priced, it’s helpful to download the parking app for ease.
- Sturdy shoes for navigating uneven terrain
- Many walks and outdoor activities are not pushchair friendly so a carrier for younger children would be useful
How I Wander 