Three Cliffs bay & Pennard Castle - A (very) wet Swansea coastal Adventure

6 Oct

Written By Alex

It was one of those moments mid-lockdown, November 2020 to be precise, that we’d been indoors without really heading outside for any amount of time and the walls were starting to close in. Living in the city has its perks and advantages, but the now fabled ‘5 mile rule’ simply cut us out from all of South Wales’ amazing coast, Brecon Beacons, Monmouth and not forgetting Swansea (and the Gower, AONB). So, after countless walks around what has become a well known ‘circuit’ in our house, we were simply desperate to get out somewhere different. Our sights were firmly set on Three Cliffs Bay in the Gower, Swansea. A beautiful stretch of South Wales that is also an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

It’s that ‘fine rain that gets you soaked’ - looking out towards three cliffs bay from our start position, and it was in fact that very wet, heavy rain that gets you soaked… just quicker! - iPhone

Navigating the coastal path is a bit tricky in place - iPhone

The key problem, and a problem we are very aware of in South Wales, is rain. But, we were adamant - we were heading out for a walk (i’m sure there’s some kind of Withnail and I reference here, but it escapes me), anyhow - our destination was set, Pennard Castle, Southgate, in Swansea.

Three Cliffs Bay panorama - iPhone — Three Cliffs Bay in the Gower, Swansea - panorama - iPhone

It’s a great circular coastal walk, that leads from the town Southgate - following the Welsh coastal path, around three cliffs bay, before curving round up the estuary and upwards to Pennard Castle and back via the golf course. Out of lockdown, and if the weather was better - this would have been an amazing way to finish off with a pint or three, but by the time we arrived back, we were very, very wet, and the clubhouse was unsurprisingly shut.

The weather finally started to clear - iPhone — The weather finally started to clear on Three Cliffs Bay - iPhone

Better late than never - finally the sun decided to show up at Pennard Castle - iPhone

The walk started out in torrential rain, but screw it’ we thought, we ‘had to do it’…. to be fair, the rain was consistent for about the first hour, and then the unthinkable happened, that strange golden orb in the sky peeked its head above the large storm clouds and the rain subsided for an hour or so, just in time for golden hour. It was as this point that I was actually thankful for carrying my ‘proper’ camera and could actually use it!