Simply one of the UK's most stunning beaches, voted best beach in the UK in 2010…read more
Situated on the west coast of the Gower Peninsular, half an hour by car from Swansea, it sweeps majestically the 3 miles (5km) from the Worm's Head peninsular in the south to Burry Holms in the north.
Backed by a mixture of grassy downland, rocky cliffs, and wonderful dunes, it is a virtually undeveloped, stunning expanse of sand, with amazing views. At low tide, the beach can become up to 500m from shore to the water's edge. The Worm's Head and part of the bay are in the care of the National Trust.
It's popular with surfers, with bird-watchers (lots of sea-birds nesting along the cliffs) as well as more straightforward beach lovers. As well as the sand and sea, there are rock pools for the children to explore, especially good at the northern end next to Spaniard's Rocks. It's also great for walkers and famous for its sunsets.
Surprisingly, it also hosts a couple of ruined mediaeval churches and an old fort, as well as lots of Bronze and Iron Age archaeology and, rather more recently, the wreck of the ship Helvetia which ran aground in 1887.
The village of Rhossili, at the southern end, has a 12th-century church containing a memorial to Edgar Evans, who died in Scott's ill-fated expedition to the Antarctic in 1912.
Practicalities
There is a private car park at Rhossili with public toilets and a National Trust Visitor centre and shop. The village has a convenience shop, a kite centre, an art gallery, surfing shop, a couple of places to eat and drink, and a take-away. It's quite a steep descent to the beach, and best avoided by push-chairs and those with limited mobility.
There are lots of holiday cottages to rent around the village, as well as as few B&Bs.
There's also a car park at Hillend, near the village of Llangennith, 2 miles further north, which provides slightly easier access, but with fewer facilities, although there is a camp-site there.
There is also a car park at Llangennith Burrows (via the village), but it is a mile-long slop across the dunes to the beach. It's generally quieter at this end, though.
Gower bus provides a regular service on routes 118 and 119 (roughly hourly) from Swansea to Rhossili, with a less frequent Sunday service. See Gower Bus details at http://www.swansea.gov.uk .
Finally, beware the tides here: the Bristol Channel has the world's second greatest tidal range, and tide can come in swiftly: accompany children if they wander to the water's edge.
The Worm's Head becomes an island at high tide and, whilst it is easily accessible at low tide, it is important to make sure you don't get cut off.