Gower Coast Walking Weekend
Enjoy a wonderfully sociable walking holiday exploring the cliffs, dunes, and woodlands of southwest Wales’ Gower peninsula.
Experience Type: Multi-Day Experience
Duration: 2 nights
Accommodation: Hostel
Group Size: Maximum 32
Level: Active
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs
In a Nutshell
Guided walks along craggy headlands, over sand dunes and across beautiful bays, where sea birds nest, and where woodland and moor drop right down to the water's edge.
Staying in a the lovely coastal village of Port Eynon, right beside the beach.
Getting to know a great bunch of people who all share a love of the outdoors.
Collections: Weekend Adventures : Pembrokeshire & South Wales
Stunning coastline, sandy beaches and easy trails to explore!
Come along on this sociable exploration of one of the most spellbinding coastlines in Wales. Together we'll head out on easy walks to explore clifftop views, sandy beaches and coastal meadows.
Whether you're someone who likes to roam along the beach, gaze down at the waves from the cliff-tops, or explore the shifting lands around sand dunes, Gower has it all. Inland there are also several hills we can wander up to admire views over the whole of the peninsula, and several spectacular beaches, glistening with golden sand.
Our aim is to soak in as much of Gower as possible; there are no forced-marches, and no slogs, just miles of beautiful beaches and all the sea air we can handle on this sociable fully hosted weekend.
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1
You can arrive any time from 5pm and your Large Outdoors host will welcome you into the hostel, where you can get to know your fellow walking companions. Easing into the weekend will be as easy as pie. After dinner, which is served around 8pm, we'll go over the plans for the next day.
Day 2
We’ll head out after breakfast and making up our packed lunches to enjoy one of the area’s fantastic walks.
Walking from the hostel, we'll make our way west along the cliffs that lead to the village of Rhossili. On the way we'll pass ancient forts, sheltered beaches and caves, and we can spend our time exploring as we go. We'll be able to see for miles, over Gower, South Wales, Devon. From here we'll make our way back to the hostel via inland paths. The walk is approximately 11 miles and is undulating - with plenty of photo opportunities.
Tide-permitting, we might head out to the promontory of Worm’s Head off Rhossili, which is only accessible at low tide via a rocky causeway. Worm’s Head (from the Viking name ‘wurm’ meaning dragon) is spectacular with its large flat-topped summit, natural rock bridge called the Devil’s Bridge, blow hole and a headland that is teeming with birdlife, including the occasional appearance of puffins. (But please note, we DO NOT go on Worm’s Head during bird breeding season, March - July).
Once we're back at the hostel, the evening is yours to relax, wander down to the beach again, or check out the local pub. Don't stray too far though, as we'll be serving dinner at the hostel and there’ll be plenty of chance to swap stories from the day.
Day 3
After breakfast, it's time to pack up and check out of the hostel. You’ll be able to enjoy another walk with a Large Outdoors guide. Today we could choose one of the following options:
We could take a short drive to the start of a 5-mile walk to Rhossili Down - famed for its wildlife and ancient monuments. We’ll return along the award-winning beach and enjoy lots of fresh sea air before it’s time to think about heading home.
Alternatively, we could do a longer (approximately 7.5 miles) walk and head east to Oxwich Bay via the headland of Oxwich Point, following the cliff tops through woodlands and then dropping down to the beach to explore the dune systems around Oxwich Burrows.
After the walking has finished you might want to grab a bite to eat with your fellow participants before heading home. Hopefully the sun and sea wind will leave you feeling totally refreshed as you say goodbye to this very special part of Wales.
Please note: On some days there could be a short drive required - where activities don’t start from the door of the accommodation. We don't include transport and participants normally car share.
Good to Know
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Meeting Time: from 5pm
You can arrive any time from 5pm - the Large Outdoors host will be at the accommodation to welcome you. Dinner will be served around 8pm so if you intend to arrive later than this, please ensure you have something to eat on the way.Meeting Location:
YHA Gower, Borfa House Activity Centre
Port Eynon
Swansea
SA3 1NNParking: There is free parking available at the hostel.
Public Transport: YHA Gower is located 17 miles from Swansea Train Station, with services to/from London, Manchester, Bristol and Cardiff.
Finish Time: We aim to finish on the final day between 1pm and 3pm - the exact finish time may depend on the planned/chosen activity, group dynamic, weather conditions, whether the group chooses to grab a coffee or lunch together during/after, etc. If you’ve travelled via public transport, please ensure you book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return ticket), to allow for flexibility.
Please note: On some days there could be a short drive required - where activities don’t start from the door of the accommodation. We don't include transport and participants normally car share.
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We’ll stay at the excellent YHA Gower, Borfa House Activity Centre for this trip. This hostel is in a converted Victorian house, right next to a sandy beach in Port Eynon.
Bedding is provided but please bring a towel and don’t forget your own toiletries.
Accommodation Address:
YHA Gower, Borfa House Activity Centre
Port Eynon
Swansea
SA3 1NNRoom Types:
You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
Bed in a Shared Female Room
Bed in a Shared Male Room
Twin Room
Single RoomAt this hostel there are primarily Shared Rooms, where you’ll be sharing a dorm room - usually with bunk beds - with other participants (room sizes vary and bathrooms are shared). Twin Rooms with bunk beds, sleep up to two participants booking together (bathrooms are shared with other rooms). There are also Single Rooms which have a single bed, sleeping one participant (bathrooms are shared with other rooms).
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Included:
2 nights’ accommodation at YHA Gower - we have taken over exclusive use of the hostel, so it will just be Large Outdoors participants staying.
A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you, deal with meal preparation and the logistics for your experience.
Guided walks on two days (Day 2 and Day 3). If preferred, you can pay an additional fee to swap the guided walk on Day 3 for a surfing lesson (subject to availability).
Home-cooked set 2-course dinners at the accommodation on both evenings.
A DIY breakfast each morning (toast, cereals, fruit and yoghurt provided).
A DIY packed lunch (sandwich and snacks) for Day 2’s walk. Please ensure you bring a lunch box or dry bag - to reduce waste, we do not supply cling film or sandwich bags.
Tea (including decaf and herbal options), coffee (including decaf option), and squash at the accommodation.
Bedding - but please bring a towel and don’t forget your own toiletries.
The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.
Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.
Not included:
Travel to and from the meeting location.
Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.
Bottled water - tap water and squash are available at the accommodation, so please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up and take out with you.
Alcoholic drinks - please feel free to bring something with you to enjoy at the accommodation.
Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.
Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.
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Please see our Residential Walking Kit List.
The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should have the items listed.
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• What level of fitness is needed?
This trip is rated Active - the walks will cover some undulating coastal terrain. Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.• Can I attend on my own?
Can I attend on my own? Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.• I am currently on a specific diet / have an allergy - can you cater for me?
Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian meals, vegan meals, provide meals with gluten* free ingredients, and/or provide dairy* free meals - these options can be selected when booking. *Please see our general FAQs for more information about dietary options.• What transport is provided during this trip?
We do not provide any transport for this experience. On some days there could be a short drive required to activity start points and back, where they don’t start from the door - participants normally car share.• Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment/accommodation, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary. -
At just over 70 square miles, the Gower peninsula in South Wales was the UK's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, protected for its wildlife and it's dramatic scenery. The coastline fluctuates between cliffs, wide sandy beaches, and sand dunes. Beyond the shore there are woodlands and moorland hills which frequently drop straight down to the beach.
At the western end, on either side of Rhossili Bay, are two headlands that become islands at high tide. The southern headland is the famous 'Worm's Head', a sea-serpent like line of rock and earth that forms the most westerly point of Gower. The whole of the coast is accessible via public rights of way, and there are also many inland paths, making the area easy to explore for walkers.
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“Loved the scenery, the company, and the food!” Philip, September 2021
“Great walks, great views, and great people.” Verified guest, September 2021
“The walks were outstanding, with spectacular scenery and very good walk leaders. The food was great as usual. Large Outdoors is a wonderful group.” Elizabeth, September 2021
“I really enjoyed meeting new people in a friendly atmosphere, enjoying home-cooked food and drinks in the evening. The location is stunning with beautiful walks along the coast.” Jane, October 2021
“The walking, the hosting, and the relaxed atmosphere - for me, it was all excellent!” Verified guest, April 2022