Back after a short break, Gower Walking Festival is definitely back to its best. With a programme of nearly 40 walks covering the length and breadth of Gower’s stunning and varied landscape, it might be a cliché, but there really is something for everyone. Nature lovers, those interested in history, adventurers or anyone who fancies a fun and sociable day in the fresh air, we guarantee you will find a walk you will enjoy. In fact, you will probably find several!
We were lucky enough to be invited on Monday’s Penmaen and Pennard Castle walk, a beautiful 4 mile route packed full of history, fresh sea air and incredible views across Three Cliffs Bay.
Whilst each of Gower’s fabulous walking routes are open to all, the beauty of Gower Walking Festival is the interesting and fun facts and tips you receive along the way. Would we have noticed the stone remains of a medieval settlement buried under the sand without our guide? (we didn’t!).
In fact, would we have known we had reached the site of Penmaen Castle? Compared to the visible stone ruins of Pennard Castle, the site of Penmaen Castle is not as obvious, but its history is no less interesting (and the backdrop of Three Cliffs Bay no less spectacular!). Armed with illustrations of how the castle would have looked in its heyday, we were told about all the excavations of the site which show that it was a Norman ringwork castle typical of the 12th century.
After stopping to take photos and enjoy the view – and what a view! – we made our way down to the sand for a short pit stop before negotiating the stepping stones.
Surrounded by cliffs, beautiful wild flowers, a few curious cows, and with the sea behind us, this section of the walk was one of our favourites.
Despite the final uphill climb to Pennard Castle (really not as bad as it sounds!), we were buoyed by the promise of yet another unbelievable view at the top, and we soon found ourselves in front of Pennard Castle where we were not disappointed.
How would we sum up our afternoon? Three hours well spent! If you want to explore more of our fascinating local area, we can’t recommend Gower Walking Festival enough – but you need to be quick as it ends this Sunday. While it’s often fun to get out there and explore by yourselves, you can’t beat the company of like-minded people, an expert guide and the chance to learn more about what’s on our doorstep. What a way to spend a Monday!
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