Has anyone been on holiday/know the Gower?

[Reastie]

Am looking at a holiday here. Have found a nice place to stay near 3 cliffs bay.

Has anyone been here before? What's it like? What's there to do (other than beaches) for a 4 YO (who doesn't like walking)? What can you do when it rains?

It looks stunning, but I'm not sure what we'd do other than go to beaches, and if the weather is rubbish, we'll be a bit stuck. I've found a pony ride place we can do there, but that will be a morning max.

This summer we went to the Isle of Wight, which was fab for tourist attractions to keep DD happy and amused. I'm not sure if this is too much the opposite way of a type of holiday (it's more a DH and I choice of holiday than something to keep DD happy).

[Guitarghoul]

There is the gower heritage centre very close to three cliffs which has animals, some trucks to play on, a lot of it is covered over so it's ok in the rain. Our DCs love it there looking at the animals, there's a cosy little cafe there too - try to get the table with the twinkly lights above it!

There's the LC2 in Swansea itself which has soft play and a water park with a wave machine and slides. Your 4 year old will probably be too small for the big slides but it is a fun pool. There's also the waterfront museum and marina just opposite the LC2.

Mumbles is always fun for a mooch around and they have a few different playgrounds there, crazy golf and lovely ice-cream!

Cinema in Swansea itself.

A lot of the nicer gower beaches are quite remote and need a bit of a walk to get there.

My favourite is definitely the cliffs above rhosilli though, lovely whatever the weather is like.

[Reastie]

Thanks guitar . I guess I'm just concerned it'll tip down with rain all week and we'll have nothing to do. Do you know how busy the beaches get in July (week before state schools break up)? The pictures I see are of near deserted beaches, which is just what we love, but I'm wondering if it gets busy/popular in the summer.

[IAlreadyToldYou]

Hi, I love the Gower, such a beautiful place. We've been there a few times for long weekend camping trips. We've always been really fortunate with the weather and have managed to do beach days and other outdoor stuff at the campsite so never had to worry about finding indoor things to do.

someone with more knowledge may come along soon, but in the meantime, I believe Swansea isn't too far away and I'm sure they have loads there for tourists. We've been to the big leisure centre there (the LC). The pool is fab - loada of slides, separate pools for younger swimmers and a separate little water play park with water fountains, little slides etc, a wave machine, a whirlpool, lazy river... There's also a decent soft play in the LC. There's two free museums in Swansea. Also a bowling complex. There's an animal place, can't think of the name, I'll find out and het back to you. Also a big toys r us where my dc can easily kill at least a couple of hours!

[IAlreadyToldYou]

Oops x post!

Also, just realised you are the op reastie. You are famous in our house for all the bargains you have brought our way. Massive thank you for all your hard work . Hope you enjoy your hol!

[Guitarghoul]

Out of the school holidays I reckon you will have plenty of space, to be honest, even during the school holidays so many of the beaches have such an expanse of sand that they never seem crowded. Three cliffs is a popular beach with families as there are plenty of rock pools which form there.

Rhosilli has fabulous cliffs with a view over the bay. There is a walk down to the beach which is fine walking down but might be a bit much for your 4 year old walking back up again. The beach at rhosilli is over 3 miles expanse of sand. It would be difficult to make it look crowded! The same beach is also accessed from the other end of the 3 mile sand expanse at Llangennith. You can park there easily. It's not the same view as from the rhosilli cliffs but more accessible for a small child.

[af2000]

If you go in July, whilst i definitely wouldn't rule out the possibility of rain, what i would say is that it is unlikely that you would have days and days of rain. What tends to happen (though i have known exceptions!) Is that you get maybe a morning of rain which then moves over and things clear up a bit.

In terms of beaches, the reason many of the beaches are not so busy is because they take a bit of effort to get to, for eg Three Cliffs, Rhossilli etc but this is what makes them charming. However it is worth bearing in mind that when you are at those beaches there is not then easy access to toilets and shops etc. For that, your best bet is beaches such as Langland and Caswell. Oxeich bay is a nice compromise as it doesn't get as busy as the others but does have good facilities and is absolutely beautiful.

I grew up on Gower and still go back to stay with family. As previous posters have said Mumbles is lovely for a mooch (I can highly recommend Verdis for ice cream), the Gower heritage centre is nice, Periswood has outdoor activities such as archery. Swansea itself has some good things for very rainy days, already mentioned, and when the weather is nice the beaches are absolutely first rate for digging and rock pooling. Oakwood is a great theme park a bit further west in Pembrokeshire (very well set up for little ones).

The last thing i would add is that everyone tends to bypass Gower to head further west to Pembrokeshire. This neans that Gower is less busy and touristy. You would have a fab holiday there!!

[Reastie]

Thanks so much for all this . It's all very useful. I'm slightly concerned about lack of loo facilities at the quieter beaches as I always need the loo so we couldn't really spend any time at a beach if it didn't have a loo

[FeelingScaredAndWorried]

One of the quieter beaches (can't think which one, sorry, will rack my brains) has a hotel with a little cafe selling cake, coffee etc. If I need the toilet I buy a little something (find it's reasonably priced) and use the facilities then.

[Reastie]

That sounds great Feeling let me know if you remember the name

[Yogamuminahottent]

there's also a falconry centre at Periswood with a cafe that is between 3 cliffs and Oxwich.

[JustAShopGirl]

For a list of facilities and info on gower beaches look and scroll down here it is a fab page of info!

Also worth clicking on the "Start your tour of the Gower" button.

[FunkyBoldRibena]

It is Wales. In Wales, it rains. Quite a lot.

However - Gower is the Med of the UK. We once got out car stuck in the sand there as the tide was coming in. 70s panic flares were everywhere rushing about as my uncle got his landrover, and towed it out just before it went under...smelt of seawater for months.

Anyway - one of my very lovely friends goes there often and thanks to Facebook I get to see her and her two kids having great times there. So I'm guessing there is alot of fun to be had still.