to consider Swansea as a summer holiday destination?

[morningtoncrescent62]

I work in an industry where summer is our busy time and it makes it difficult to take time off during the warmer months. This year work are sending me to Swansea for a few days in July, and because I'll get time off in lieu for travelling at the weekend I can follow my work trip with a few days' holiday. It's tempting to be able to take some holiday in the UK in the summer so I'd quite like to, but is there anywhere in the Swansea area that would be good for a short break? I would be on my own which doesn't faze me at all as I like solo holidays. I like cities, I like swimming in the sea, and I like not-too-challenging walks in the country but I don't drive. Would Swansea be a good place? Or Cardiff? Or anywhere else nearby I should consider?

I live quite near Swansea and I am a Verdi's fan, rather than Joe's! Mumbles is a nice town, Swansea Ok ish. My favourite beaches are Caswell and Port Eynon, lovely and clean. Langland's better for a few waves and only been to Rhossili once, but it is rated very highly.

Ooh I'm jealous. The Gower is gorgeous. Have a lovely time.

OP, the pic is of Rhossili Bay, in the Gower, one hour from Swansea on the bus. The NAT bus leaves the bus station once an hour and if you catch the earliest one you can have a good day out there. We live in Cardiff and have no car so have stayed Swansea overnight and caught the bus in the morning to get to Rhossilli. We stayed in the Premier Inn - it was the cheapest option and fine, and there are nice walks along the waterfront nearby. I would take a picnic there and plenty of snacks from Swansea (there are shops near the hotel) as finding a decent meal in the village is a challenge. Cardiff is only an hour away, by train, do able in a day, and is a beautiul city. Let us know if you decide to visit, will give you lots of tips and good things to do. Enjoy your break!

Fairy Hill is now a wedding venue. Verdis has views across the bay of Swansea and Port Talbot steel works . Fortes further along in Limeslade has lovely flavoured ice cream and is at the beginning of the coastal path to Langland and Caswell.

Wherever you go I'm sure you'll have a lovely time so enjoy.

That’s news about Fairy Hill, it has been a couple of years since we stopped in though. On their website they do still offer the exterior rooms & have glamping etc subject to there not be a wedding on I suppose!

Another vote for Gower. Mumbles is lovely and they've had a couple of new restaurants there as well. Newton Road has some lovely shops - there's a deli with gorgeous cheeses/olives/etc, a wine merchants, a coffee shop on the corner just a few doors up from the deli that does good coffee, oh and go to Chai across the road. Try the chocolate orange cake if they have it, yummy but very light.

We are planning on moving to the Gower one day. It's stunning there.

Oh and Joe's all the way. Verdi has greatly views but the ice cream is overpriced and bland.

Why not give Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) a go? Or have surfing lessons at Llangennith?

There's a few decent bars in Uplands. The Optimist and Brewstone do a great breakfast and later, cocktails. Just a short walk from Singleton.

The Village Hotel is close to the waterside premier Inn, and that has a decent pool. Alternatively get an airbnb in the marina. Make sure you go up the tower ( Grape and Olive) as the views are amazing.

I hope you get the weather. On a sunny day there is nowhere better than Swansea

Fairyhill is just weddings now. Pitton Cross campsite do glamping if you fancy a change from a hotel, or there is a Featherdown Farm near Llangennith.

Check out the Egypt Centre on the uni campus if you have an hour or so free - the staff are very enthusiastic and you will learn loads!

I disagree about poor food options in Rhossili - The Bay View has the best views of any cafe in the area and the food is lovely!

If you fancy a bit of culture check out the Dylan Thomas birthplace in Uplands. You can then have a cream tea in the park.

Here is the view from just above the house.

The Gower is gorgeous but I've only done it with a car. Maybe you could get a bus to somewhere like Rhossilli and base yourself there? Otherwise Tenby is further but a great place to base yourself as it's a lovely town with beautiful beaches.

Thanks so much, everyone who's given me ideas. I'm now in such a quandary. I have four days - so whether to stay in Swansea at the premier inn, or head out to Tenby? Lovely dilemma to have, though! And there was me thinking there might not be enough to do on a four-day break in the area

I would stay in Gower rather than Swansea, especially as you don't have a car. You can get 3 nights for the price of 2 in Llangennith and there are beautiful views / walks from there. Rhossili Bay is accessible on foot, and also Broughton Bay which is on the estuary.
There is plenty to do on Gower and it suits those with varied interests

@morningtoncrescent62 - my dad’s from m’burgh. We had Lucca’s ice cream every summer when we visited my grandparents. I’d not thought of it for years till I read your post.

Gower. Tenby will be heaving in July.

Another vote for verdis over joes!

I agree, don't stay in Swansea centre. I'd be inclined to stay in mumbles. It's a great base for cafes, restaurants etc and you can walk to caswell and langland bay. It's not a long bus ride to the bus station if you want to venture further afield

I want to retire to mumbles!

Verdi's does have a better view than Joe's, it's true!

Caswell bay is walkable from mumbles and the cafe does surprisingly good coffee for a takeaway!

We went for a week last summer, had a lovely time.

We have great coffee in Swansea. We had an influx of Italians decades ago so a long tradition of good coffee and ice cream. I can get a great coffee in the Kardomah for a pound and it beats Costa hands-down.

I'd stay in Mumbles, Caswell or Langland. There's a great restaurant in langland where you could treat yourself to a meal at any time of day and head down to Mumbles for a wander along the seafront and the pier.

If you wanted to head into Swansea on the bus you can easily. You can hire a bike at the Bike Hub and cycle along the seafront. You can cycle as far as you want to go; my son is cycling from here to Llanelli with scouts shortly.

I don't know if any of the wonderful MNers who replied to my OP will see this update - but I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to you all. I'm on my way back from Swansea on the train at the moment, and I've had the loveliest time. I went to a lot of the places people mentioned on the thread - I decided to stay in the waterfront Premier Inn which was a good base and not too expensive because I used their pay in advance rate, and it meant I was able to get buses easily. I did some fantastic but quite easy cliff top walks with stunning views, and had some wonderful swims. Rhossili Bay was simply breathtaking, and I also absolutely loved the cliffs above Pobbles/Three Cliffs Bay - I ended up going there two days running, using the bus to Pennard Cliffs car park, because the first day I went there was so good. It was exactly what I'd hoped for - gorgeous but not difficult walking, and brilliant swimming from beaches that weren't in any way crowded when the tide was right in, and which felt almost deserted when the tide went out. I also made time for a mooch around Mumbles. Unfortunately the pier's closed for refurbishment so I didn't get to see that. I had an ice cream at Verdi's and I agree about the views. I'm afraid I didn't get to Joe's so I can't do a comparison - I'll just have to go back and try it next time!!

I'm so grateful to everyone who posted. Without you I might have come straight home without doing any of this. Thank you!