Gower Peninsula

[juneau]

I've always wanted to go and I've got DH's approval to find somewhere for a week in either August or September. We are two adults, a 3-year-old and a new baby. Would like a 2-bed self-catering cottage/apartment near the beach and hopefully a few local attractions to keep DH and 3-year-old happy. I don't know the area at all, so any personal recommendations of accommodation and attractions would be fabulous.

I live in Swansea, which is just around the corner, and the Gower is utterly fantastic! So so sooo beautiful (the first place in Britain to be declared an area of outstanding natural beauty)

I don't know much about accomodation but have a look here and it might give you a good start.

As for attractions - there are loads! Lots and lots of beautiful beaches - Rhossili especially, but that may be quite difficult for you as there are a shedload of steps to get down to it and it may be hard to negotiate with a pram. Three cliffs bay is also beautiful, as are Oxwich, Port Eyenon and Llangenith - these are all great beaches with loads of sand.

There's also bracelet bay, which are more rocky beaches and are fab for rockpools and skimming stones.

The Gower heratage centre is worth a look for your DD, and there are lots of Pick Your Own fruit farms which are good fun too.

Further into Swansea, there's a Lido which is free, and great for little ones - the splash pool is relative shallow so fairly safe, and it's right by the main swansea beach. The land train goes from there too, up and down the prom - goes as far as mumbles where you have lots of quirky shops andJoes ice cream parlour, plus a park and gardens, and it goes down to Singleton boating lake where you can hire boats out on the lake and theres a crazy golf and a park too.

The leisure centre, The LC2, is good for when it's raining. There's lots for children to do - splash pool and slides, and theres also a big soft play in there too.

Gosh, i sound like an advert, don't i?

We are going to Gower - this is the place I've booked - www.gowergetaways.co.uk/mumbles-holiday-cottage-mu055 It looks like walking/buggy distance to the beach and town center, but its three bedrooms, so you might get somewhere smaller, cheaper (though its a good price I thought...)

I think there are nice family beaches around here, but I haven't been to Gower for 20 years.

If you can get to the beach at Whitford Burrows do try, it's gorgeous! There's nowhere to park except on the street in the village nearby so the beach tends to be very quiet. You have to walk down a footpath through pine woods into the dunes which are full of wild roses. The smell of pine, wild rose and sea is the best ever!

A little further afield is both Oakwood Park - a decent enough theme park, and Folly Farm - which is perfect for younger children.

My favourite beaches with dd are Langland (pretty beach huts, lovely brasserie), Caswell (rockpools), Oxwich (sand dunes to run around on) and Port Eynon (lovely fish and chips). The King Arthur Hotel in Reynoldston does lovely reasonably priced meals (I may be biased as I got married there!) and is a great base for walking. They have a gorgeous cottage that they let out but I would imagine it would be all booked up by now.

If the kids are into castles Oystermouth Castle in Mumbles has just reopened after a massive refit, or Weobley Castle is good for exploring a ruin.

In Swansea the LC is a good waterpark, next to it is the Waterfront Museum which we visit regularly, it's free entry. (Save your parking ticket and get money back at the desk - that's not advertised on the car park signs so not many people know to do it).

If you don't mind travelling a bit Margam Park is about 30 minutes away near Port Talbot and it great for the younger ones - there's a train, fairy tale village, adventure playground and farm trail and all you pay for is parking. There's a Go Ape there too.

Mumbles is lovely for little shops, ice creams and play areas. The paddling pool at Blackpill is good for littlies.

My ILs use a lettings company called Home From Home to rent a flat in Mumbles.

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'll do a bit of research myself now ..

Home from Home are a great letting agent and have a special offers page on the website. If the weather is great the beaches are fab and there are plenty of things on - try the whats on page on www.swansea.gov.uk or call the TIC (Swansea or Mumbles) and ask them to send you a copy of the most recent what's on.

If the weather is not beachy you could try the Gower Heritage Centre, the museums, book the kids on to one of the local playschemes/forest school days/tennis courses or swimming courses at the National Pool (they also do a quieter family session called splash and play with a family ticket for about £10 for a family of 5. Hopefully the sun will shine for you.