Tell me about the Gower...

[MrsWembley]

Going camping there with the kids, just for a couple of nights, and I'm starting to wonder if I'm being ambitious in taking the SUP. Are the beaches shallow, safe for the kids to stay in the shallows with the board whilst I look after the bags, busy, quiet? Which is best cafe-wise for lunch? A couple of them look very posh for family fish and chips! Which is the best place to pick up essentials, milk and such, or should I just ensure we take everything we need?

Thanks in advance!

The beaches are so varied. You’ve got everything from vast sweeping bays like Rhossilli, to tiny secluded coves like Pwll Du. Caswell Bay is a popular beach with good beginner waves but can get busy – If you fancy a nice adventure paddle head round to Pwlldu beach around 1km to the west. Paddling to Langland is also achievable when conditions are calm. Langland is probably one of the most popular Gower beaches where at high tide you will always find SUPs in the flat water in the summer. Low tide waves are for intermediates / advanced only . Car parking and various cafes.
Three Cliffs Bay is also safe for SUPs. If you park at Parkmill/ Heritage centre and walk over the road to thestream you can paddle all the way
down the small pill to the bay.
Oxwich Beach Pill is a large beach and towards the last big dune there is a stream. Generally the beach doesn’t need a big swell to work and best in no or little wind. Mid to high tide is best. Wind can blow offshore in westerly winds so be aware !
Lastly, Swansea Bay can have good conditions. It’s more exposed towards swansea docks and opposite the University. Around the formally 360 beach cafe / Seven Beach Cafe there are some fun sandbanks for beginner SUP surfers when the swell is big enough. The Mumbles end has shelter from SW and W winds and so there’s some lovely flat water paddling.

I wouldn't say Three Cliffs is safe. There can be a nasty rip tide and people have died there. Check if lifeguards are on duty. Only certain beaches have them and secluded beaches don't. Also mobile phone coverage can be hit or miss with some providers. I can't get mobile coverage there with EE.

It's a bit of a trek to Three Cliffs and Pwll Du if you are carrying a lot of stuff.