Three Cliffs Bay Walk – Gower
This Three Cliffs Bay walk begins at Penmaen church. It’s a lovely simple walk taking you down to the bay, from where you can explore the beach further (tide permitting), or head inland to explore Three Cliffs Valley and the imposing Pennard castle.
Distance covered: 0.5 miles
Average time: 20 minutes
Terrain: Easy, but a good climb back up if you go down to the beach.
Directions:
Turn off the south Gower road (A118) at the eastern end of Penmaen village. Turn right off the main road (if you are heading in from Swansea) when you see Penmaen church. Drive for a further 150m, cross the cattle grid, and park in the car park to your right (SS 53054 88825).
Once you are parked, walk back to the main road past the church, cross over the main road, and head straight down North Hills Lane opposite.
The church you see today was built to replace an abandoned church located on Penmaen Burrows which was besanded in the early 14th Century. The new church is dedicated to John the Baptist, look out for the fine stained glass window depicting the saint in the north wall and a second depicting St. Paul. Also in the north wall is a grave stone dated 1623 which was discovered beneath the church altar during extensive restoration work In 1854. it reads:
“Here resteth the body of David the son of David the sonne of Richard the sonne of Nicholas the sonne of Rys the sonne of Leison the sonne of Rys the sonne of Morgan Ychan the sonne of Morgan the son of Cradocke the sonne of Iustin ap Gwrgan Sometime Lord of Glamorgan interred the 21 day of August in the year of our blessed redemption 1623”
Continue for 200m down the lane, take the first and only right turn. Follow the lane downhill.
Pass through the galvanised gate at the end of the road – this takes you onto a rough track that leads straight down to the stepping stones over Three Cliffs river. If you want to get to the Pobbles side of the bay, or walk up the valley to the castle, you will need to cross the river – for the main beach stay on the Penmaen side and follow the river to the right.
At the top of the track make sure you stop to enjoy the views from the vantage point, the most popular place for taking photos of the bay.
If you look south to the opposite headland you should just make out the grassy banks of the Iron Age hill fort on the headland. The fort was replaced by the more substantial stone-built Norman castle which lies just out of sight further up the valley.
Download This Page for Offline Use
Mobile signal is intermittent throughout the Gower Peninsula, so we suggest downloading this page to your phone before embarking on your walk. This ensures you’ll have all the information you need, even when reception is unreliable. Follow the instructions below based on your device and browser.
iPhone (Safari)
1. Open this webpage in Safari.
2. Tap the **Share** button (square with an upward arrow at the bottom of the screen).
3. Scroll down and select **Add to Reading List**.
4. This page will now be available offline in your Safari **Reading List** (accessible via the bookmarks tab).
Android (Chrome)
1. Open this webpage in the Chrome browser.
2. Tap the **Menu** button (three dots in the top-right corner).
3. Select **Download**.
4. The page will be saved and can be accessed offline in the **Downloads** section of Chrome.
Samsung Internet Browser
1. Open this webpage in Samsung Internet.
2. Tap the **Menu** button (three horizontal lines in the bottom-right corner).
3. Select **Save webpage**.
4. Access the saved page by opening the **Menu** and selecting **Saved pages**.
By following these steps, you’ll have uninterrupted access to this information throughout your adventure in the Gower Peninsula. Enjoy your walk!