Three Cliffs Bay and Pennard Castle Walk

Directions from the hotel:

Just ask any of us and we will set you on your way and no doubt give you some personal recommendations of things to look out for and the best places to stop for a coffee and a bite to eat.

Begin your walk from the end of the house, walk up the gardens towards the trout ponds where you will meet a well kept gravel track. Bear left and follow the track straight across the fields following the hedgerow until you meet the woodland where the track will bear to the right. At the woodlands end you will cross a style next to a gate, here the track will bear left taking you past a small pink cottage end on to the road, continue through the grassy carpark.

When you reach the tarmac village lane turn left over the cattle grid. Look out for Penmaen Church on your right.

Now cross the main road and continue for 100 yards down the lane, take the first and only right turn. Follow the road until you find yourself at the lookout above Three Cliffs Bay.

Follow the track down to the river and cross the stepping stones. I’m sure at this point you will want to do some exploring of your own but when you’ve finished you will need to cross to the far side of the valley (east) and make your way towards Pennard Castle.

Pennard Castle, originally a possession of Henry de Beaumont, was established in the 12th century probably as a ringwork castle. The stone castle we see today was likely constructed in the late 13th or early 14th century and was the work of the De Breos family. The castle and surrounding village were abandoned by 1400 though the church (St. Marys) continued in use until 1532 when it finally succumbed to the encroaching sand – the sand blew in from the beaches and choked the agricultural land. Records note that tithes (taxes) were lowered to help the struggling farmers survive.

Regarding the besanding, though a geographer may have an alternative explanation, the truth is that many hundreds of years ago there was war-like chieftain called Prince Rhys ap Iestyn who once lived in the castle. He had won the hand of a prince’s daughter as reward for his battle exploits. A great feast was prepared to celebrate the forthcoming marriage. However, the celebrations were disturbed by strange noises coming from magical lights dancing at a grassy area on the other side of the valley. Rhys ordered some of his men to discover the cause of the commotion. The men returned and said “Sire, ’tis the Tylwyth Teg (the fairies of Welsh folklore) feasting and dancing. Rhys was so annoyed that the Tylwyth Teg were interfering with his celebrations that he summoned his men to attack them. Everybody begged him not to interfere as they knew the Tylwyth Teg wore not to be meddled with, but Rhys – too drunk to think rationally – bragged, “I have nothing to fear from the little people!” The chieftain and his men ran down to the grassy area and attacked the Tylwyth Teg, who (as everyone knows!) can only be seen but not touched. Nonetheless, they were not very pleased that the chieftain had spoiled their innocent fun and so cursed the chieftain, sending a storm of unimaginable proportions to bury the castle under the deep sands.

Follow the valley floor over the river walkway and cross the small stream that emerges from Holy Well beneath the castle – it’s said to have curative properties!

The path will follow the river into the woods and eventually bring you to a bridge to cross the river at Parkmill. Cross the road to Shepherds’ shop, a traditional ice cream stop and a perfect place to rest before the last mile home.

When you’ve finished your ice cream, take the lane which leads to the Gower Heritage Centre and cross the footbridge by the ford. Follow the lane back up to Parc-Le-Breos.