The Gower Peninsula

[ChrisFilter]

Hello,

Not been in here before... is it like walking into a Welsh pub, and revealing how English I am when ordering at the bar, resulting in menacing stares?

Me and the wife are heading to the Gower Peninsula on the Bank Holiday weekend, bit of sight-sseing, bit of surfing maybe. Also checking out the general area and Swansea in case it's where we decide to move from London.

What do people recommend we see and do? Best beaches? Decent surf schools? Decent restaurants? National Trust properties, walks, etc, etc.

Cheers everyone

 

[Tank Girl]

go to three cliffs - it's gorgeous

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Three Cliffs Bay is lovely - not for surfing though, you need a west-facing beach for that. In Swansea Bay, check out Mumbles.

My parents lived on the Gower in a place called Kittle until one year before I was born, when they moved to Newport.

On no account move to Newport, ever.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

go to three cliffs - it's gorgeous

Same thought, same time.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Three Cliffs Bay is lovely - not for surfing though, you need a west-facing beach for that. In Swansea Bay, check out Mumbles.

My parents lived on the Gower in a place called Kittle until one year before I was born, when they moved to Newport.

On no account move to Newport, ever.

Haha, noted re: Newport.

Actually staying in Mumbles, just 'cos of the name

Three Cliffs it is. Heard good things about the beach/bay to the South West of Mumbles for surfing.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Not only did my parents leave the Gower just before I was born, but they would take us back there on day trips and show us their old house, just to rub it in.

 

[llantwit]

I used to live in Mumbles. It's teh shit.
Good nice restaurants to go to: L'amuse (if it's still there - v. nice pricey French grub), and Patrick's (Modern European Welsh - good stuff), and L'al Quila for a decent Indian.
Some nice pubs - I like the Antelope, but also the Victoria, that's off the mile a few streets back on Westbourne place - a bit more local and real.
Joe's Ice Cream - unique ice cream that's creamy and gorgeous (try a cherry sundae. Mmmmm). Much better than the flashy Verdi's down near the pier and the boat club.
Beaches that are walkable - I love the tiny suntrap that is Rotherslade Bay - used to go Swimming there every day in the summer. Langland is also lovely, with it's green wooden victorian beach huts. A bit further along is the sublime, but often quite busy Caswell Bay - good for swimming and great for kids.
On the Gower a car/bus ride away - as stated, 3 Cliffs is teh bomb. But I prefer the massive Rhossilli Beach. Walk along it from Worm's Head to Llangennith. If you want to surf the best place is the Llangennith end of Rhossilli beach where the Welsh Surf School run twice daily surf lessons for surfers of al aptitudes with kit included - check out their website.
Further afield in Gower why not go to Penclawdd, where you can buy fresh cockles and laverbread and walk along the prom looking out over towards Laugharne/Tenby.
Even further afield still why not check out the Dylan Thomas pilgrimage that has Laugharne has become. Lovely little fishing village, with a nice pub too.
If it's raining go and visit the recently re-vamped Welsh Waterfront Museum near the Swansea Marina - it's listed by Rough Guide as one of the top attractions in the country. Haven't been since it was done up myself, but I've heard great things (http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/swansea/).
Have fun!

 

[Gromit]

Haha, noted re: Newport.

Actually staying in Mumbles, just 'cos of the name

Three Cliffs it is. Heard good things about the beach/bay to the South West of Mumbles for surfing.

Mumbles is famous for the 'Mumbles Mile' pub craw. Enjoy.

 

[ChrisFilter]

I used to live in Mumbles. It's teh shit.
Good nice restaurants to go to: L'amuse (if it's still there - v. nice pricey French grub), and Patrick's (Modern European Welsh - good stuff), and L'al Quila for a decent Indian.
Some nice pubs - I like the Antelope, but also the Victoria, that's off the mile a few streets back on Westbourne place - a bit more local and real.
Joe's Ice Cream - unique ice cream that's creamy and gorgeous (try a cherry sundae. Mmmmm). Much better than the flashy Verdi's down near the pier and the boat club.
Beaches that are walkable - I love the tiny suntrap that is Rotherslade Bay - used to go Swimming there every day in the summer. Langland is also lovely, with it's green wooden victorian beach huts. A bit further along is the sublime, but often quite busy Caswell Bay - good for swimming and great for kids.
On the Gower a car/bus ride away - as stated, 3 Cliffs is teh bomb. But I prefer the massive Rhossilli Beach. Walk along it from Worm's Head to Llangennith. If you want to surf the best place is the Llangennith end of Rhossilli beach where the Welsh Surf School run twice daily surf lessons for surfers of al aptitudes with kit included - check out their website.
Further afield in Gower why not go to Penclawdd, where you can buy fresh cockles and laverbread and walk along the prom looking out over towards Laugharne/Tenby.
Even further afield still why not check out the Dylan Thomas pilgrimage that has Laugharne has become. Lovely little fishing village, with a nice pub too.
If it's raining go and visit the recently re-vamped Welsh Waterfront Museum near the Swansea Marina - it's listed by Rough Guide as one of the top attractions in the country. Haven't been since it was done up myself, but I've heard great things (http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/swansea/).
Have fun!

Nice one, cheers

Really like the look of the area, and Swansea seems nice. House prices are amazing as well.

 

[llantwit]

Nice one, cheers

Really like the look of the area, and Swansea seems nice. House prices are amazing as well.

Not if you live in Swansea they aren't.
Mumbles is now a no-go area for locals who want to buy with second-home owners snapping up the accommodation like candy.

 

[Yetman]

I prefer the massive Rhossilli Beach. Walk along it from Worm's Head to Llangennith. If you want to surf the best place is the Llangennith end of Rhossilli beach where the Welsh Surf School run twice daily surf lessons for surfers of al aptitudes with kit included - check out their website

Had one of the best days of my life there. Wicked sunset, lovely beach and gorgeous surroundings

 

[ChrisFilter]

Not if you live in Swansea they aren't.
Mumbles is now a no-go area for locals who want to buy with second-home owners snapping up the accommodation like candy.

I was browsing a few websites, and you can get a gorgeous looking 2 bed Victorian conversion, with a garden, on the seafront, for £125k. Surely that's still considered cheap by locals? In London that'd be double, easily.. and Londoners don't earn double?

 

[butchersapron]

Hello,

Not been in here before... is it like walking into a Welsh pub, and revealing how English I am when ordering at the bar, resulting in menacing stares?

Never had any trouble myself, only place was in one of the swansea wetherspoons (not the lloyds No1, the other one) before getting on the gower explorer, some old boy called me a 'queer cunt' as he pushed his vouchers across the bar, he didn't call me a queer english cunt though, so it may not have been that bad

 

[editor]

The Gower is beautiful. Llangennith is a treat too.

 

[CharlieAddict]

i'm from the mumbles.

check out 'the white rose,' it's a decent pub where most of the locals drink.
it'll give you an indication on what to expect.
ever tried a rissole? if not, you can get 'em in 'dick bartons' chippie in west cross - it's got a good rep...
if you do have an urge for a curry, visit 'the viceroy' on st helens road.

for a fresh foods restaurant, check out la braseria
they have a great selection of fish and meats. and excellent spanish wine (rioja galore!!).

for surfing, you gotta drive to llangennith - probably the best place in the gower.
if you can't be arsed to drive that far, there's caswell bay - which tbh, is shit.

schools are excellent in the mumbles area.
the three main comprehensives are bishopgore, bishopston and olchfa.
olchfa probably has the highest standard.

if you're thinking of buying consider bishopston areas first.
as the property values aren't as ridiculous there.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Just booked for a days surfing in Llangennith

 

[jodal]

Your moving to Wales Chris?

Is this you trying to trump my move to Australia?

 

[ChrisFilter]

Your moving to Wales Chris?

Is this you trying to trump my move to Australia?

Haha, no, rather Wales than Sydney

Just considering other options than Australia.

Looks gorgeous round the Gower. Wanna come? We're driving up on Saturday (25th) morning, spending the day on the beach or something, nice meal/night out in the evening, day of surfing on Sunday, then chill for a bit on Bank Holiday Monday before driving back Monday evening. £140 for the hotel, £90 for the surfing... go on.. it'll be fun

 

[butchersapron]

Which hotel you in?

 

[ChrisFilter]

I tried to find you on msn to invite you.. G really wants you to come.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Which hotel you in?

Carlton... only one with rooms.

 

[butchersapron]

Ah, we stayed further down the road a bit, was just wondering if it was the same one.

 

[ChrisFilter]

I've no idea what it's like.. seems a bit Fawlty Towers, which could be fun

 

[jodal]

Haha, no, rather Wales than Sydney

Just considering other options than Australia.

Looks gorgeous round the Gower. Wanna come? We're driving up on Saturday (25th) morning, spending the day on the beach or something, nice meal/night out in the evening, day of surfing on Sunday, then chill for a bit on Bank Holiday Monday before driving back Monday evening. £140 for the hotel, £90 for the surfing... go on.. it'll be fun

Wish we could, but are having to turn most stuff down. We've got the small matters of finding a tenant for our flat, painting our flat before said tenant moves in and moving to Australia with all that that entails. So not much time to frolic around with sheep.

<looks around>

<scarpers>

 

[ChrisFilter]

Wish we could, but are having to turn most stuff down. We've got the small matters of finding a tenant for our flat, painting our flat before said tenant moves in and moving to Australia with all that that entails. So not much time to frolic around with sheep.

<looks around>

<scarpers>

Lame.. you've got ages to paint it, E&Y are paying for everything to be done for you, you know S's parents will find a tenant for you.. you have 1 month left of UK fun, you should enjoy it, not spend the whole thing decorating.

But, fair enough.

G reckoned we should offer to spend bank holiday helping you decorate, I said no

 

[llantwit]

I was browsing a few websites, and you can get a gorgeous looking 2 bed Victorian conversion, with a garden, on the seafront, for £125k. Surely that's still considered cheap by locals? In London that'd be double, easily.. and Londoners don't earn double?

Mumbles has an average house price of around £250,000 at the moment, and that's an increase of around 80% in 3-4 years.
An increase like that can have no other effect than pricing the vast majority of locals out of the market.
It's more expensive than Cardiff, and that's a very high-priced city for Wales.

 

[llantwit]

I've no idea what it's like.. seems a bit Fawlty Towers, which could be fun

Yeah, it is a bit . Nice and close to sea, though.

 

[jodal]

Lame.. you've got ages to paint it, E&Y are paying for everything to be done for you, you know S's parents will find a tenant for you.. you have 1 month left of UK fun, you should enjoy it, not spend the whole thing decorating.

But, fair enough.

G reckoned we should offer to spend bank holiday helping you decorate, I said no

Not lame, I'm looking forward to it. And just because company are paying doesn't mean there's nothing to do. Besides, now that we live in the Shires and work in the Big Smoke we have less time to do anything and a genuinely knackered in the evenings. Also, going to Bacon Land on the weekend of of the 17th. So there!

 

[ChrisFilter]

Mumbles has an average house price of around £250,000 at the moment, and that's an increase of around 80% in 3-4 years.
An increase like that can have no other effect than pricing the vast majority of locals out of the market.
It's more expensive than Cardiff, and that's a very high-priced city for Wales.

Ah, sorry. I'd been looking at Swansea as a whole, not Mumbles specifically. What are nice but reasonably priced areas that are commuting distance to Swansea and by the sea? Bishopston has already been mentioned and seems nice. Nice enough looking 2 bed place for about £160k.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Not lame, I'm looking forward to it. And just because company are paying doesn't mean there's nothing to do. Besides, now that we live in the Shires and work in the Big Smoke we have less time to do anything and a genuinely knackered in the evenings. Also, going to Bacon Land on the weekend of of the 17th. So there!

Fair enough, fair enough. I'm just trying to spend some more time with Hammy and Bacon before you fuck off forever! See you on the 8th.