Where we stayed
A cabin above Three Cliffs Bay,
Pip’s Place made our stay in so many
ways. Its location meant the children
could be fairly free-range, and that
we could get to the beach in minutes.
The cabin – wood-clad and draped
in fishing buoys – sleeps five in two
doubles and one three-quarter bed.
At its heart is an open-plan living
area, with a generous farmhouse
table and cosy sofas next to a wood-
burning stove. And, after a busy day
outdoors, the DVD library meant
that we could plant the children
on the sofa and stick on a film. (She
also has an impressive catalogue
of The Simple Things back issues.)
Our roomy double opened onto the
garden, where there’s a barbecue
and driftwood bar. We made a fire
in the small pot stove, turned on
the fairy lights and had a glass
of wine or two under the stars.F
or a peninsula that’s just 19 miles across, Gower gets a lot done in a little
space. Stretching west of Swansea from the Mumbles, out into the Bristol
Channel and around to Penclawdd on the Loughor Estuary, it’s been an
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for 64 years, home to ruined castles
and Iron Age forts. Much of its shoreline – contrasting wide stretches
of sand with secluded coves – is protected Heritage Coast; much of its
countryside is classified for its value to science or nature. Sand dunes, saltwater
marshes, heathland, rocky shores and limestone cliffs create a dramatic and varied
landscape. It’s a land of small roads and one-off shops, cafés and galleries. Gloriously
rich pickings when you want a few days away from it all.A PENINSULA WITH SCENIC BEACHES, WINDY
WALKS AND FABULOUS FOOD, GOWER MAKESFOR A MEMORABLE WELSH WEEKEND-ON-SEA
Words: KATE PETTIFERWeekend away
Where we stayed
A cabin above Three Cliffs Bay,
Pip’s Place made our stay in so many
ways. Its location meant the children
could be fairly free-range, and that
we could get to the beach in minutes.
The cabin – wood-clad and draped
in fishing buoys – sleeps five in two
doubles and one three-quarter bed.
At its heart is an open-plan living
area, with a generous farmhouse
table and cosy sofas next to a wood-
burning stove. And, after a busy day
outdoors, the DVD library meant
that we could plant the children
on the sofa and stick on a film. (She
also has an impressive catalogue
of The Simple Things back issues.)
Our roomy double opened onto the
garden, where there’s a barbecue
and driftwood bar. We made a fire
in the small pot stove, turned on
the fairy lights and had a glass
of wine or two under the stars.F
ora peninsulathat’sjust 19 milesacross,Gowergetsa lotdoneina little
space.StretchingwestofSwanseafromtheMumbles,outintotheBristol
ChannelandaroundtoPenclawddontheLoughorEstuary,it’sbeenan
AreaofOutstandingNaturalBeautyfor 64 years,hometoruinedcastles
andIronAgeforts.Muchofitsshoreline– contrastingwidestretches
ofsandwithsecludedcoves– isprotectedHeritageCoast;muchofits
countrysideisclassifiedforitsvaluetoscienceornature.Sanddunes,saltwater
marshes,heathland,rockyshoresandlimestonecliffscreatea dramaticandvaried
landscape.It’sa landofsmallroadsandone-offshops,cafésandgalleries.Gloriously
richpickingswhenyouwanta fewdaysawayfromit all.A PENINSULAWITH SCENICBEACHES, WINDY
WALKS AND FABULOUS FOOD, GOWER MAKESFOR A MEMORABLE WELSH WEEKEND-ON-SEA
Words: KATE PETTIFERWeekend away