The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Rhossili

A nice little old church in Rhossili great walk around the area and you can either get down to the beach or out to Worms head. There is a nice circular walk around the headland here

St Mary’s Church in Rhossili is in a beautiful setting and dates back to around the year 1,200. It was built by Anglo-Norman settlers and boasts a saddleback tower, and the doorway has a rare, fine example of late Norman work.

Rhossili Down is a long ridge on the western tip of the Gower Penninsula. It stretches from Worms Head to Burry Holmes Island. It is a marvellous bit of high ground but only goes up to a height of 193-metres. Despite its diminuitive size, the views from its trig pointed summit are magnificent. The views down, over Worms Head, are simply world-class.

On the western tip of the Gower Peninsula is the long, sweeping bay of Rhossili. It is bordered with Worms Head on the one side and Burry Holmes Island on the other. In between are golden sands, replete with a shipwreck, that are overlooked with the long ridgeline of Rhossili Down, which culminates at its 193-metre high trig point. It is a stunning place punctuated with beautiful pink gorse bushes in the summer, along good-quality footpaths with wide panoramic views down onto the sands below and out to sea.

This is a lovely beach with the main feature being a large natural circular rock pool at the western end. The path going down to it is rough, and the pool is really only accessible at low tide.

This is such an expansive long beach, nearly five kilometres from end to end. It is a great place, there are beautiful views of Rhossili Downs overlooking the beach, super nice beach side views of Worms Head, and then on the far side of the sands is the rocky little island of Burry Holmes. To round the whole scene off nearby are the iconic wooden remains shipwrecked Helvetia, with its ribs sticking out of the sand.

On Rhossili beach, there is the iconic wreck of the Norwegian barque Helvetia, and has lain there since 1987. The ship was wrecked in a storm, but thankfully with no loss of life. The remains of the wreck at low tide are simply one of the most photographed locations on Gower, and its ribbed outline resembles something akin to a dinosaur ribcage poking its way out of the sand.

Rhossili Bay is the focal point of the Gower Peninsula. It is just such an iconic destination. In the immediate vicinity, you have views of the amazing rocky peninsula of Worms Head, the sweeping panoramic view across Rhossili Bay Beach, and the nearby ridge that forms Rhossili Down with its trig pointed summit. There is a National Trust car park here for parking, bars, and cafes. The path down to the beach is good but not accessible for wheelchairs, unfortunately. On the beach itself, there is the iconic wreck of the Norwegian barque Helvetia. The remains of the wreck at low tide are simply one of the most photographed locations on Gower, and its ribbed outline resembles something akin to a dinosaur ribcage poking its way out of the sand. On the far side of this glorious three-mile beach is Burry Holmes Island, but it is only accessible at low tide. This is equally so with nearby Worms Head, which is a great adventure but one that needs due care due to its rocky nature and tidal access. This iconic tidal penninsula is only available 2.5 hours either side of low tide, and the walk will take you a minimum of two hours. Ensure you are in good physical shape to do the journey and have checked the tide times before you depart. If in doubt or for further excellent information, see Chris Knight's webpage below. https://ohwhataknight.co.uk/blog/worms-head-hike-guide WARNING: Crossing to Worms Head has resulted in injuries and drowning fatalities in the past. If you have been caught out by the tide, do not attempt to swim ashore.