Rhossili Bay, Hillend and Rhossili Down

The walk begins from the car park in the remote village of Rhossili and heads straight down to the bay. Looking behind you, fine views of Worm's Head — a serpent-like promontory which is Gower's most westerly point — can be enjoyed. Worm's Head is a bird sanctuary, a haven for guillemots, razorbills, and kittiwakes, as well as occasional migrants such as whimbrel, ring ouzel, grey wagtail, and wryneck. Worm's Head can be reached on foot at low tide; see my walk of Worm's Head here.

Although Gower's climate is mild, powerful westerly gales have wrecked ships here in the past. The skeleton of the Helvetia, driven ashore in 1887, still shows above the sand. The most famous wreck was that of the South American 'Dollar Ship'. In 1807 and again in 1833, quantities of Peruvian dollars dating from the reign of Philip IV were uncovered by the tide. These were thought to be part of the dowry of a Portuguese princess, and some of the treasure is still believed to be buried in the sands of Rhossili.

Turning inland at the dunes, the character of the walk changes completely. Sandy hummocks give way to open, grassy downlands, and larks rather than gulls wheel through the sky overhead. On reaching the high ground of Rhossili Down, look out for two megalithic burial chambers known as Sweyne's Howes. Legend has it that this is the burial place of Sweyne, a Scandinavian sea lord who may have given his name to Swansea around 4000 BC. Further on, Rhossili Hill Beacon, at 632 feet (193 metres) the highest point in Gower, offers views to Lundy Island and even the Devon coastline on a clear day.

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.