Going to Gower

Our home in Gower...The Stables Cottage
see all photos »

Niall had arranged for us to get away for a few days to his childhood playground in Wales.  He has been going to Gower every summer since he was 5 and I was happy to share it with him.

So going to Gower...what exactly is that...well it is a peninsula in Wales which extends into the Celtic Sea.  There are many mystical and magical sights in this region including wild horses and sheep that roam the hills and cliffs of the peninsula, wide white sand beaches, tidal pools filled with sea aenomes and cockles, majestic cliffs and quaint B & B's and pubs.

How beautiful is that!
see all photos »

Bucketing rain and dense fog accompanied us on our trip to Wales from Bath, however the cottage that Niall had rented was called the Stable and was a third of an old stone stable.  It's 18" stone walls provided a cozy barrier to the damp outside.  We went to a local pub called the King Arthur for dinner and welcomed the roaring fire which awaited us.

The next day we awoke to find that the rain and fog had passed overnight and was replaced by the warm sunshine and cool breeze from the Sea.  Gower is crisscrossed with National Trails that cross both public and private lands allowing unfettered access to explore this gem of natural beauty.  Niall had planned a route for us to meander and 30 km, numerous minefields of cowpatties, 2 amazingly wide beaches, a very suspicious farmer, menacing a few wild horses and sheep, too much tea and far too many of Niall's mum's Welsh Cakes, Arthurs's Stone (glacier debris in the form of a huge rock on the top of a hill in the middle of no where) and a brilliant sunset we arrived home, exhausted!

Old Church on our 30 km tramp through Gower
see all photos »

To my surprise, when I awoke in the morning I was amazingly still able to walk, slightly hampered by gale force winds, we headed out to an area at the end of the peninsula called Worn's Head.  We had to wait until low tide to cross the causeway and tidal pools to get out to the island.  Once we crossed the Krypton like rock surface we climbed to the top of the first island and watched 7 seals frolick in the sea.  The view of the mainland was spectacular and despite the cold, wind and rain, I had a lovely time as I only had to walk a few kilometers hee hee.  We stopped at the end of the trail and popped into a pub for a tea to warm up and could not resist the smell of the french fries so we shared a bowl...this was the beginning of the end for me and within an hour I was hurling my cookies all over the place.  Not sure if it was the fries, but that was my bet.  Thank God Niall was not affected as he had to hold my hair as I attempted to remove the lining of my stomach throughout the night, what a trooper!  Of all the food I have eaten in my travels, I did not think a french fry in Wales would get the better of me!

Our Lunch Spot view
see all photos »

Miraculously the next day I had recovered but unfortunately the fog and rain were back so we headed out and back to jolly old England!