Discover Oxwich Natural Nature Reserve and its great mix of habitat – sea, beach, sand dunes, wetland and woodland…and it’s jam packed full of wildlife! If you pop down to the marsh and the hide…wait to see what comes along. You might be lucky and spot moorhens, mallards, coots and mute swans. This is one of best places in the whole of Swansea to see otters too…so keep your eyes peeled!
Watch out for rabbits – you’ll be able to spot their burrows, which they use to hide from the buzzards circling overhead. The rabbits play an important role in keeping vegetation down making it ideal for rare plants and insects here at Oxwich.
Keep an eye out for primroses in the Spring season – they are one of the first flowers out after winter and vital for the early pollinators…the bees! The word ‘Primrose’ comes from the Latin name ‘Prima Rosa’ which means ‘first rose’, so the first rose of Spring!
After exploring the Nature Reserve, enjoy a bracing walk along Oxwich Baywhere you’ll spot turnstones and oystercatchers combing the shoreline for food!
Enjoy a refined dining experience at Beach House, Oxwich overlooking the iconic Oxwich Bay. Set in a beautiful location, the freshest local produce, whether reared, caught, picked or grown, is served through each season. Head Chef Hywel Griffith’s food showcases the full flavour of produce from across Wales and right here on the doorstep of Gower. The restaurant has won numerous awards for the quality of the food, including 3 AA Rosettes, and a coveted Michelin Star which it has held since 2020.
After lunch, head for Cefn Bryn, which is 5 miles long and is often known as the backbone of Gower. Cefn Bryn is a mix of common land, bracken and gorse, where you can enjoy stunning scenery, but not forgetting the archaeology and history of this special place. Don’t miss Arthur’s Stone, a Neolithic burial mound. Legend has it that King Arthur was in Carmarthenshire and found a stone in his shoe, he threw the stone across the Loughor Estuary, and because it was touched by a King, it grew and grew and landed upon Cefn Bryn! The common is grazed by ponies…but if you look out for clear patches you may spot some rooks digging for food or looking for nesting material. There are a series of ponds along Cefn Bryn too…keep your eyes peeled for frog and toad spawn and maybe even some newts!
If you go off the main path, you may spot a common lizard, they will run for cover, so you’ll need to be quick if you want to catch a glimpse of them!
Worked up an appetite from all that walking? Just a stone’s throw from Cefn Bryn you’ll find The King Arthur Hotel, where you can choose from an extensive menu, which caters for a wide variety of tastes using locally sourced Welsh produce. The daily specials include seasonal game and fresh fish, with vegetarian and vegan options. There’s a stylish restaurant, two bars and if the weather allows, a spacious beer garden with views of the village green. Here you will often find Gower ponies, sheep and cows grazing around you whilst you enjoy a cold drink in the sunshine! In 2021, the King Arthur was named The Times’ ‘Best Cosy Pub.’
Don’t fancy completing the Gower Wildlife Trail in a day? Stay overnight on Gower and enjoy a short break instead!
Top tip: Check out the other Wildlife Trails on the Swansea Bay Trails page!
Don’t forget to tag us in your pics on Facebook and Instagram – @visitswanseabay and use the hashtag #SwanseaBayTrails #HappyPlace
