Beach-side Port Eynon is ideal for coastal camps, Blue Flag sands, and Gower AONB exploring.
The concentration of campsites around this tiny seaside village give it away: Port Eynon is one of the best bases on the Gower Peninsula with its curve of sandy beach, good watersports, and scenic situation at the beginning of one of Walesâ finest coastal hikes to Rhossili Bay. Here, campers are perfectly poised to discover the Gowerâs loveliest scenery, being close to Oxwich with its beach and Michelin-star dining, and to the elemental western end of the peninsula, sandy, dune-bedecked Rhossili Bay.
One of South Walesâ iconic destinations, all visitors love the Gower Peninsula on which Port Eynon sits. This protuberance of heath-covered, beach-rimmed land immediately southwest of Swansea is the UKâs first AONB. It has its seaside fun side, with great Blue Flag beaches and some of Walesâ best surfing, plus a wilder side on its inland moors, scattered with prehistoric sites. Its popularity with outdoor lovers ensures huge camping varietyâlook to Oxwich and Llangennith for top campsites.
Across the Loughor Estuary from the Gower west of Llanelli, the huge expanse of golden sandy coast indicates South Carmarthenshireâs shoreline. Caught between the Gower and Pembrokeshire, it gets less attention than either, and though parts are built-up, most of it is quite quiet. Cefn Sidan beach, around Pembrey Country Park, is among the UKâs biggest beaches, and there is camping in the woods back from the beach, plus an array of large sites along the coast.
While on the Gower, itâs worth taking advantage of another area that you would likely otherwise travel right on by without stopping. Northeast of Port Talbot, countryside ruptures up into Afan Forest Parkâs forested hills, home to some of South Walesâ top mountain biking and hiking. Then, extend explorations into even greater and lonelier forests north of CwmAfan. Thereâs camping at Afon Forest Parkâs main mountain biking trailhead by the South Wales Miners Museum, 30 miles east of Port Eynon.
Not only can you witness the Gowerâs interesting festivals, like Julyâs Gower Festival, but Port Eynon is also well situated for tapping into the South Wales coastâs buoyant festival scene (where August is especially lively with Swanseaâs Food Festival and the Merthyr Mawr Between the Trees Festival). The Gower gets crowded in summer, so try visiting in April, May, or September to dodge crowds.