A stay at Neffoed Shepherd’s Hut puts you at the heart of the Gower Peninsula. It’s a place for people who love the outdoors and was the UK’s very first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You’ll find no supermarkets here but there are dozens of beautiful beaches. Neffoed is almost midway between two of the best of them: Rhossili and Three Cliffs Bay. Both are within just a few miles but closer still is the equally lovely Oxwich Bay, less than five minutes’ drive from site. Closer even than that is Cefn Bryn, a sandstone ridge full of legends and long walks – some of them passing the King Arthur pub which is just up the road from the hut. And to top it all off, the closest highlight of all is a private wood-fired hot tub that’s right outside your front door.
This heavenly place (and we’re not over-egging it – Neffoed is Welsh for 'heavenly') overlooks fields surrounding the little village of Reynoldstone. It sits, secluded, in a private patch at the very back of your host’s garden with views west across countryside towards the setting sun. When you’re here, it’s hard to believe that this place is little more than 10 miles from the city of Swansea. It’s a distance that makes visiting its sights during a stay as much of a possibility as using this for an easy weekend away from its hustle and bustle.
Either way, easy stays are what this place is all about. The shepherd’s hut is well kitted out for two. There’s a comfy bed that’s made, a kitchenette that’s equipped with everything down to marshmallows to toast on the fire outside, and a bathroom with towels and robes. You can even pre-order local beers or a bottle of Champagne to be chilling ready for your arrival. That sets the tone for this grown-up getaway on Gower where you can relax in rural surroundings and visit a different beach every day of your stay.
Based in the heart of Gower, Nefoedd overlooks the unspoilt beauty of the countryside. Wake up to the amazing views over the fields , with only the sheep to look back at you. Soak away in the fire heated hot tub whilst the sun sets along side you. Nefoedd has numerous walks on its doorstep. Stroll up to the local pub for lunch or dinner or visit one of over thirty beaches to explore!Neffoed Shepherd’s Hut is on the edge of the village of Reynoldstone in the middle of the Gower Peninsula. With a car, you can easily visit anywhere within this area of outstanding natural beauty. Cefyn Bryn, a sandstone ridge with the highest peak on the peninsula, offers common ground criss-crossed with pathways about 200 metres from the hut. You don’t have to walk far (although it is uphill) to reach its highest point and the site of King Arthur’s Stone from where there are great views. Keen walkers can follow the ridge towards the sea at Penmaen and Oxwich Bay. If you don’t fancy the hike, the sands of Oxwich are only three miles away, a drive of about five minutes. It’s good for paddling, swimming and surfing and you can hire boards and organise lessons at PJ’s Surf Shop. Three Cliffs Bay is just under four miles away and Rhossili Bay is only six miles from site. Both have been ratd as Britain’s best beach at one point or another. At low tide at Rhossili, you can glimpse a shipwreck and even walk across a rock causeway to a little offshore island. Swansea is only 13 miles away, a drive of half an hour.
You can pre-order celebration hampers from host Nadia, and tea, coffee and hot chocolate are provided in the hut too along with fresh milk to get you started. There are no supermarkets on the Gower peninsula so you’ll need to head to one of its smaller convenience stores for supplies if you want to cook on site. The closest is in Knelston, just over a mile down the road. For local produce, head to the Gower Heritage Centre (four miles). For a meal out, you can walk to The King Arthur pub, which is less than a mile away in the heart of the village of Reynoldstone and does good food. For a special occasion, you may want to head to Oxwich Bay where the Michelin-starred Beach House serves tasting menus with a real focus on local ingredients. If you’re at Rhossili, The Bay Bistro and Cafe is recommended and has a good range of gluten-free and vegan options.
