Pwlldu Bay

The waterfall at Pwlldu Bay is the real draw here - a proper cascade that tumbles straight onto the beach, which you won't see everywhere along the Gower Peninsula. You get there on foot through woodland that feels genuinely wild for somewhere this close to Swansea, and the walk takes about twenty minutes from the car park. The beach itself is small and sheltered, backed by steep cliffs, and at low tide you can explore rock pools and caves. High tide crowds it out though, so timing matters.

Families with young kids will find it manageable - the woodland path is straightforward enough, though it's muddy after rain. Walkers enjoy it because it connects to the wider Gower coastal path system, so you can easily combine it with Three Cliffs Bay or other spots nearby. History types won't find much, but the geology is solid - sandstone cliffs with plenty to examine if you're into that sort of thing.

It's free to visit and you can spend anywhere from ninety minutes to three hours depending on tides and how much exploring you do. The best move is to check the tide times before you go - arriving at high tide means you're basically looking at a postage-stamp beach between the cliffs and the waterfall. Several caravan parks sit within a few miles, including Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park and Nicholaston Farm just 2.7 and 3.3 miles away, making it an easy half-day outing if you're based in the area. Worth the detour, but don't expect solitude in summer.