What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of European beaches? Is it sipping on Aperol Spritzes in southern Italy? Or riding 100-feet high waves in Nazaré, one of the most dangerous beaches in the world? Or maybe it’s embarking on a tour of the Greek islands for some much-needed fun under the sun …
Truth is, Europe’s best beaches are all as diverse as the continent itself — each one filled with its own unique charm that makes the experience unforgettable. However, it’s when you look beyond the glossy brochures and tourist hotspots that you can strike some unexpected gold. Enter: Fall Bay & Mewslade Bay in Gower, Wales. Located along the western coast of the country’s picturesque Gower Peninsula, these two bays are tucked away from the crowds — creating a secluded slice of paradise — and offer a great day out for beachgoers, nature enthusiasts, rock climbers, and surfers who feel comfortable tackling the walk for some added privacy. Plus, the walk is also pet-friendly, which means double the adventure for you and your pup.
How to get there
Truth is, both Mewslade and Fall Bay are generally undercrowded because they’re so much harder to reach than other nearby spots. However, the walk itself isn’t that long or difficult, it just requires some confident steps and steady footing — especially in the winter, when things tend to get a little muddy.
Once you reach the official National Trust parking lot at Rhossili Bay — this will set you back $4 for a 2-hour parking ticket or roughly $8 for a full-day spot — you’ll have to walk the rest of the way. From the lot, head left and immediately right past some old barns. Cross the gate to the right-hand side of the green tin barn and follow the narrow path that’ll take you down to the beach through a wooded area. Keep walking downhill until you reach the beach’s rocky area, where you’ll want to turn right and take the path along the cliff to Fall Bay. Once low tide hits, you’ll even have the opportunity to walk around to Mewslade from Fall Bay.
The 3.5-mile loop should take between two to three hours, but you should also plan for lazying the afternoon away with a stop by the water or, if you’re brave enough, tackling Fall Bay’s beach break atop a surfboard. However, surf season peaks around December, so make sure you also pack a wetsuit.
Exploring Gower’s caves
If you’re looking for thrills, you’ll be happy to know that Fall Bay is also brimming with impressive sea caves, some of which are easily accessible along the coastline. First, there’s Fall Bay Cave. Located on the cliffside along the western end of Fall Bay, visitors can walk up to 10 feet into the cave. Then, located on the eastern side of Fall Bay lies Giant’s Cave. Popular with visitors and sports enthusiasts looking to practice a bit of climbing, Giant’s Cave can only be accessed 2.5 hours before or after high tide and is accessible for roughly 65 feet.
Over on Mewslade Bay, you’ll also find plenty of sea caves ranging from 16 to almost 280 feet long. This includes Butter Slade Sea Cave (98.5 feet long), located on the eastern side of the bay; Red Chamber (278 feet long), which can only be accessed at low tide; and Jacky’s Tor Raised Beach Cave, a collection of three smaller caves which range from 16 to 43 feet in length.
As for climbing, you’ll find more than 460 climbing routes along the Fall Bay to Mewslade crag, ranging in difficulty, length, and style, all of which are dotted throughout the limestone cliff walls.
