Surf's up on the gorgeous Gower Peninsula
Sometimes you hear about a place that is the stuff of family myths and legends, yet somehow you never quite manage to make the journey to see for yourself.
For the past six years we have been hearing a lot of good things about Rhossili Bay on the Gower Peninsula of South Wales - two good friends of ours and their mutual friends and family gather here for a week every May and rave about the location, constant sunshine and abundance of decent surf and walking paths. So, we decided it was about time to brave the long journey to South Wales and see for ourselves.
We were particularly excited about this trip as it would be the first long journey that we would undertake since owning our VW T5 Transporter and the prospect of sunshine, beaches and a bit of surfing made the drive that bit more agonising. What made it even more agonising was the fact that the weather forecast wasn’t looking great for our long weekend with heavy rain and the winds were predicted to be as high as 45mph! Sad Face.
Cue many frenzied Whatsapp conversations with our friends - should we stay or should we go? We eventually decided that the main perk of camping in a campervan was that it made the wind and rain less of an issue and we were unlikely to be blown away, so off we went.
Our destination for the long weekend was Hillend Caravan and Camping Park mainly due to its proximity to the sandy beach and reputation as a surfers' paradise. On arrival we were met with rain and the predicted high winds, but with just a hint of a spectacular sea view of Rhossili Bay beyond the sand dunes.
The campsite itself has a large reception area and after checking in we were free to find a pitch in one of the four large camping fields. Two camping fields here are reserved for families and another for couples so you can always find a spot to suit you.
Also on site is a large bathroom block with mens and ladies toilets, free hot showers and sinks, a cafe, shop and playground. There are also some outdoor hot showers with cubicle doors for guests returning from the beach to rinse off.
Undeterred by the bad weather the men-folk from our group decided to don their wetsuits and surfboards and head out in the high winds to surf and bodyboard on the waves. As promised, the beach was a two minute walk across the sand dunes on a path directly from the back of the main camping field. The women-folk meanwhile decided it was time to crack open the fizz whilst the kids kept dry in one of our campervans! Each to their own eh?
The next morning we woke up to a completely different picture - sunshine and warmth just as we’d been promised! We all headed to the beach with wetsuits, paddle boards, surfboards and picnics and spent a fabulous day in the waves. Then afterwards, the hot outdoor showers at the campsite were a fabulous idea to rise off our sandy feet and salty wetsuits.
On our final day we decided to explore the Wales Coastal Path which also crosses around the back of the campsite. Just behind Eddy’s Café at the main entrance to the park there is a little gap in the drystone wall where you can access the path - don’t be deterred by the steep start - it's fairly flat after this initial climb. At the top of the hill the view is spectacular across Rhossili Bay and you can see for miles around.
After an hour's walk along the coastal path you arrive at the village of Rhossili itself with a pub, cafes and ice cream shops (you could also take a short drive and park in Rhossili if you don’t fancy the walk). We decided to walk the return journey to the campsite back along the beach which you can access via stone waymarked steps down behind the cafe.
On our final morning we treated ourselves to a fabulous fried breakfast and milkshake in Eddy’s Café which sits at the foot of Rhossili Downs at the entrance to Hillend. As the sun was shining we sat outside on the terrace, took in the view and decided that we wished we were staying longer. Same again next year I think - the stuff of legends indeed!
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We have been travelling in campervans for over 15 years, taking in the best that the UK and Europe has to offer. By sharing our adventures, insights, recommendations and reviews we hope to inspire you to explore more!
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