Gower
Penclawdd and the Cockle Beds
The marsh edge on the Loughor estuary where cockles have been gathered for centuries, with ponies on the saltings and huge skies.
- Distance
- 4.3 mi / 7 km
- Time
- 2 hr 20
- Ascent
- 150 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Shape
- Circular
Where it is
The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.
The route
Paths follow the marsh edge from the village and loop back by lanes. Flat with wet ground near the water.
Worth knowing
- Cockle gathering here is licensed and has been done since Roman times, traditionally by women with donkeys.
- Do not walk out onto the open sands; the channels fill fast and the tide is quick.
- Salt marsh lamb from these flats is a local speciality.
What you’ll see
Saltmarsh and creeks, cockle beds at low water, grazing ponies, and the estuary.
Background
Penclawdd cockle women worked the sands with donkeys into living memory, and the industry continues on a smaller scale.