Gower
Bishopston Valley and Pwll Du
Dry limestone valley where the stream runs underground, leading to a shingle bay reached only on foot.
- Distance
- 3.1 mi / 5 km
- Time
- 1 hr 50
- Ascent
- 160 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Shape
- There and back
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
Follow the valley down through the woods to Pwll Du Bay and retrace your steps. Rocky and rooty underfoot.
Worth knowing
- The stream disappears into the limestone and reappears near the beach, which is worth watching for.
- Pwll Du has no road, which keeps it quiet even in August.
- The bay is shingle rather than sand and the swimming is deep.
What you’ll see
The dry valley and its swallow holes, ancient woodland, and the shingle bay.
Background
Pwll Du was a limestone quarrying and smuggling hamlet; the two cottages were once alehouses serving the quarrymen.