Three Cliffs Bay and Pennard Castle circular loop

de fr

An easy walk on a fine day, offering the chance to admire beautiful scenery with views of the three cliffs. Swimming is possible in Three Cliffs Bay and there’s a lovely viewpoint at Pennard Castle. Be mindful of the tide times.

Details

n°50482009
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.71 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 272 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 276 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 217 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3 ft
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Pennard Castle in the distance
View from the castle
Beach
View of the beach

Description of the walk

Park at the National Trust car park, HW86+PV Southgate.
Large pay-and-display car park. There is a coffee shop nearby.

(S/E) Take the wide path running alongside the houses on the right, then turn left towards the sea to get closer to the cliffs and reach a viewpoint.

(1) Carry on until you rejoin the main path, then follow it for about a hundred metres.

(2) Turn left again to head down towards Three Cliffs Bay, walking as close as possible to the cliffs. Pass the Three Cliffs Corner viewpoint and rejoin the main path once more.

(3) Head down to the beautiful Three Cliffs beach. The descent is a little steep. Then walk along the beach.

(4) Pass under a rock arch at low tide and continue along the beach towards the ruins of Pennard Castle.

(5) Leave the beach on the right and head towards the castle. You’ll come to a fork in the path.

(6) Turn left to reach the castle ruins and enjoy the beautiful view over the bay.

(7) Then retrace your steps.

(6) Carry on straight ahead. At this point, climb up the dune to reach the top of the cliffs.

(3) Turn left to walk back from the cliff edge, along a path through the vegetation.

(2) Carry on to the left, past the houses and gardens, to return to the National Trust car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 217 ft - National Trust car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.34 - alt. 151 ft - Viewpoint
  3. 2 : mi 0.53 - alt. 210 ft - Junction
  4. 3 : mi 1.11 - alt. 105 ft - Junction
  5. 4 : mi 1.4 - alt. 26 ft - Rock arch
  6. 5 : mi 1.62 - alt. 10 ft - Turn right at the fork
  7. 6 : mi 1.99 - alt. 118 ft - Start and finish point
  8. 7 : mi 2.09 - alt. 161 ft - Pennard Castle
  9. S/E : mi 3.71 - alt. 217 ft - National Trust car park

Notes

An easy, very popular walk with several route options to suit your preferences.

Worth a visit

For those who aren’t too cold, there’s the chance to go for a swim.

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 1 review
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
User 15208491

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent walk through a variety of landscapes, from moors to cliffs and beaches… all the way to the ruins of Pennard Castle
The route is a little unclear on the way back, along the golf course, but you can’t get lost

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Three Cliff Bay & Ilston Cwm from Southgate

Visorando Member
↔9.32 mi ↗+699 ft ↘-709 ft ◔4h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Pennard (Swansea)
This walk is one of the classic routes in the Gower Peninsula offering some wonderful coastal and inland scenery. The highlights are many and varied from Three Cliff Bay to Ilston Cwm. The walk follows a section of the Wales Coast Path.

Walking Bishopston Valley and Pwlldu Bay

Visorando Member
Bishopston Valley et Pwlldu Bay
↔4.86 mi ↗+341 ft ↘-354 ft ◔2h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Pennard (Swansea)
Pwlldu is a pretty little bay on the south coast of the Gower Peninsula, which stretches west of Swansea. This bay is unique in that it is only accessible on foot or by mountain bike, although the two or three dwellings (holiday lettings) are probably accessible by quad bike or a small off-road vehicle capable of negotiating a very stony track and fording a river. Whilst all the tracks and paths taken are officially signposted as footpaths, most of the forest sections are barely passable, such is the extent to which the vegetation has grown since the last local roadmender retired. It is mainly brambles and fallen trees blocking the way that hinder progress. There are indeed ‘Pwlldu’ signposts along the first three kilometres, but these too are sometimes in a dreadful state. In short, a truly wonderful experience as an introduction to the Gower Peninsula.

Walking Oxwich Castle and Oxwich Point

Visorando Member
Oxwich castle et Oxwich point
↔12.47 mi ↗+961 ft ↘-968 ft ◔6h 35 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Penrice (Swansea)
A must-see in this part of South Wales, Port Enyan Bay and beach are natural wonders that you simply mustn’t miss if you’re passing through. The Long Hole Cliff Nature Reserve to the west is also one of the region’s outstanding sites for walkers.

Walking Coastal hike through Mumbles

Visorando Member
Circuit côtier autour de Mumbles
↔3.72 mi ↗+404 ft ↘-381 ft ◔2h 05 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Mumbles (Swansea)
A pleasant coastal loop starting from The Mumbles then through Limeslade and Langland bay.

Walking Rhossili Bay & Down

Visorando Member
Rhossili Bay & Down
↔11.55 mi ↗+1,145 ft ↘-1,158 ft ◔6h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Rhossili (Swansea)
Starting from Pilton Green, where there are a few free parking spaces along the road opposite the National Trust Gower Office, the walk follows the path towards the North Atlantic Ocean to Fox Hole Slade Cave.The route turns right and follows the coastal path to the 12 km mark, where it veers off and climbs towards Rhossili Down, the hill overlooking the entire bay and the beach of the same name.Although the climb is steep, it isn’t very long, but you’ll still be glad to reach the summit to enjoy a 360° view of the region.A fairly easy descent, followed by a walk through pastures and farmland, takes you back to the starting point – though, of course, you’ll need to pass through a few gates, stiles and fences separating agricultural plots along the way...

Walking Whiteford Sands from Llanmadoc

Visorando Member
↔4.96 mi ↗+151 ft ↘-144 ft ◔2h 25 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Llangennith, Llanmadoc and Cheriton (Swansea)
The Gower coast offers many excellent walking opportunities. This route starts from Llanmadoc and uses a section of the Wales Coast Path to follow an anti-clockwisde route around Whiteford Sands a spit that extends out into the Loughor Estuary.

Walking Whiteford Point & Broughton Bay from Llanmadoc

Visorando Member
↔8.49 mi ↗+732 ft ↘-715 ft ◔4h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Llangennith, Llanmadoc and Cheriton (Swansea)
This walk in the County of Swansea features some of the wonderful coastal scenery found in the the Gower Peninsula. The route includes a length section on a sandy beach and includes the wonderful viewpoint of Llanmdoc Hill from where you can see most of the walk just undertaken.

Walking Harding's Down & Rhossili Down from Rhossili

Visorando Member
↔8.51 mi ↗+1,109 ft ↘-1,076 ft ◔4h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Rhossili (Swansea)
This walk in the Gower Peninsula combines excellent coastal walking with an exploration of the inland countryside including two hills that offer some wonderful views. Careful navigaation is required for the inland section.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.