Cefn Bryn (again), Port Eynon and Rhossili

One of the things I most enjoyed about holidaying in Gower was that while there were lots of places to see, we didn't have to drive very far to see them. The peninsula is 19 miles long and about six miles wide; our holiday cottage was sitated equidistant from both coasts and nowhere was more than a short drive away. 

So it wasn't too surprising to find ourselves driving past Cefn Bryn the very next day after we'd visited, so we stopped off again, this time taking a slightly different route that led to the Great Cairn.

The weather was dryer, if less dramatic, than the previous day, with clearer views.

We watched a couple of ravens take on what looked like a kestrel for a while, both sides giving as good as they got.

A different view of Arthur's Stone

the longest slug I ever did see

We then drove down to Port Eynon, which was a little disappointing, on account of most of the beach being very dog-unfriendly. We found ourselves corralled in a rocky corner with other dog owners and their dogs, while the sandy - and sunnier - larger part was empty. 

Knowing me, knowing you ...                               Aha!        

Cwtch and I made our way down to the Salt House, which is believed to have been built in the mid-16th century for salt production, although the usual tales of secret tunnels, smuggling and piracy attached themselves to it in Victorian times.

Dewberries

Then on to beautiful Rhossili, one of my favourite places, where we had lunch in a cafe called - aptly - The View, after which we ventured down to the beach. A couple of choughs blew overhead.

Worms Head

The wreck of the Helvetia

Cwtch didn't want much truck with the sea

The wind blowing ribbons of sand along the beach was mesmerising, but it was time to leave so we made our way up from the beach ... 

... and back to Three Crosses to load up the car and head for home. We were leaving a day early, as I had a reading the next day in Portishead, but we'd had a memorable if not very summery holiday, with plenty left to explore another time.

Cefn Bryn and Cwm Ivy

Time to go west, we decided, and headed for lunch in a pub in Llangennith that had been recommended to us, followed by a walk at Whiteford Sands. But first, a stop on Cefn Bryn, the ridge of common land that runs for five miles through the Gower peninsula, to find the Neolithic burial chamber (dolmen) called Arthur's Stone. 

Two rooks flying over the Loughgor estuary

'I've found it!'

'Ah, but do we know for sure that Arthur was there?' a friend would ask a week or so later, and the answer, of course, is no, we don't. But we do know that he progressed east along the other side of the Loughgor estuary, through Carmarthenshire, and shook a stone from his shoe, because this is the very stone, which, having flown through the air across the river, landed on the opposite bank. Proof! 

Looking towards Burry Port ...

... and Llanelli

It was such a staggeringly beautiful spot, even when scads of rain came bowling up the estuary (but miraculously didn't touch us). 

And back at the car park, looking south, Lundy Island in the Channel, which I still haven't managed to visit (though I long to) on account of having a dog.

Scarlet waxcaps

After lunch in the King's Head in Llangennith, we headed for Cwm Ivy, just beyond Llanmadoc, and a walk through pine woods to the sand dunes and salt marsh that line the River Loughgor at its estuary.  

Unfortunately the Northerner's bad knee was troubling him so we couldn't walk as far as the cast-iron lighthouse at Whiteford Point, although it was visible in the distance.

CLOCKWISE from top left: Scotch rose; Sand Viper's Gloss and Autumnal hawkbit; Small restharrow; Autumnal hawkbit 

Beyond the warth is Whiteford Sands. After a blow along the beach, we looped back through the dunes and slacks to regain the pine wood and, eventually, Cwm Ivy.

Once back, we settled in at the very dog-friendly cafe for Cappuccino and a fully-justified brownie apiece, while enjoying the view. A memorable day. 

mermaid's purse and oystercatcher feathers