Oxwich Bay

Oxwich Bay sits on the sheltered southern coast of Gower, facing south and protected from the full Atlantic. The result is noticeably calmer water than Rhossili or Llangennith — ideal for paddling, paddleboarding and family swimming. A large pay-and-display car park sits directly behind the dunes, making it one of the few Gower beaches you can drive almost to the sand.

At the western end of the bay you'll find the Oxwich Bay Hotel and the acclaimed Beach House Restaurant, celebrated for its locally sourced seafood. The historic ruins of Oxwich Castle — a Tudor manor house — stand on the headland above and are open to visitors from April to October.

Immediately behind the beach lies one of the most biodiverse sites in South Wales. The reserve encompasses dune slacks, freshwater lakes, reedbeds, saltmarsh, and limestone ash woodland — all in a remarkably small area. Key highlights include:

• Wild orchids flowering in the dune slacks in late May and June.
• A bird hide at Whitestones, accessed by boardwalk over the freshwater marsh — look for reed buntings, marsh harriers and little grebes.
• Bat activity at dusk in the woodland edges.
• The Wales Coast Path runs through the reserve and along the dunes.

Managed by Natural Resources Wales. Most of the reserve is open access year-round.

• Oxwich Point Walk: a circular trail around the headland with sweeping views back across the bay — around 3.5 miles.
• Three Cliffs Bay: approximately 10-minute drive or a 45-minute coastal walk east.
• Port Eynon: approximately 15-minute drive west along the south Gower coast.
• Oxwich Castle: 10-minute walk from the beach — open April to October.