The Gower Peninsula, located in South Wales, is considered by many one of the most beautiful areas of Wales. Even the UK government seems to agree, as it designated Gower the UK's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1956 (more or less similar to a National Forest in the US). The peninsula surrounds itself with breathtaking cliffs occasionally interrupted by beautiful bays and inlets. The largest of these, Swansea Bay, is home to Wale's second largest city - Swansea (which itself was home to Dylan Thomas and Catherine Zeta-Jones).
(Swansea Bay at low tide- high tide splashes against the stone wall)
One of the most striking features in Gower, is its massive tidal range- over 26-33 feet (8-10 meters) on average. This massive swing in tide depth along the coast can turn some bays into thousands of feet of exposed beach at low tide. A popular hike out to Wyrm's Head at the tip of the peninsula has to be completed in entirety during low tide. Anyone too slow gets the privilege of being stuck on the outcropping until lower water levels reveal a rocky path home. Three Cliffs Bay has such a striking difference in tides, it swallows up a large river valley.
(Three Cliffs Bay)
Aside from natural beauty, Gower hosts a number of important historical and archeological sites. The Red Lady of Paviland was discovered in Gower, and is believed to be one of the oldest ceremonial burials discovered in Europe. Apart from numerous Neolithic artifacts, the peninsula also contains the remains of Roman occupation as the Romans built numerous fortifications on the peninsula as they sought to control Britain.
Even on a stereotypically rainy Welsh day, it's nearly impossible to have a bad time while walking the Gower coast. In my very biased opinion, the limestone cliffs, rolling green hills, and picturesque bays rival the more frequented coasts of Western Europe. Our lightest roast, Gower Gold, seeks to embody the bright, adventurous feeling that a walk along Gower entails.