Things to Do
Mumbles
Under two miles from our chalets in Summercliffe is the bustling village of Mumbles. Once a quaint fishing village it still has its jumble of fishermen's cottages (now very desirable holiday homes) and boats still bob in the calm waters of the beautiful Swansea Bay. Curving gently around the bay is the famous 5 mile cycle and pedestrian path that takes you all the way around to the City of Swansea. Bicycles can be hired and there's also a land train service.
Mumbles enjoys sole trader boutique shops plus famous name chain stores (Fat Face, Sea Salt, Peacocks, Boots, Mountain Warehouse). Delicatessens, show shops, plant and hardware stores, fishmongers, greengrocers, bakeries and wine merchants plus the usual charity shops abound. Tesco and Co-op supermarkets plus the newly opened M & S Food stores sort out the everyday food needs. Various village activities include regular craft fayres & local produce food markets. Look put for the Art Deco library and various art galleries and beautiful gift shops. Plenty of eateries make dining out a pleasure especially with children and dogs are welcomed in plenty of places.
Oystermouth
Mumbles nestles under the watchful eye of the striking Oystermouth castle built by the Normans in the 11th century. Entrance to the grounds is free and you can walk all around the castle and enjoy panoramic views. A small entrance fee takes you inside the castle and there's plenty to see and enjoy -including re-enactments, open days, story- telling and open air theatre. Check the website for more details.
Mumbles Pier
At the far end of the bay is the impressive Mumbles Pier, built around 1900. Part of it is under private ownership and provides a lovely family friendly restaurant, an up-market gift shop, an amusement arcade, entrance to a small beach with access across a causeway at low tide to the lighthouse station. The pier itself is open to the public.
Eating and Drinking
Eateries abound in Mumbles. Indian, Chinese takaways, bistro-style, pub grub, Sunday lunches or decent sit down restaurants are easily found.Several ice cream parlours are to be found along the front in Mumbles plus Verdi's restaurant which opens for early morning coffee through lunch and supper to a late evening glass of wine while watching the sun set over the bay.
A large outdoor area ensures that dogs are welcome too.
Beaches around the Gower
The Gower Peninsular boasts several outstanding beaches and landmarks such as the Worm's Head, Llangenith, Oxwich and Rhossili which are all about a 30 minute drive from your base at Caswell Bay.
Local beaches include Rotherslade, Langland, Brandy Cove and Pwll- Ddu. These are walkable from Caswell but please note that not all these beaches are dog friendly during the summer months.
Parks and Gardens
Several large parks are located in and around Mumbles; Underhill Park has a children's play area, Singleton Park has a lake with rowing boats and there is a children's playground opposite. Clyne Gardens is a glorious walk famed for its rhododendrons and azaleas which bloom from early in Spring. A large children's park is situated in the centre of Mumbles, adjacent to the beach.
Swansea City
Less than 5 almost straight miles from Mumbles with plenty of parking, Swansea offers all the big department stores, plus the famous Indoor Market which sells laverbread, cockles, Welsh cakes, Bara Brith (a fruit cake/fruit bread combo) and many other Welsh delicacies. Theatres, cinemas, a leisure centre with superb swimming pool, bowling, Quasar, museums, art galleries are all there to entertain you.
Swansea Marina and Maritime quarter is a history tour around the old docklands where tin, copper and coal were all exported around the world. There are museums and objects of interest to visit and explore. Look out for the Dylan Thomas Centre and Theatre plus statues and references to Swansea's famous "bad boy" of literature, who hails from Swansea and whose home in 5 Cwmdonken Park is now a museum to recreate 1914, the year of his birth.