Welcome To the e-travelguide to Hotels, guest houses and attractions in Swansea And The Gower

Make the most of your time in Swansea And The Gower, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links above to plan your visit.

The city of Swansea – Abertawe as it is known in Welsh - and the Gower Peninsula Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty can be found on the coast of South Wales. Swansea is the second largest city in Wales after the capital Cardiff, which is approximately 50 miles to the east, along the M4 motorway. Swansea’s name is believed to derive from the Germanic ‘Sweyn’s Ey’, and betrays the region’s Viking history; the Vikings extensively raided the South Wales coast. The Welsh name of Abertawe is more straightforward – the city lies at the mouth of the River Tawe, and it was this useful location that led to Swansea’s rise to prominence during the Industrial Revolution. The port of Swansea was key to transporting coal from the Welsh coalfields around the United Kingdom and further afield, and due to the abundance of coal and ores locally, Swansea became a major centre for the smelting of metals including copper, tin, zinc and arsenic – some of which were used in the pottery and ceramics industries that flourished around Swansea and the Tawe Valley. Iron and steel making were also important local industries; the works at nearby Port Talbot and Neath still soldier on, but the demise of many of the region’s traditional industries has been acutely felt by Swansea. The city is currently enjoying something of a revival however, and the redevelopment of the historic harbour and the marina will hopefully act as the catalyst to better times.

The Gower Peninsula protrudes from Swansea into the Bristol Channel, and is a dramatic headland that became the first region in the UK to be declared an area of outstanding natural beauty by the Countryside Agency in 1956. It is a mystical region with a captivating history, having been inhabited for over 25,000 years (since the Lower Palaeolithic era) through often turbulent times; the many castles and hill forts are testament to the strategic importance of the peninsula. The region is now one of South Wales’ most popular tourist destinations, due to its wonderfully rugged coastline, its remoteness and seclusion, and also its diverse wildlife. Many rare sea birds nest on the peninsula; the Llanrhidian Sands are home to several species of waders. The appeal of the Gower Peninsula is not restricted to wildlife – the region’s sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, sand dunes, marshes, hills and valleys give the most spectacular views at any time of the year.

Contact: 0118 971 4700