30 walks/44 pages

The Gower, lying to the west of Swansea, was the first "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty" (AONB) in Britain. About 15 by 7¼ miles, this is a compact area that holds a surprising variety of scenery, both along the coast and inland. There are three National Nature Reserves (Oxwich Bay, Gower Coast and Whiteford Burrows) as well as a large number of local reserves. Although generally low-lying, Gower has a number of areas of open access hill land and is the location of two long distance walking routes, the Gower Way and the Wales Coast Path.

Coastal scenery "beaches and cliff top paths" features strongly in this guide, with several of Gower's nature reserves being located on the coast. The coastline varies considerably, with rocky limestone cliffs, outcrops and small beaches to the south; the long sandy beaches of Rhossili and Whiteford to the west; the salt marshes and tidal flats of the Burry inlet and River Loughor to the north.

The hills of the peninsula, as well as offering a range of great views, have prehistoric sites, wells, church and castle sites, as well as local nature reserves. Riverside and woodland walks lead into some of the more secluded parts of the area, taking in other nature reserves and passing historic and prehistoric features of interest. A number of walks centre around the Gower Heritage Centre at Parkmill, near the middle of the AONB.

The individual walks are mostly easy or moderate, with the majority fairly short, although many can be combined into longer routes. This guide can also be used as a basis for planning several linear routes, using buses.

It's a superb and varied, but surprisingly compact, area.