Rhossili Wales, Traveller Information

Rhossili is located at the most Western part of the Gower Peninsula. The most photographed part of Gower, The Worms Head, stretches out to sea and becomes an island when the tide comes in. The breathtaking view is completed by the long sandy beach and the towering cliffs and this makes it a popular destination throughout the year with surfers, paragliders and ramblers. However, Rhossili still manages to maintain its tranquility and unspoilt beauty.

Fall Beach is one of the quietest beaches on the Gower Peninsula. The beach is never crowded, even on the hottest summer weekends, and is popular with locals. The path to the beach leads down from Rhossili village hall, through pleasant fields. The final descent is fairly steep which means that it is not suitable for pushchairs. It is the perfect place to surf, swim, have a barbeque, or relax and watch the peregrine falcons which nest in the cliffs nearby

Rhossili probably gets its name in part from the Welsh word for moorland, rhos. The second element in the name may be a reference to a St. Sulien or Sili but details are not clear. Certainly the present Norman church is dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin. Inside there is a memorial to Edgar Evans who was the first to perish on the Terra Nova Expedition on the return from the South Pole.

There was a local tradition that there had been an earlier village complete with church closer to the sea which had been abandoned after "besanding" in the fourteenth century. A storm and subsequent excavation of newly-exposed remains in the Warren (an area of sand dunes to the north of the present village) in 1980 helped to confirm the truth of this.

Despite its relatively remote position, Rhossili is a popular tourist destination: the views from the headland and the Down are panoramic; several pleasant walks begin, end, or pass through the village; Iron Age remains are found on Rhossili Down; and the long beach attracts surfers, particularly at the Llangennith (northern) end.

Rhossili Bay curves along an arc running northwards from the village. The sandy beach is three miles long. Behind the beach just north of the village is Rhossili Down with the highest point on the Gower Peninsula (the Beacon) and a number of prehistoric remains. It is between Rhossili Down and the beach proper that the Warren is found.

At the southern end of the Bay is the outcrop of rock called the Worm's Head. At the north is Burry Holms. These islands are accessible at low tide only. Also at low tide, it is possible to see the remains of several wrecks, wood from the wreck of the Helvetia being the most prominent when looking north from Rhossili.

The village and surrounding area are steeped in history. The prominent wreck of the Helvetia, which ran aground on Rhossili Bay in November 1887 bears witness to the challenging weather conditions and the tales of our ancestors, who lured boats ashore to plunder their hold. The arch over the doorway of the church dates from the twelfth century and is believed to have been moved from the lost village (built in around 1100 and buried possibly by sand storms some time in the early part of the fourteenth century). Remains of stone age man were found in Paviland cave and fourteen Bronze Age burial chambers have been identified on Rhossili Down.

The parish of Rhossili stretches from the village itself towards Scurlage and encompasses the hamlets of Middleton, Pitton and Pitton Cross. There are plenty of establishments that offer various types of accommodation and many coves and beaches to visit and spend an afternoon.

Walkers are most definitely in their element with some of the most fantastic views on offer and try not to miss one of our sunsets