Broughton to Burry Holms - A circular walk on Gower
I don't know about you but we find it so much easier to take our children out on walks if the route is circular. That way when we're only 5 minutes in and they ask when we are going back to the car, we can tell them we are already on the way back. We haven't figured out how to stop the complaining all together, we're not magic, but a circular route definitely helps.
The view of the beach from Burry Holms tidal island.
This particular walk from Broughton, to Burry Holms and then back again, is one of our favourite walks on Gower. We only discovered it when a friend invited us to accompany them one day, knowing we would probably love it (they know us so well!). I find that since I didn't grow up here, there are so many places I'm only just discovering, or have only found by chance. And whilst I'm all for keeping these special places a secret, I also really want to enable families to get outdoors with their children, so if by sharing this walk on my blog, I give just one family the confidence to explore somewhere new, then that to me is worth having to share the place with a couple of extra people.
The start of the path on to the tidal island looking over to Worm's Head.
To start with you park the car at Broughton Holiday Park, in peak times there is a £3 charge to park, and there is a person that you pay so you won't need exact change, but off peak it's free to park. There is a playground in the car park, which we find is a great incentive to keep the kids going on the walk back.
Middle lagging far behind!
There is a footpath along the side of the playground, you take this path and just follow the most obvious route through the sand dunes and the lovely long grass, and eventually you will hear the sea, and then a little while after that you will see the sea, and arrive at the beach.
Rushing to get to the sea.
The beach is in sight!
FInally at the beach!
Burry Holms tidal island.
On this particular day it was low tide so we ventured over to Burry Holms tidal island, which is well worth exploring if you have timed it right. The views over to Worm's head (another tidal island) were stunning, as well as the views back towards Broughton.
Walking on to the tidal island.
Exploring the island.
Worm's head in the distance.
The far side of the island.
So many birds!
Oldest wore her winter coat (in August!) but I was in a t-shirt!
This was our first time making it over to the tidal island, and other than Middle being convinced we were going to get stranded there and voicing his concerns for the whole of Gower to hear, it was an amazing experience. I've mentioned before that exploring somewhere I've not been before is one of my favourite things, so seeing somewhere I've been countless times in a new way was the highlight of the walk for me.
The view back to the mainland.
Some strangers on the cliff edge who were a little more daring than us.
An actual photo of Me! (Told you I was in a t-shirt)
I spy an Ezra.
When you've finished exploring the tidal island and the beach, you'll see some rocks leading up to a footpath on the little bit of peninsula directly opposite Burry Holms Island. Venture up to this footpath and you can follow it all along the cliff edge. You'll pass over the tops of a couple of secluded beaches, including Blue Pool (Gower's own natural infinity pool) and eventually you will find yourself faced with lots of caravans. A short walk through the holiday park and you are back at your car. Easy!
The way back along the cliffs.
One of the many secluded beaches you can see from the cliff path.
Broughton beach in sight, almost back now!
Broughton
With this walk being circular, you can obviously do the route the other way around too. If you want to make it shorter then it's probably quickest to go back through the sand dunes again, rather than along the cliffs. I'm not actually sure how far this walk is but it is one of the longer ones that we do, and if you are doing it with young children, and going over to the island, I would allow at least 3 hours. But if you miss out the island it is much shorter.
