Three Gower Shipwrecks – a walk back in time along Rhossili Bay
At Bayview, Oxwich on the south side of Gower, we’re relatively sheltered from the prevalent south-westerly winds that buffet the north and western edges of the peninsula. When the summer sun shines, and the sea is calm, it’s hard to imagine that Gower has been the graveyard over time for 250+ vessels that have come to grief in storm-force conditions along its treacherous coastline.
We can recommend a wonderful walk that is just a 20-minute drive from Oxwich where you can see (when conditions are right) evidence of 3 famous shipwrecks that met their end on the world-famous Rhossili Bay, a 3 mile stretch of sandy, Atlantic-facing beach, bookended by the iconic tidal islands of Worms’ head at one end, and Burry Holms at the other.
Depending on your fitness and the tides, you can walk and see all three, or take in one or two. The ease of parking accommodates whatever you want to do, as you can park at Rhossili in the National Trust Car Park, at Hillend, Llangennith in the middle of the Bay, or at Broughton Bay at the north-west end, to see the remains of the following ships:
1. The Helvetia (Rhossili)
You can be guaranteed to see a fair proportion of the ribs of this historical landmark, the Helvetia on the sands at Rhossili. The three-masted Norwegian Barque was travelling from Canada to Swansea with 500+ tonnes of timber on board when it ran aground in a heavy gale on 01 11 1887.
2. The Samuel (causeway to Worm’s Head. Rhossili)
At low tide, on the causeway linking Rhossili Bay to Worm’s Head you can see the substantial anchor of The Samuel, nestled among the silt and the seaweed. The Norwegian ship was carrying a cargo of coal on a routine trip from Cardiff to Santos when it met its end in a fierce gale on 12 02 1884. It is said that the 100-tonnes of coal (known as ‘black gold’) was sold to local farmers and kept villages warm for many winters to come.
3. The City of Bristol (Diles Lake, between Llangennith and Burry Holms)
At very low-tide, you will sometimes see a solitary rib sticking out of the sea at Diles Lake, Llangennith. This is all that remains to the eye, of a 210-tonne paddle steamer en route between Waterford and Bristol that was lost to the elements on 18 11 1840. It was too rough to abandon ship, and 27 crew members lost their lives. Two survived along with 3 bullocks and 75 pigs which are said to have swum ashore.
If you’re interested in walking and history, this itinerary should whet the appetite. But there is much more which you can find out at www.gowershipwrecks.co.uk and www.enjoygower.com
To find out more about which of our Bayview luxury holiday rental properties would suit you and your family and friends, please call Wanda and the Team who’ll be happy to help.
Imagery: © Hawlfraint y Goron / © Crown copyright (2022) Cymru Wales