Over 50 years ago the Gower peninsula was the first ever area in England and Wales to be designated 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' (AONB). One of Gower’s most iconic beauty spots is, no doubt, the spectacular Rhossili. The 3 mile long sweeping bay is on the very tip of the Gower peninsula. To add to the drama, wooden ribs of the Helvetica, shipwrecked in 1887, protrude from the sand at low tide. There are fabulous walks along the cliff top towards the tidal island of Worm’s Head.

The area has a highly valued and wide range of important habitats and species. Among its gems are the Black Bog ant, chough, rare Marsh Fritillary butterfly, and brown hare. Gower also reflects a broad timeline – there are at least 1,200 archaeological sites within this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of different periods and types.

Llanrhidian Marsh and Whitford Burrows are outstanding both for their landscape beauty and for their wildlife. Llanrhidian is one of the best examples of a salt marsh in Britain and is of international importance for its enormous population of wintering wildfowl and waders including the oystercatcher, knot, pintail and golden plover. Whitford Burrows is seen as one of the best dune systems in Britain and have an excellent series of dune habitats. The flora is exceptional and includes many rare breeds and local species, including early marsh orchid, fen orchid, early grass sand and dune genetian.