Rhosili headland walk
A walk across the headland takes in stunning views across Rhosili Bay and out to Worm’s Head before leading back through the Vile; the remnants of an ancient landscape.
Map
Start:
National Trust Shop, Rhosili, grid ref: SS414881
1
With your back to the bus stop, turn right and walk along the road, continuing between the car park and the Worms Head Hotel. The National Trust shop is a little further on your left.
National Trust Shop
The National Trust shop is in one of the former coastguard cottages.
2
Looking to your right you will see the three-mile-long beach of Rhossili. The powerful tides and shifting sands caused many ship wrecks. The remains of the Helvetia can still be seen on Rhossili beach at low tide.
3
Continue to follow the path through the gateway on the surfaced path.
4
To the right of the path there are a series of mounds. These are the remains of an Iron Age fort. The magnificent views from here meant the inhabitants of the fort could see their enemies for miles around.
5
As you continue along the surfaced track you will see fields and hedge banks on your left which are part of a medieval open field strip system. The Normans introduced this system of farming in the 12th century.
6
Where the surfaced track bears sharp left, walk straight on following a wide grass path towards the coastguard lookout where you will have a spectacular view of the Worms Head. The coastguard lookout was built in Victorian times and is now staffed by volunteers.
The Worms Head
The name comes from the Nordic word 'Wurm' which means serpent or dragon.
7
At the lookout, turn left along the cliff top to join the path that runs alongside a stone wall. The path heads down a short slope to a kissing gate. On your left inside the wall is an area known as The Vile.
The Vile
The Vile is a rare survivor of the medieval open field strip system introduced by the Normans during the 12th century.
8
Continue to follow the path alongside the wall. After a few minutes the path will descend quite steeply and then follows the wall sharply to the left. Follow the well worn path through the rose, ascending gradually. Be careful on the stones as they are often slippery. Listen out for yellowhammers along this section of path. They can often be seen perched on the top of blackthorn bushes, resplendent and easily identified in their canary yellow plumage.
9
Keep to the left and the path eventually brings you to a metal ladder and wooden steps over a wall. Cross the wall and follow the footpath as it heads back inland to Middleton. Shortly before you reach Middleton take a sharp left at the fork in the track and walk back through The Vile to Rhossili village and the end of the walk.
End:
Rhosili Village, grid ref: SS414881
