Rhossili Bay Beach

Three miles of golden sand stretching out towards the horizon - that's what pulls you back to Rhossili Bay time and again. The beach curves in a perfect crescent beneath cliffs that rise up like a fortress, and on a clear day you can see all the way to Worms Head, a rocky peninsula that's only accessible at low tide if you're feeling adventurous.

This is proper Gower coastline. The water's cold even in summer, but the beach itself is brilliant for families - wide, safe, and with enough space that you won't feel hemmed in even on bank holidays. Surfers love it. Walkers love it. Photographers show up at dawn to catch the light hitting those cliffs at just the right angle.

There's a car park at the top, which fills up fast in summer, and a couple of cafes nearby if you need fuel. No entry charge. You can spend a whole day here without feeling rushed - exploring rock pools, scrambling up the dunes, having a swim if you're brave. Low tide is the sweet spot for maximising beach space.

If you're basing yourself at Pembrey Country Park or Shoreline Caravan Park - both within 7 miles - Rhossili makes for an essential half-day trip, possibly more. The walk along the clifftop path towards Worms Head is worth doing separately if you've got the energy. Genuinely one of South Wales' best stretches of sand.