Apple Tree Cottage is an ideal holiday base for exploring the Gower coastline. It is close enough to Swansea to be able to pop to the shops, cinemas, museums or other local attractions or into Mumbles, a favourite holiday resort with the Victorians. Mumbles boast its own pier, nature reserve and castle, as well as mass of shops, boutiques, coffee shops, café bars and restaurants.
Bishopston has the added advantage of being remote enough to claim three beaches of its own, Caswell, Brandy Cove and Pwlldu Bay and the wooded charm of Bishopston Valley. It also has its very own ‘brew pub’, The Joiners, where you can sample the local award winning bitters brewed in the smallest brewery in Wales. The Joiners dates back over 200 years and often stages beer festivals, folk music, and various bank holiday celebrations. Across the road is another pub called The Valley, which is well known for its delicious home cooked food and a short drive away is the Beaufort Arms, in Kittle, which does an excellent Sunday lunch.
BEACHES
Bishopston's beaches are popular with locals and visitors alike, although they are very different from each other. Caswell attracts many surfers, but is popular with young families too, with safe bathing and lifeguards during the summer season. It is a 10 minute drive from the cottage and the beach on which opera diva Kathryn Jenkins spent many of her childhood summers.
From the cliff path there are spectacular sea views along the way. On arrival in Caswell there is an excellent cafe called Surfside which has panoramic views of the sea. It is ideal for breakfast on a Sunday. They do a fabulous breakfast panini.
There is parking opposite the beach and it is ideal for families and children of all ages.
Pwll Du is unspoilt and has an air of history and mystery about it. Pwll Du’s other name is ‘Black pool’ because it is a natural sheltered cove and when the sea is still, it looks like a deep, dark pool. In summer there is golden sand along the beach where only the locals go. Brandy Cove is quiet and secluded, with its own unique charm .
Three Cliffs, a finalist in the ITV programme 'Britain's Favourite View' is a 10 minute drive and the views from the ruins of Pennard Castle and the area around Three Cliffs Bay are spectacular. Oxwich Bay, voted by readers of the Travel Magazine as most beautiful beach in the UK 2007, is just 15 minutes drive away. Further down the coast is Rhossili Bay, hailed by The Independent newspaper as the 'British supermodel of beaches', whilst The Sunday Times listed it as one of the '25 best beaches in the world'.
ACTIVITIES
Golf – there are 3 golf courses within a 5 minute drive of the cottage, at Pennard, Caswell and Clyne common.
Horse riding – there are three centres nearby at Clyne, Murton and Parc Le Breos
Surfing – you can learn to surf at Caswell Bay with Gower Surfing Development
Sailing and Watersports – available at Oxwich Bay with Watersports4all
Power Boats - Coastal power trips are available from Gower Coast Adventures
Bushcraft – the ultimate survival challenge with Dryad Bushcraft
Gower information, photos and history - www.the-gower.com
LOCAL HISTORY
Gower boasts many ancient sites, monuments, churches, caves, castles and landmarks including Arthur’s Stone (hugely popular with visitors to the area) and Giants Grave (a burial chamber dating back to 3,500 BC). The oldest dated modern human remains ever discovered in Britain were found at Paviland Cave in Gower.
St Teilo's Church is situated at the head of the beautiful Bishopston Valley. The Parish Church of St.Teilo occupies the site of one of the earliest Christian settlements in Wales. According to the Book of Llandaff, the church dates back to 460-490 A.D. when Teilo established a Llan (Church) hidden in a dell above the stream. This was an enclosure, probably no more than a simple wooden fenced area, open to the sky, where the faithful met for worship and to celebrate the Eucharist. Later, a cell or small Chapel, was constructed on the site.
EATING OUT
Mumbles is fifteen minutes away through the country lanes and boasts an array of delightful restaurants, cafes and bars. It is an exceptionally pretty seaside town and well worth a visit. There are lots of fashion boutiques, curio shops and gift emproriums for the avid shopper. Every taste and pocket is catered for here from pizza and pasta, to Chinese and Indian cuisine, gastro pubs, fish and chips and a la carte, award winning restaurants. There are three great ice cream parlours, an indoor amusement centre, indoor bowling and ice skating and the famous pier.
