Gower · Easy · There and back

Bishopston Valley from Kittle to Pwlldu Bay

From Kittle Green down the wooded Bishopston Valley beside its stream to the track at Pwlldu Bay, and back the same way: a gentle National Trust valley walk on the south Gower coast.

Distance
6.3 km (3.9 mi)
Ascent
92 m
Time
About 1 h 45 min
High point
72 m
Grade
Easy
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Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), drawn by Global Adventurer.

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Bishopston Valley from Kittle to Pwlldu Bay
Des Blenkinsopp · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The walk

The walk starts from Kittle Green, the village green at the top of Bishopston Valley, where there is some parking on Old Kittle Lane. A path goes down into the valley and follows the valley floor beside the stream, through woods that the National Trust owns, and on to the track at the head of Pwlldu Bay. Long Ash Mine in the valley produced silver and lead until 1854 and is now a bat roost. Pwll Du Bay was a limestone quarry until 1902, and its buildings were once inns that smugglers used; the pebble ridge and the beach beyond are not part of the line. The return is the same way up the valley.

It is 6.3 km there and back with 92 m of ascent; allow about 2 hours. The grade is Easy.

The valley path is muddy and can be slippery after rain. The City and County of Swansea says that the way into the valley by Old Kittle Lane starts in the stream bed, so it is not accessible or safe after prolonged or heavy rain. About 12% of the line is on lanes at the Kittle end.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.

Good to know

  • Bishopston Valley is a wooded valley owned by the National Trust and a Site of Special Scientific Interest within the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  • Long Ash Mine in the valley produced silver and lead until 1854 and is now a bat roost behind a grille
  • Pwll Du Bay was a limestone quarry until 1902, and some of its buildings were once inns that smugglers used
  • The Caesar was wrecked here in 1760, and the crew were buried in a mass grave at Graves End

Getting there

Start: Kittle Green. 51.58462, -4.05994

Directions to the start

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Places to stay nearby

Rooms in and around Gowerton: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →

Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.

Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line is drawn along OpenStreetMap paths and the figures are worked out from it; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.