Mumbles campsites: great picks for Gower holidays
Ooh it’s gorgeous, the Gower peninsula – so very scenic, in fact, that it was designated the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty back in 1956. There are umpteen spectacular spots among the coast and countryside here, but we reckon Mumbles camping is one of the best ways to sort a stay around this part of the world.
Why so? No, not just because of the possibility of bumping into local lass Catherine Zeta-Jones… The main reason is that the location up at the ‘gateway to the Gower’ means that campsites near Mumbles tend to have that golden mix of cracking coastal location, villagey vibe and easy access to the bright lights of Swansea for city amenities and easy travel.
Whether you’re planning to get as much Gower time as possible or stick closer to base for beach days, making a Mumbles campsite your base is a fab idea. Check out our tips below for ideas on how to pick the place that’s just right for your trip.
Camping in Mumbles for bargain hunters and luxury seekers
The outdoors around here is well and truly great – both around the coastline and in the wildlife-packed interior – so it follows that there are heaps of options for equally excellent outdoor breaks.
Settling on your style will help narrow down your choices to find the sort of Mumbles campsite that will suit your needs. Check out remote locations, wildlife havens and wild camping if you’re after the full escape-to-the-country experience, or treat yourself to a stay in a smart rental tent if you prefer your rural time to come with luxury trimmings.
Mumbles motorhome and caravan pitches are plentiful too (road trip around the beaches, waterfalls and green hills of south Wales, anyone?), as are all sorts of alternative berths. Cwtch up (that’s local lingo for cuddle) in a petite camping pod or classic shepherd’s hut if there’s just the two of you, or opt for a family-sized static caravan if you need a bit more space (the kitchen tends to come in mighty handy here too if you’ve got picky tiddlers to feed… or just want a fridge in which to store your wine…)
Whatever you’ve plumped for, you can use our filters on the left of this page to further refine your pickings. Bringing a four-legged pal along? Make sure you find a dog-friendly campsite near Mumbles. Reckon you might want a break from cooking? On-site eateries are handy things to have on hand. Keen to keep costs down? Check out budget/backpacker options.
How to fill your days on a Mumbles camping holiday
Start (obviously) by heading down to the coast – take your bucket and spade down to the sands and rockpools of Mumbles’ Pier Beach, and spend some time around the pier itself at the boating lake, amusements and the excellent ice cream parlour.
For bigger beachy areas, set off south to Gower gems like Caswell Bay, Llangennith, Three Cliffs Bay and the utterly stunning stretch at Rhossili (a frequent entrant on lists of the UK’s best beaches, no less). Of course, if you really want to earn that extra scoop of ice cream you should probably rack up a few miles on the Wales Coast Path between some of the top spots – surely one of the finest ways around to rack up that step count?
And there’s plenty more outdoorsy entertainment around too, from gentle days of golfing or gliding about on a paddleboard to more high-octane canyoning or coasteering outings. Weather taken a turn? Head to Swansea for an indoor waterpark and karting circuit.
It’s not recent that folk have discovered how lush this area is, so it’s worth having a nod to the history of these parts with an outing to Oystermouth Castle, a glimpse into Victorian life at Aberdulais or a meander around the Gower countryside to seek out some of the archaeological sites scattered within the AONB reserve (there are 1200 of them, so that little lot should keep you busy for a while…).
Making Mumbles part of a longer trip around south Wales? Plan your other stops with our full list of campsites and holiday parks in south Wales.
