Coast Swansea
Worm’s Head Trail: Crossing the Causeway
(Personal Diary Edition)
I walked the Worm’s Head Trail on a late September day, when the weather balanced bright skies with a strong coastal wind. The drive down to Rhossili was quiet enough, though the National Trust car park was already filling with surfers and walkers by mid-morning. I pulled on boots, packed water and a light jacket, and headed across the clifftop path toward the causeway.
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## The Descent to the Causeway
The path dropped quickly from the headland. The rocky causeway stretched out ahead, linking the mainland to Worm’s Head, exposed only at low tide. The surface was rough and slick in places, jagged limestone mixed with patches of seaweed, and I needed steady footing as I picked my way across. The sea pressed in on both sides, gulls wheeling above and the air heavy with salt.
Timing was important — the crossing window is narrow — and a steady stream of walkers were making the same journey, each careful with their steps.
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## Little and Middle Worm
Once across, the trail climbed gradually onto Little Worm, a grassy rise with open views back toward Rhossili Bay. The sweep of sand below was striking, stretching endlessly north. The path then narrowed over Middle Worm, the terrain uneven, a mix of grass and exposed rock. In places, the wind pressed hard across the ridge, forcing a measured pace.
The sense of exposure here was constant — cliffs dropping sharply into the sea, waves breaking hard against the rocks.
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## Toward Outer Worm
The final stretch to Outer Worm was more challenging. The ground dropped and rose sharply, with scrambles over jagged rock and a few sections requiring hands for balance. I pushed on only part of the way, stopping short of the final climb, aware of the tide timing and the effort needed for the return. Even so, the views were reward enough: the lighthouse on the horizon, the sweep of sea to either side, and the headland behind shrinking with distance.
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## The Return Crossing
Turning back, the wind was behind me, but the causeway crossing demanded just as much care in reverse. Water was already beginning to seep back into the gullies, the tide turning. I moved with purpose, not rushing but conscious of the narrowing window. By the time I reached the mainland, the rocks glistened with incoming water.
I climbed back to the car park with tired legs and a deep sense of having walked one of Gower’s most dramatic routes.
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## Notes from the Day
– **Distance**: About 4 miles (return, partial to Middle Worm).
– **Weather**: Bright skies, strong wind, cool September air.
– **Terrain**: Rocky causeway, grassy ridges, exposed scrambles.
– **Parking**: National Trust car park at Rhossili.
– **Gear**: Boots with grip, water, light jacket, tide timetable essential.
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## Reflection
The Worm’s Head Trail is as much about timing as terrain. The causeway crossing sets the rhythm of the day, and the ridge paths demand steady effort and respect for the elements. It is one of Gower’s most iconic walks — exposed, dramatic, and unforgettable.
