Coast Swansea

Rhossili & Worm’s Head Circular: Downs, Clifftops & Causeway (Personal Diary Edition)

I walked the Rhossili & Worm’s Head Circular on a warm August day with clear skies and a steady coastal breeze. The car park at Rhossili was already half full by mid-morning, a mix of surfers, day-trippers, and walkers. Boots laced, water packed, I set out from the village toward the Downs.

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## Up Onto the Downs
The route began with a steady climb onto Rhossili Downs, the ridge offering instant reward with views over the sweep of Rhossili Bay. The climb was firm underfoot, a grassy track rising to the cairn, and from the top the panorama opened wide — Worm’s Head to the south, Burry Holms to the north. A pause here felt natural, to take in the scale before continuing.

The ridge path undulated, each rise giving a new angle over the bay, the air filled with the sound of skylarks.

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## Toward the Causeway
From the Downs, the path curved south and dropped gradually toward the causeway leading to Worm’s Head. The limestone rocks stretched out across the tide line, jagged and uneven but firm enough underfoot with care. I timed the tide well, the water low enough to expose the crossing, though the gullies still held pools that reflected the sky.

Crossing the causeway felt dramatic, the sea pressing in on both sides.

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Read moreThe Ultimate Trail Walking Checklist

## Exploring Worm’s Head
The path rose onto Little Worm, grassy and open, with sharp drops to the sea below. From here, the trail narrowed onto Middle Worm, a mix of grass and exposed rock, the breeze pressing strongly across the ridge. I carried on only part of the way, conscious of the return crossing window, but far enough to feel the exposure and sense of walking into the sea.

Looking back, Rhossili village was small on the horizon, the Downs a green ridge against the sky.

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## Clifftop Return
Retracing steps to the mainland, I turned north onto the clifftop path above Rhossili Bay. The contrast was striking — from jagged causeway to rolling grassy cliffs. The footing was steady, the breeze constant, and the view never less than impressive: the full curve of Rhossili Bay below, the golden sand broken by dark patches of rock.

The path eased gradually back toward the village, the Worm’s Head Hotel coming into sight.

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## Notes from the Day
– **Distance**: About 7 miles (circular, partial Worm’s Head).
– **Weather**: Warm August sun, steady breeze.
– **Terrain**: Ridge climbs, rocky causeway, grassy cliffs.
– **Parking**: National Trust car park at Rhossili.
– **Gear**: Boots, water, snacks, tide timetable.

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## Reflection
The Rhossili & Worm’s Head Circular is a route of contrasts — high ridges, tidal causeway, grassy clifftops, and endless views. It asks for timing, effort, and respect, but it rewards with the full drama of Gower’s coast in a single circuit.