Rock climbing and sport climbing in the Gower
The sea cliff climbing in the Gower is a combination of Trad climbing and sport climbing, where it is possible to climb straight off the beach. The area contains an excellent variety of climbing on limestone rock across a wide range of grades. For the Trad routes these range from Diff to E8, and sport routes from F3+ to F8b.
Sport and Trad climbing at Rhossili
Rhossili Beach is the largest sport climbing area in the Gower. There are over 100 routes in the F3+ to F7a grade range, straight off one of the best beaches in the Gower. There are a number of sectors that are all tidal and accessible only a few hours either side of low tide.
Fortunately there is also an upper cliff at Rhossili, set high above the beach that is none tidal, where there is a mixture of sport and Trad routes. The climbing offers a good mixture styles across a wide variety of grades.
Trad climbing at Fall Bay
Fall Bay contains some of the best Trad climbing in the Gower. There is something for everyone from well-protected Diffs to steep, technical multi-pitch routes in the mid to high E grades. Some of the crags are straight off the beach and others are non-tidal, giving options for climbing at any time.
Sport climbing at Ramsgrove
Ramsgrove hosts a collection of first-rate sport crags including the excellent Third Sister. The aspect is sunny on quick drying rock with a wide variety of routes in the F5 to F7 grade range.
Map of the rock climbing and sport climbing areas on the Gower, near Swansea
| No | Crag | Trad or Sport | Crag tidal or not |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhossili | Both | Both |
| 2 | Fall Bay | Trad | Both |
| 3 | Mewslade | Trad | Both |
| 4 | Ramsgrove | Sport | Both |
| 5 | Paviland Valley | Both | Mostly Not |
| 6 | Port Eynon | Trad | No |
| 7 | Oxwich | Sport | Yes |
| 8 | Tor Bay | Trad | Yes |
| 9 | Three Cliffs Bay | Trad | Yes |
| 10 | Southgate | Sport | Both |
| 11 | Pennard | Trad | No |
| 12 | Pwlldu | Sport | No |
| 13 | Mumbles | Trad | Yes |
Trad climbing at Tor Bay and Three Cliffs Bay
The Trad climbing at both Three Cliffs Bay and Tor Bay provides some of the most picturesque climbing in the country. The climbing is straight off the beach in an idyllic environment with the majority of the routes in Diff to VS grade range.
Sport climbing at Southgate
Southgate has the best selection of sport climbs in the Gower. The routes are spread over several excellent venues, ranging from easy F4’s and F5’s, across the grade spectrum up to F8b. It is common to start the day at one crag, before visiting several other venues that are only a short distance apart.
Bouldering on the Gower
The Gower offers a choice of tidal and non-tidal bouldering, largely on limestone rock, with each area providing a unique flavour and setting. There are 6 established bouldering venues on the Gower across a wide range of grades. Rotherslade Bay offers many easy problems and is an ideal family venue to hard fingery problems at Bacon Hole.
Gower rock climbing logistics and beta
There are a variety of rock climbing guidebooks covering the sport climbing, Trad climbing and bouldering on the Gower that are available to buy from our shop.
- The Gower Rock Selected Climbs guidebook covers the best sport and Trad routes on the Gower, and is the most comprehensive guidebook available.
- The Rockfax South Wales Sport Climbs guidebook covers nearly 400 sport routes on the Gower.
- The South Wales Bouldering guidebook covers the 6 established bouldering areas in the Gower.
For accommodation there are options to cater for all budgets, from camping to plush hotels. Scattered across the peninsula there are a wide range of pubs and cafes.
Getting to the Gower is straight forward with easy access from the M4 via Swansea.
Many of the crags in the Gower are affected by the sea, and access is only available for a few hours either side of low tide. Therefore it is essential to be aware of the tide times and plan responsibly, but above all respect the sea.