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WALK 4

Pwlldu Head and Bishopston Valley

Start/Finish	National Trust car park, Southgate, Pennard (SS 5540 8735)
Distance	8.5km (5¼ miles)
Total ascent	340m
Time	2hrs
Refreshments	Three Cliffs Café and stores at the start.

The route heads along East Cliff to High Tor, with fine views west of Oxwich Bay, and then on to Pwlldu Head from where there is a grand vista of Caswell, Mumbles Head and the Vale of Glamorgan coastline as far as Nash Point. This part of the walk is made more interesting by following pathways as close to the cliff line as possible as this affords the best views, and also crosses an Iron Age fort. After visiting the old quarry village the route turns inland, following the picturesque Bishopston Valley with its enjoyable woodland walk.

From the bottom of the car park where there is a low earth bank, cross over the bridleway, down the slope and turn left following the cliff edge. The slade (small dell or valley) in front of you leads down to the beach of Fox Hole which is named after the cave situated just across the valley below the cliff edge. The care home next to the car park, Heatherslade, was once the home of poet Vernon Watkins, a close friend of Dylan Thomas.

After around 200 metres, you will encounter another slade to Fox Hole. As you come around its head, take the small path along that again follows the cliff edge. Continue along the cliffs to a prominent headland, High Tor. There is a magnificent view to the west of the sweep of Oxwich Bay with the upland area of Cefn Bryn to the right. The impressive steep cliff just before the sand starts is Great Tor.

If you are feeling adventurous, it is possible to descend the steep slade to the west of High Tor to a path that runs east along the top of the lower cliff and scramble down to the largest bone cave in Gower, Minchin Hole. This is just visible by looking down to the left from High Tor where there is a large gash in the steep cliff slope. Access to Minchin Hole and Bacon Hole is restricted at various times of the year due to the presence of breeding birds or hibernating bats. Check with the National Trust before attempting to visit either of them, tel: 01792 390636.

MINCHIN HOLE

Minchin Hole, the largest bone cave in Gower

Minchin Hole is the largest and most impressive of all the Gower bone caves but is quite difficult to reach. The route down the cliff requires some very careful scrambling and access to the cave is not for the faint-hearted.

Extensive finds include the remains of a straight-tusked elephant, bison, soft-nosed rhinoceros, cave bear, reindeer, wolf and hyena showing that the cave was inhabited during the Upper Palaeolithic period. The later excavations by J Mason and JG Rutter proved that the cave was again inhabited during both the Romano-British period and again in the Dark Ages when the cave would have offered a secret hideout to anyone who made their home here. Finds of these periods include over 750 pieces of cooking pots, jars, beakers, dishes and bowls, spindle whorls, combs, finely-worked bone spoons, bronze brooches and numerous coins.

From High Tor, carry on following the cliff top. Just below you at SS 5602 8682 is another famous cave, Bacon Hole.

BACON HOLE