Rhossili Bay Judged to be Third Best Beach in Europe

In a top ten that is smattered with the usual suspects from Spain, Italy and Greece, it may be considered a little surprising that Rhossili Beach on the Gower Peninsula close to Swansea has been voted the third best beach in Europe in a survey of worldwide tourists by the TripAdvisor website.

Not only that but it was joined in the top ten by Woolacombe Beach in Devon in fifth, with Porthminster Beach at St Ives in ninth. Even allowing for the fact that many of those expressing an opinion may be British based, it is still a fine accolade and Trip Advisor stress that opinion was received from a world wide clientele.

Rabbit Beach at Lampedusa, Sicily, and Playa de las Catedrales in Ribadeo, Galicia, Spain were the exceptional venues that beat Rhossili, but the result came as no surprise to Swansea Council leader David Phillips who was quoted as being “delighted, but not surprised”. He continued, “We hope that many more visitors continue to enjoy its outstanding natural beauty."

In complete contrast to many of the other successful participents, Rhossili which is is a three-mile (4km) stretch of white sand that is set within an area designated as the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK, has only one building, perhaps explaining what sector of the market voted for it. That building is The Old Rectory, an old house dating to the 1850s which is now owned by the National Trust. Also visible at low tide is a ship wreck.

The bay has Worm's Head at one end - a small tidal island and the most westerly tip of Gower - and on the other there is the other small tidal island of Burry Holms. Trip Advisor were obviously delighted with the outcome of the poll with Emma Shaw representing the company saying "Huge congratulations to Swansea's Rhossili Bay for beating many of the most exotic beaches across the globe.”

Rhossili Bay

Travellers who visited the beaches in question had given them all “the highest levels of praise". The TripAdvisor website carries reviews of places, hotels and restaurants posted by travellers and holiday makers.

Local residents were obviously delighted, but wondered whether the success could turn out to be a two edged sword. Barbara Powell, who runs West Pilton House B&B in Rhossilli, said her guests were often astonished that an area of south Wales is so beautiful.

"I hope more people come and share it with us," she said. "I think the main appeal of Rhossili is that it's unspoilt - that's probably the most important thing. The views are stunning - Three Cliffs Bay, Worms Head, across to Llangennith... you can walk here, you can go paragliding, horse riding and fishing and surfing, of course."

Adam Short, a born and bred local who has run the Worm’s Head Hotel in Rhossili for over ten years said, “It has that perfect arched bay and it's very natural," he said. "It can also look very dramatic. You have Worm's Head on one side and Burry Holms on the other side. Of course, it's the double edged sword. On one hand, we want to keep the beach unspoilt but on the other hand we need to attract visitors to the area as that's what drives the economy."

Was it ever thus, the conundrum whereby places that trade on rugged, unspoilt scenery can generate income that only crowds can bring?