Tucked away in one of the most Westerly corners of Wales lies a stunning peninsula, a floating mirage of an island surrounded by lapping, sparkling blue waters.
Worm’s Head in Swansea is a peninsula which is the very furthest west point of the Gower Peninsula, an unexpectedly beautiful stretch of south Welsh coastline which takes in the stunning Mumbles and the best beach in Britain too, Rhossili Bay.
But visitors to Worm’s Head are taking their lives into their own hands. That’s because the Peninsula is only accessible for just two and a half hours during low tide, with staff on hand to stop people trying to cross the land between the beach and the island if there isn’t enough time left to get there and back safely.
The Inner Head of the peninsula is just 200 yards side, and is only accessible on foot for the very short time each day. Any other time of day, the area is flooded and access is denied.
The famed poet Dylan Thomas once spent the night trapped on the island due to the changing tides, and later described it as ‘the very promontory of depression’ as a result.
Visitors to this day are still caught out by the tides, despite warning signs and staff. As recently as September 2020, seven Swansea university students were rescued by the RNLI after becoming stranded.
If you can manage it though, the rewards are rich, with some stunning waters and gorgeous views of the entire Gower coastline.
Advice issued to tourists by the BBC says: “This walk can be a race against the tide, so it is vital that you check the tide times before setting out on your walk.
“If you do get caught out – don’t try to swim back, wait for help to come to you.”
Nearby, Whitford lighthouse is the last stop on the walk and takes about 20 minutes to get across to the lighthouse. As with Worm’s Head, it is important to time your walk right, as you will have to deal with same dangerous tides.
But if you can manage the risks, this hidden gem on the Welsh coast is well worth the visit.