Mumbles Head Beach
NEED TO KNOW
Type of beach
Dogs
Dogs are allowed on the beach all year round.
Lifeguard
There is no lifeguard cover at this beach.
Beach cleaning
Parking
Nearest town
Postcode
OS grid reference
What3words
ABOUT
Located on a rocky headland just under 5 miles from Swansea, Mumbles beach marks the start of the Gower Peninsula coastline. It’s only accessible when the tide is out: otherwise, the water comes right up to the sea wall.
Besides the beach is a Grade II listed Victorian pier, opened to the public in 1898 and one of only six surviving iron piers in Wales. It has an amusement arcade, a games room, and two platforms for fishing.
An RNLI lifeboat station and gift shop are situated at the head of the pier. The station was opened in 1885 and has been presented with 33 awards for gallantry. In 1947, when attempting to rescue SS Samtampa which had become stranded near Porthcawl, all eight crew members were lost when the boat was overcome by a freak wave. A memorial to the crew can be found in the churchyard of All Saints’ Church, Oystermouth.
STAR SPECIES
The beach is renowned as one of the best in the area for rock pools. Starfish, prawns, crabs, and plenty of tiny fish can all be found, particularly under the pier.
At low tide, strands of purple laver seaweed are scattered over the exposed rocks. When collected and cooked it boils down to a dark green puree known as laverbread, a local delicacy that is traditionally served with cockles and bacon as part of a Welsh breakfast.
From the beach, there are views of two tidal islets which may have given Mumbles its unusual name. Because of their shape, French sailors apparently nicknamed the islets ‘les mamelles’ meaning ‘the breasts’ from which Mumbles is derived.
WWII buildings and defences are on the nearest islet, while Mumbles Lighthouse built in 1794 sits on the outer islet. It has two tiers, and the original lights were coal-fired. The old tram track and wooden winch that carried the coal to the lighthouse can still be seen on the beach. An oil-powered lantern was installed in 1860 until electricity arrived in 1969. Solar panels were added in 1995.
At low tide, it’s possible to walk to the lighthouse but check tide times to make sure you don’t get cut off or stuck on the island. The remains of the lighthouse keeper’s cottage and an engine house can be seen too.
On top of the cliffs behind the beach is Mumbles Hill Local Nature Reserve. It has a variety of habitats including maritime heath, grassland, limestone scrub, and woodland that support hundreds of species of plants and animals. Look out for small mammals such as voles, foxes, and shrews, while bird watchers will enjoy spotting green woodpeckers, skylarks, and jays, as well as house martins, swallows, and garden warblers that come to breed.
From the reserve there are spectacular views across Swansea Bay and on a clear day it’s possible to see the coast of north Devon. There are also some remnants of WWII gun emplacements and a control bunker left on the hill.
There is a café on the pier that serves food all day. Alternatively, walk into Mumbles to find a variety of places to eat including several fish and chip shops and ice cream parlours, some of which have been owned by the same family for generations.
A car park is located by the entrance to the pier, and there are several additional car parks in the village as well as some limited roadside parking. Public toilets can also be found on the beach and in the village.
AMENITIES
