Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of carpaccio of truffled Welsh brie, pickled wild mushrooms, and caramelized walnut,
and main courses such as rib-eye of Welsh Black pedigree beef, glazed Welsh rarebit,
confit vine tomato, and duck-fat chips make the most out of local produce. The res-
taurant is cool and modern, using natural materials. It is also a
“restaurant with
guest rooms”
: There are five bedrooms, with large TVs (from £140 with breakfast).
Parkmill, Gower.
&
01792/371000.
www.maes-yr-haf.com
.
Main courses £15-£22. AE, DC, MC, V.
Tues-Sun noon-2:30pm; Tues-Sat 7-9:15pm. Follow the A4118 from Swansea.
The Welcome to Town
MODERN WELSH This “country bistro” is in a charm-
ing white-painted building in the heart of the Gower, but only 10 miles from Swan-
sea. Chef proprietor Ian Bennett, who has worked at the feted Walnut Tree near
Brecon, and for the Roux Brothers at the famed Waterside Inn in Bray, Berkshire,
comes up with dishes such as roast best end of Welsh lamb with wild garlic polenta,
glazed spring vegetables, and sauce caisson, and seared hand-dived scallops with
curry salt, braised scallions, and crispy chicken skin.
Llanrhidian, Gower.
&
01792/390015.
www.thewelcometotown.co.uk. Lunch Tues-Sat 2 courses £14,
3 courses £16; Sun 2 courses £15, 3 courses £20; dinner 2 courses £27, 3 courses £33. AE, DC, MC, V.
Tues-Sun noon-2pm; Tues-Sat 7-9:30pm. Follow the B4295 from Swansea.
Where to Stay
Fairyhill
This divine, stone-built 18th-century manor is set amid grounds with
huge lawns, woods, lake, and a fishing stream. There's a splendid lounge with log fire
and the rooms are bright, airy, and luxurious in a country style. The hotel has its own
gardens, which supply seasonal vegetables to the kitchen to go with local seafood for
dishes such as filet of Gower sea bass, green beans, crushed potatoes, laverbread, and
lovage velouté (a white sauce with herbs). Two courses are £35, 3 courses £45.
Reynoldston, Gower, Swansea SA3 1BS. www.fairyhill.net.
&
01792/390139.
Fax 01792/391358. 8 units.
£180-£280 double. Rates include breakfast. AE, MC, V. Outside Reynoldston, off the A4118 11 miles from
Swansea. No children 7 and under.
Amenities:
Restaurant; bar; room service.
In room:
TV/DVD, CD, iPod
docking station, Wi-Fi (free).
The Old Rectory
The National Trust owns large areas of land here and also a
number of cottages. The Old Rectory is the Trust at its best. It stands on a terrace
above the dreamlike expanse of Rhossili Bay with uninterrupted views of golden sand
and glorious sea all the way to Worm's Head. The main building is from 1850 with
outbuildings that are possibly medieval. Inside it is warmly luxurious thanks to wood-
burning stoves. There's a sitting room, study, dining room, big kitchen, and three
double bedrooms (one king-size), a single, and a cot. It's great for families, and the
village is only a 10-minute walk away.
Rhossili, Gower, Swansea SA3 1PL. www.nationaltrustcottages.co.uk.
&
01834/842881.
Sleeps 8.
£510-£1,436 for 3 nights (3-night minimum). AE, MC, V.
Amenities:
TV, radio, washer/drier, pay phone.
Port Eynon Youth Hostel
If this were a boutique hotel it would cost
a fortune to stay here in this beach-side setting. When the tide's in, it almost licks the
back door of this old stone lifeboat station. When it's out you can jump onto the sands
after your breakfast coffee behind the lounge's picture window. Like many Youth
Hostels it's been given a makeover with en suite facilities, and has three double
rooms, two family rooms, and a couple of small dorms.
Old Lifeboat House, Port Eynon, Swansea SA3 1NN. www.yha.org.uk.
&
0845/371-9135.
28 beds. From
£18 adults, £14 children 17 and under. Follow the hostel sign down an unpaved road behind the dunes.
AE, MC, V.
Amenities:
Lounge, common room, self-catering kitchen.
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