Rhossili

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Rhosilli village from the air

Rhossili Down and the beach as seen from headland

Rhossili (grid reference SS416880) is a small village and community on the southwestern tip of the Gower Peninsula^[1] near Swansea in Wales. Since the 1970s it has fallen within the boundaries of Swansea. It is in an area designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The village has a community council and is part of the Gower parliamentary constituency, and the Gower electoral ward.

1 Origin of name
2 History
3 Rhossili Bay
4 Fall Bay
5 Famous citizens
6 National Trust
7 Boating
8 Fishing
9 References
10 External links

Rhossili probably gets its name in part from the Welsh word for moorland, rhos. The second element in the name may be a reference to a St. Sulien or St. Sili, but details are not clear. Certainly the present Norman church is dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin. Inside there is a memorial to Edgar Evans who was the first to perish on the Terra Nova Expedition on the return from the South Pole.

Worm's Head with causeway exposed at low tide

View of Worm's Head from about halfway along it

There was a local tradition that there had been an earlier, pre medieval village complete with church closer to the sea which had been abandoned after "besanding" in the 14th century. A storm and subsequent excavation of newly-exposed remains in the Warren (an area of sand dunes to the north of the present village) in 1980 helped to confirm the truth of this.

Despite its relatively remote position, Rhossili is a popular tourist destination: the views from the headland and the Down are panoramic; several pleasant walks begin, end, or pass through the village; Iron Age remains are found on Rhossili Down; and the long beach attracts surfers, particularly at the Llangennith (northern) end.

The prominent wreck of the Helvetia, which ran aground on Rhossili Bay in November 1887, bears witness to the challenging weather conditions and the tales of our ancestors, who lured boats ashore to plunder their hold.

Rhossili Bay curves along an arc running northwards from the village. The sandy beach is three miles long and is backed with sand dunes. Locals refer to the beach as Llangennith Sands. Behind the beach just north of the village is Rhossili Down with the highest point on the Gower Peninsula, (the Beacon), and a number of prehistoric remains. It is between Rhossili Down and the beach proper that the Warren is found.

At the southern end of the Bay is the outcrop of rock called the Worm's Head. At the north is Burry Holms. These islands are accessible at low tide only. Also at low tide, it is possible to see the remains of several shipwrecks, wood from the wreck of the Helvetia being the most prominent when looking north from Rhossili.

Fall Bay is one of the most remote and hardest to reach beaches on the Gower. The beach is never crowded due to its remoteness. There is still some beach visible at high tide. The beach is very popular with surfers. At very low tide, it is possible to walk over from the beach to Mewslade. The beach is reachable via a path which passes Rhossili village hall. It continues over fields and many stiles and has a steep final descent. The cliff path leads east to Mewslade Bay or westwards towards the Worm's Head and Rhossili Bay.

Edgar Evans^[2] — Antarctic Explorer- a memorial tablet is to be seen in the Parish Church^[3].

The National Trust owns and protects much land on the Gower Peninsula. The Trust operates a visitor centre near the Warren, the Down, Worm's Head, Rhossili beach and coastal cliffs.

Rhossili Bay is not normally appropriate for overnight stays by visiting boats as the bay is West facing, relatively shallow and renowned as a surfing beach. It may however offer good shelter for boats in Easterly and Southerly winds - for all other wind directions it should be regarded as a no-go area. It is probably one of the few beaches that offers good shelter from Easterly winds in the Bristol Channel.

At the appropriate time of the year, the areas of both Worms Head and Burry Holms are renowned for the good Sea Bass fishing. Worms Head can be seen to attract many small leisure fishing vessels during the summer months. Fishing from the shore is extremely popular along both the north and south sides of the Loughor estuary to the west of Burry Holms.

^ A Guide to Gower, published by the Gower Society, ISBN 0-902767-23-2
^ Evans Collection
^ Rhossili Parish Church and the old Church in the Warren by Robert Lucas, published by Rhossili Parochial Church Council, 2000.