5 reasons why you should visit Mumbles Pier

Located near Swansea, Mumbles Pier is an 835 feet long Victorian pier built in 1898. It was originally designed as an overflow for cargo and a railway terminus. However, it soon became a popular spot for tourists arriving by boat. After WWI, it gained an RNLI post, but the whole pier fell into a state of ruin after the army commandeered it during WWII. It reopened in 1956 and is currently closed to the public again. So why should you bother to visit it? Read on to find out!

1. New and Shiny Again

After 60 years, Mumbles Pier is undergoing a massive refurbishment project. It is practically being rebuilt in full! Pencil in a visit for the 2014 summer holidays when the pier is due to officially reopen. There will be a new boathouse and slip way designed to accommodate a new fleet of lifeboats. There are also plans for fishing platforms running the length of the pier, and of course all the shops, cafes, bowling alley and amusements will be updated too!

It used to be that if you wanted to visit Swansea in style, then Mumbles Pier was the way to do it. Tourist would step off their steam paddle boats onto the pier where they could experience the world’s first passenger carrying railway. Hopefully, the anticipation surrounding the reopening can emulate the excitement experienced by tourists during the pier’s heyday. Expect celebrations!

2. Beach Life

The huge influx of piers constructed by the Victorians was in part a celebration of the Great British seaside. What is a pier without its surrounding beach? The beautifully clean sandy shores by Mumbles Pier do not disappoint! Mumbles Beach is relatively small but is very sheltered due to the rocky cliffs at either end of the shore. The beach is a great spot for families with young kids and a fantastic place for rock pooling.

3. Gower Peninsula

Mumbles Beach is not the only beauty spot as the pier is situated on the Gower Peninsula. In 1956, Gower became the first place in the United Kingdom to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The peninsula has numerous Blue Flag and Green Coast Award-winning beaches, as well as plenty of dunes, marshes, caves, valleys and woods to explore. So grab a picnic basket, strap on a pair of hiking boots and see what the area has to offer. If you are happier at sea rather than on land, the Gower Peninsula offers some of the best surf locations in Wales, with the North West side benefitting from great swells of the Atlantic Ocean. The Mumbles side of the peninsula is a great place for a day full of sailing fun.

4. History Time

Medieval churches, prehistoric standing stones, and castles litter the Gower Peninsula which has a vibrant history dating back to Palaeolithic times, approximately 250,000 BC! Explore both sides of the coin as factual history intertwines with ancient myth and legend. The nearest site of interest to Mumbles Pier is Oystermouth Castle, which dates back the early twelfth century and has a past full of attacks and wars. During the summer months, the Castle is also host to a number of theatre and live music performances.

5. The Village

The village actually has two names. Mumbles was used to name the pier and Oystermouth relates to the castle. For a small village, it has a lot to offer for tourists who have exhausted all the pier has to offer. There is a wide range of independent boutique shops selling all sorts of fashion, food and gift items. Mumbles is also a great place to eat out as fresh, locally caught fish and crab is a regular on the menu. 

So how do you get there? Mumbles is accessible by car but the traffic can be terrible during peak times. To avoid the jams, try the regular bus from Swansea centre or the Swansea Bay Rider train, which follows the same route as the first ever passenger railway. Alternatively, catch some fresh air by cycling the seafront promenade from Swansea to Mumbles. Once you arrive, the peninsula is packed full of caravan and camp site options, some of which practice sustainable green living, and all offer fantastic views in a natural setting.