Page 285 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)
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                                                      St Davids St Davids Cathedral
          you’ll be stuck behind a slow-  Head, a dragon-shaped   lords were given author-
          moving campervan or tractor at   promontory which turns   ity and a large degree of
          some point along the way.  into an island at high   autonomy to subjugate
                             tide and is home to seals   the Welsh in the south
          TRIP HIGHLIGHT     and a variety of sea birds.  and along the English
          4 Rhossili         It’s safe to explore it on   border. The cute little
                             foot for 2½ hours either
                                                Carmarthenshire town of
          It can be dangerous for   side of low tide, but keep   Kidwelly has a particular-
          swimmers but the three   an eye on the time and   ly well-preserved example.
          miles of surf-battered   mind you don’t get cut off   Originally erected in
          golden sands of Rhossili   by the incoming tide.  1106, only 40 years after
          Bay make it the Gower                 the Norman invasion of
          Peninsula’s most dramatic  5 p289     England, Kidwelly Castle
          and spectacular beach.   The Drive » It’s only 31 miles   (Cadw; www.cadw.gov.wales;
          Surfers tend to congregate   from Rhossili to Kidwelly, but   Castle Rd, Kidwelly; adult/child
          at the village of Llangen-  allow an hour as the narrow   £4/3; h9.30am-5pm Mar-Oct,
          nith near the north end   lanes leading out from the   10am-4pm Nov-Feb) got its
          of the beach, but Rhossili   Gower Peninsula will slow you   current configuration of
          village to the south makes   down. The first part of the   imposing stone walls in
          for a better casual stop.   journey zigzags along tiny lanes   the 13th century. Wander
          There’s a National Trust   to the peninsula’s northern   around and explore its
                             edge. Before and after motoring
          visitor centre (%01792-  through the scraggly outskirts   remaining towers and
          390707; www.nationaltrust.org.  of Llanelli, it’s a pleasantly rural   battlements, or just stop
          uk/gower; Coastguard Cottages,   drive.  by to take a photo of the
          Rhossili; h10.30am-4pm)               grey walls looming above
          here, and the excellent               the peaceful river far
          Bay Bistro & Coffee House   5 Kidwelly  below.
          (p289), if you’re after a   Castles are a dime a
          meal or a snack.   dozen in this part of   The Drive » From Kidwelly,
           This end of the beach   Wales – a legacy of a time   take the A484 north for 10
          is abutted by Worms   when Norman ‘Marcher’   miles through the green fields
                                                of Carmarthenshire. Eventually

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