Three Cliffs Bay
Distance: 9.5 miles (15km)
Start/finish: East Cliff car park (NT), Pennard, SA3 2DJ
Terrain: Cliff path, woodland trail, road
Toughness: Moderate
Ascent: 337 metres
Navigation: Easy to moderate
Good for: Coast, beach, history
Lat Long / Grid Ref of Start: 51.5669, -4.0878 / SS5539587404
Facing the coast, head L along the cliff top coast path. In 500m find the tricky scramble down to Minchin Hole bone cave, once home of many fascinating artefacts now housed in the Swansea Museum. The route outlines the Pwlldu Head; there is an option to detour down onto the beach at Pwlldu Bay before heading inland. Follow the river upstream along farm tracks, fields and through woodland, passing the villages of Kittle and Ilston. Run through the wooded limestone Ilston valley, dry in the summer but with a flowing river after heavy rain. Pass the golf course and enjoy spectacular views out across Three Cliffs Bay and towards 12th century Pennard Castle. Follow headland above the bay back to car park.
Miles Km Directions
0.0 0.0 From car park head south east along Coast Path passing Pwlldu Head, as far as Pwlldu Bay (optional detour down to beach)
2.3 3.7 Turn left, leaving Coast Path and following river north upstream to Kittle
4.5 7.2 Cross B4436 at Kittle and continue along river north for another 200m before turning left onto a footpath heading west uphill
4.8 7.8 At Kittle Hill Lane, turn right and follow north west, crossing straight over A4118 onto footpath and continuing west to reach river at Ilston Cwm
5.7 9.1 Turn left and follow woodland footpath alongside river, following this south west (downstream) and recrossing the A4118 just before Pennard Castle. Continue along river across Pennard Burrows to rejoin Coast Path at Three Cliffs Bay
8.1 13.0 Turn left onto Coast Path and follow this south east to return to car park and start
Download and print route directions (right click to download)
Download .GPX file (right click to download)
OS Map
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Open Street Map and interactive elevation profile
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