The stunning hidden gem beach in the UK with a heartbreaking history

This hidden gem in Swansea is a beach like no other – but because it’s tricky to get to, it stays peaceful and quiet.

Found in Swansea, a lively city known for its stunning coastline, one special beach stands out from the rest.

Tucked away at the bottom of a valley, this secret spot is the hardest beach to reach in the city. It can only be accessed by walking along one of three scenic footpaths.

Image credit: Photo © Nick Andrews (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Even though it takes a bit more effort to get there, visitors say the beauty and peace make it better than the city’s easier-to-reach beaches.

Pwll Du Bay is known for its huge bank of pebbles, which is surrounded by high limestone cliffs, all set in a calm and beautiful location.

Pwll Du means ‘Black Pool’ in Welsh, named after the deep pool behind the beach, where a stream filters through the pebbles before reaching the sea.

There’s a nearby gully called Graves End, marked by a circle of limestone stones. It’s said to be where several people were buried after a ship called The Caesar was wrecked nearby in 1760.

Image credit: Photo © Jeremy Bolwell (cc-by-sa/2.0)

The Caesar was a navy ship used to find and recruit sailors, but it was caught in stormy seas and crashed into the headland at Pwll Du.

Some officers survived, but about 90 men who were locked below deck didn’t make it.

There are three paths that lead to the beach – two along the coastal route from the east and west, and another through Bishopston Valley.

The coastal trails offer amazing views of the Gower’s cliffs and sea, while the valley path is like a magical woodland walk, winding through trees beside a river that flows all the way to the beach.

Remember - LeaveNoTrace!

As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!

Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.

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