Camera Critters: Poor Starfish

Poor old starfish. No fun in the sun for him or her - I found it on the beach at Port Eynon, on the Gower Peninsula. That's one of the less pleasant aspects of living near the coast - seeing dead marine life washed ashore.


Click here if you fancy taking part in Camera Critters, hosted by Misty.

Gower Peninsula: Port Eynon Bay

Gower Peninsula: Rock pools at Langland Bay

One thing I love about living near the Gower Peninsula and its numerous bays, is being able to explore rock pools, such as the ones at Langland Bay and Rotherslade. I find the creatures who live in the rock pools fascinating, especially the pools that are only exposed at low tide.







I have no idea what the creatures who live in these shells are called, but I enjoy seeing and trying to photograph them. The slimy critters in this next image are sea anemones of some sort - I forget their name at the moment.

Gower Peninsula: Port Eynon Bay

Some more summer images from Port Eynon, on the Gower Peninsula. It was a very busy Saturday on the beach - and nice to see it being used for more than just barbecues and booze-ups.

Gower Peninsula: Dog days at Port Eynon

This fellow was certainly having fun in the sun. Here he is cooling off. He's not my dog, though - I'm not a doggy person.



This Weimeraner scared me a little when I first saw it. But it passed me without so much as a sniff or a glance.

Gower Peninsula: Ball and chain at Port Eynon

These buoys usually bob about on the surface of the ocean at Port Eynon Bay. At low tide, they lie on the beach, patiently waiting for the tide to return.

Gower Peninsula: Pink thrift near Caswell

I spotted this clump of pink thrift, Armeria maritima, growing on the cliffs near Caswell Bay. The cliffs of the Gower Peninsula are carpeted with this pretty little flower in late spring and early summer. It's also a popular garden plant, most commonly seen in rockery gardens and at the edge of borders. It grows wild on much of the coast of Britain and Europe.

Gower Peninsula: Three Cliffs Bay

Three Cliffs Bay, as viewed from Pennard cliffs, with Cefn Bryn looming on the horizon. It is one of the harder beaches to reach on the Gower Peninsula, for anyone with mobility problems. Whichever route you take to the beach, you will either have a steep descent, or will have to hop over stepping stones across a stream. Fortunately, for those unable to access the beach, there is a bench near this spot, providing fine views. Be aware, though, that it is very hard to find the bench unoccupied on a sunny day.


The Three Cliffs themselves, as viewed from Pobbles beach.

The cliffs are popular with climbers.

The natural passageway through the Three Cliffs, linking Three Cliffs beach with Pobbles beach.

Gower Peninsula: Oxwich

I took these pics three or four years ago at Oxwich, one of the Gower Peninsula's most popular locations, using my old, basic digital camera. John Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism, stayed at this cottage. It's since had a makeover, and the external woodwork is now a rather muted Wedgewood blue colour. I think I preferred the cheery red colour.

In fact, it's more or less the same blue skirting the exterior of the shop and tea rooms pictured below.

I don't remember much about this particular day, except that it was during a really warm September.

I do recall poking about in a few rock pools, before settling down on a rock at this location, to read.

I also remember being grateful for the shade of the overhanging trees, something you don't see very often on a beach.

Gower Peninsula: Fly & buttercup, Port Eynon

No, I'm afraid this isn't a pub review. There is no pub called the Fly and Buttercup anywhere on the Gower Peninsula - although I think it would be a pretty cool name for a pub. Earlier this year, I decided to try my hand at macro-photography, whilst waiting at the bus stop in Port Eynon.


Alas, it simply wasn't macro enough. Oh well, they say macro isn't mucho ...

Cottage on Port Eynon beach

Possibly one of my favourite things about the Gower Peninsula, is all the interesting old houses I come across.


I'd love to know the history of this little cottage, which is right on the beach at Port Eynon. I don't even know its name, so I can't look up any local records. I suspect it may be a holiday home. If so, what a wonderful location.

The old salthouse at Port Eynon

It's often hard to get a shot of this, without people swarming all over it.

Valerian and campanula at Langland

Red valerian on a wall on Langland Bay Road.

White valerian at Langland

This white valerian was growing on a wall alongside the tennis courts at Langland Bay.

Honeysuckle near Caswell

Honeysuckle produces one of my favourite natural scents. I hate synthetic honeysuckle fragrances, but you can't beat the real thing.

The coastal path between Caswell and Langland

Looking west across Caswell Bay, from the coastal path.



Looking east, as hardy pink sea thrift, Armeria maritima, clings to the cliff face.

Langland experiment

I took a trip to Langland and Rotherslade yesterday. As I sat on the steps just above the beach at Rotherslade, enjoying the evening sun, I realised my brown-tinted sunglasses gave everything a nice, warm hue. Reds and yellows look especially intense when I wear my shades. So I thought I'd try aiming my camera lens through the lenses of my sunglasses, in the hope of capturing the same effect.

I didn't get the intended effect. Instead, I got an old fashioned, sepia-tinted effect, with some colour leeching through. It's nothing special, but it's fun to try something new every now and again.

Paragliding at Rhossili

No, don't be daft - of course it's not me!


But someone was having fun. What a fantastic view they must have had.


If only I had the health and courage ...

Headland at Rhossili Bay

Taken from the foot of the cliffs at Rhossili, near the causeway leading to Worm's Head.



I especially like this pic, for sentimental reasons. The day it was taken marked the first time I'd been able to descend and ascend the cliff in about four years. Woohoo!

Dog days at Rotherslade

Animals seem to have so much more fun than humans. Look at this pair, frolicking in the surf at Langland.


Maybe if more humans learned how to love the simple things in life, the world might be a happier, more peaceful place.


Okay, this isn't strictly a Gower view. But I have a phobia of dogs, and was very proud of myself that day, for having got so close to a hairy, scary beastie.



Eek! The teeth on it ...

Update: Since I wrote this post, I am pleased to say that I have conquered my dog phobia, and now own a dog of my own.