Gower Peninsula: Kitchen Corner, Rhossili

These two shots, taken on the Gower Peninsula, show the old Rhossili Boathouse, at a location known as Kitchen Corner. I love the almost tropical look to the water in these shots, as seaweed floats near the surface, in shallow waters.

For those not familiar with the Gower Peninsula, the island in this next shot is called Worm's Head. It's a tidal island, which is connected to the mainland by a rocky, seaweed strewn causeway, for about two and a half hours either side of low tide. Once the tide comes in, it is VERY DANGEROUS to try to swim back to the shore, and many people have died doing so. If you ever get stuck on Worm's Head, just stand facing the little hut on the cliffs on the mainland. The Coastwatch people in the hut will see you and send someone to rescue you.

Worm's Head and glittering sea

This is a shot taken with my old and very basic digital camera. Although most of the shots I took with this camera left a lot to be desired, I'm still quite fond of my early efforts. I hope my photographic skills have improved since then, even if I still don't know what half the settings on my current camera are for.

Rhossili Extra Cold

This would make a perfect advertisement for the Irish Tourist Board - if only Worm's Head was in Ireland.



God, I really fancy one of these at the moment. But I've not had my breakfast yet, so it'll have to wait.

Danger at Rhossili

Every year, sadly, lives are lost at Rhossili. Numerous injuries also occur, with countless expensive rescue operations launched by HM Coastguard, the RNLI, Air Ambulance Wales and the RAF. The majority of these incidents are avoidable. One of the first things any visitor to Rhossili sees as they go through the gate onto the cliffs, is this sign:


Couldn't be clearer, could it? A few metres away, low in the grass, sits this sign:


And in case anyone missed those two, and decides to head for Worm's Head, surely they can't fail to see this one, too?


Please heed these warnings and take care at Rhossili. Its many beauties are like sirens, luring the unsuspecting onto its rocks.

Thrifty Worm's Head

Although technically not the best shot in the world, this view of the Worm, with pink sea thrift in the foreground, is still one of my favourites from my personal Gower collection. I remember prostrating myself on a small hillock, near the cliff edge overlooking Kitchen Corner, in acute, arthritic agony, to get this shot. But it was worth it. I submitted it to the BBC Wales weekly photo gallery, and the BBC News site still uses it from time to time, especially when they publish an article about tourism in Gower.

Towards Worm's Head, Rhossili

Most shots of Worm's Head are taken from the cliffs nearest to Rhossili, or the vicinity of the old coastguard hut. I shot this one whilst walking back from Fall Bay. I think it makes a nice change.

Spooky sunset

A couple of years ago, I spotted this rather demonic cloud-face hovering over Worm's Head, at sunset.



Whilst travelling home on the bus, I spotted the same cloud demon hovering above a house and field at Llanddewi Corner.