Start:
The King Arthur, Reynoldston
Finish:
The King Arthur, Reynoldston
Distance:
6 miles
Walk Length:
3 hours
Walk Difficulty:
2 (Moderate)
Parking:
Patrons parking
C0nsiderations:
Always exercise caution when crossing roads and navigating steep paths.
Begin at The King Arthur Hotel and turn right, passing Reynoldston Higher Green on your left.
Turn right again, heading along the bottom of Cefn Bryn, following the main road towards a cattle grid. Walk along the grassy verge to avoid traffic and take care around grazing animals.
Go through the metal gate at the cattle grid and cross the road to head straight down the track towards Mill Wood.
Continue along the track towards Eynon’s Ford. During springtime, enjoy the beautiful display of bluebells and delicate cow parsley.
Pass through a gate and enter the enchanting woods, keeping an eye out for the mythical Gower fairies, or Verry Volk.
Follow the path until you reach a crossroads at the bottom.
At the crossroads, a path to the left takes you to the road and a gated entrance to Penrice Estate and the bottom of Penny Hitch Lane.
Turn right to complete a 1.5-mile circular loop through ancient woodland. Explore the paths and enjoy the landscape in both frost and sunlight.
If you turn left, you will see the ruins of the mill and stew ponds that once provided fish for Penrice Castle and Estate.
The woodland offers multiple paths and options to explore, each providing a unique experience of the beautiful ancient landscape.
Take time to wander and enjoy the serene surroundings before making your way back to the starting point.
The Verry Folks, or Gower fairies, were last seen about 100 years ago. Known for their good nature and upright behavior, they never harmed anyone wrongfully and often helped those in need. Their favorite haunts are now deserted, but tales of their extraordinary frolics and merry gatherings remain.
One memorable night at the old farmhouse of Eynon’s Ford, the tenant, Mr. S., woke to see the cowstall filled with a multitude of Verry Folks, all about a foot high and dressed in scarlet and green. They danced and played to the sweet sound of a
fiddle, with some even spinning atop the ox’s horns. As the night went on, they skillfully slaughtered, skinned, and devoured the ox. Remarkably, they then reassembled the bones and covered them with the skin, leaving the ox standing as if nothing had happened—except for a small limp from a missing bone.
Fairy rings, sometimes as large as 40 feet in diameter, are also attributed to the Verry Folks. While their exact nature remains a mystery, it is considered very unlucky to disturb them. Though these stories may seem fantastical, they provide a fascinating glimpse into the rich folklore of the Gower region.
Enjoy your walk through this magical landscape, and perhaps you’ll catch a glimpse of the enchanting Verry Folks yourself.
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