Gower: UK holiday destination for 2009?

With research recently published by Post Office® warning of the costs of ‘must have' items for UK holidaymakers, it might be that ‘staycationers' will need to save money on other areas of their holidays. Travel is likely to be a big cost to some, but the Gower Peninsula in Wales is conveniently located to get to efficiently and cheaply from many parts of the UK, yet is far enough away to offer a uniquely new experience - and it is beautiful to boot.

The research published by travel insurance specialists, Post Office®, shows that in order to keep summer car journeys peaceful and stress-free, parents are set to spend hundreds of pounds on travel toys, neck pillows and iPods - leaving little money left over for the travel itself. However it is fair to say that the journey to the Gower Peninsula is anything but boring. If the kids aren't awe-struck by the three-mile long Second Severn Crossing, then they may well be impressed by the impressive southern Welsh countryside and the hard-to-pronounce town names.

The Gower was the first place in the UK to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1956. It has since become famous for its dramatic and well-kept coastline that is popular with walkers, bathers and those in search of surf. To the north of the peninsula, the village of Penclawdd is famed for its cockles that thrive in the Burry Estuary and are shipped all over Europe. As a consequence of the village's thriving food industry, Penclawdd market is award-winning and definitely worth a visit.

The most south western point on the Gower is home to the small village of Rhossili. The five kilometre long bay, known as Llangennith Sands, is an area of interest for more than just beach activities. The Beacon is the highest point on the Gower, and gives a good vantage point of the surrounding area including the dramatic Worm's Head and the number of shipwrecks visible at low tide.

To the south of the peninsula, Oxwich Bay and the adjoining Three Cliffs are known for their dramatic geology and golden sands - in fact, the latter beach was once named Britain's Best Beach by the BBC in 2006. Three Cliffs is also overlooked by Pennard Castle, a 12th Century Fort fit for exploration on your way to the beach. And to continue further east, will eventually lead you to the eighteenth largest retail centre in the UK: Swansea.

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