Living and learning in Swansea

About Swansea Bay

Swansea Bay has long been known for its breathtaking natural beauty: miles and miles of beautiful sandy coastline, dramatic cliffs, coastal paths and endless sea views….whether bathed in glorious sunshine, wild and windswept or wintry crisp…whatever the weather, Swansea Bay really does jaw dropping coastline to perfection.

And it’s not just those lucky enough to live and work here who think so – the area has been lavished with awards and recognition for its wonderful bays and beaches… including those that recognise more than simply the excellent water quality here.

In 2007, the awesome scenery at Three Cliffs Bay in Gower reached the finals of ITV’s Britain’s Best View, whilst Worms Head at Rhossili has been voted as “the most romantic place to see a sunset in the UK”. 

Facts & Figures

• Swansea Bay incorporates Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Neath Port Talbot and accounts for 15% of Wales’ total land area and with around 545,000 residents, over 18% of the total Welsh population. 
• Swansea is Wales’ second largest city with an urban population of approximately 170,000.
• Around 1.5 million people live within one hour’s drive of Swansea.
• Swansea has its own five-mile sandy beach, just a 10 minute stroll from the city centre
• Gower Peninsula, Britain's first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), boasts 32 miles of stunning coast with over 50 named beaches and coves many of which have been voted among the best beaches in Britain by BBC Holiday, The Independent and Country Life Magazine
• Swansea’s Golden Anchor and Blue Flag Marina with 410 berths is the largest in Wales.
• Swansea Bay boasts seven Blue Flag beaches and has some of the cleanest waters in the UK, to enjoy surfing, sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and all other water-based activities.
• The LC, Swansea’s £32 million leisure centre, opened in March 2008, is Wales' biggest indoor waterpark and includes the standing surf rider (surfing indoors!).
• Afan Forest Park’s 60 miles of singletrack mountain bike heaven, featured in What Mountain Bike Guide magazine’s ‘top 20 UK mountain biking descents’ as well as being the only UK trail in their “Ten best places to ride before you die” list.  
• The UK’s newest National Hunt Racecourse, Ffos Las, opened in Trimsaran near Llanelli in June 2009.
• Swansea is home to the 50m Olympic-sized Wales National Swimming Pool
• Worm's Head at Rhossili, Gower, a one-mile promontory, is reputed to be the seventh most photographed sunset in the world.
• There are more than 25 golf courses and numerous 9-hole courses as well as golf ranges, pitch and putt and even crazy golf.
• Swansea is home to the Dylan Thomas International Literary Award

How to get to Swansea Bay

Click here for directions from the Bay of Life website

With its connections to the wider transport network, Swansea Bay is strategically located to access to the UK, Europe and beyond.

Road
Motorways provide excellent links to and from Swansea Bay: London and the South East are via the M4, the Midlands and the North via the M50, M5 and M6. Swansea is also part of the national coach network with direct express services to Central London, Gatwick and Heathrow airports and other parts of the UK.

Rail
Regional and national rail network services are available via Swansea to all main destinations within the UK. Two passenger services an hour operate between Swansea and London Paddington with regular services to the Midlands, the North and West Wales. There are also fast air/rail links to Swansea from London (Gatwick and Heathrow), Bristol and Cardiff International Airports.

Air
Cardiff International Airport is less than an hour’s drive from Swansea along the M4 and offers access to a wide and growing range of domestic, European and world destinations.

Sea

In 2010 the Fastnet company relaunched the Swansea to Cork Ferry.

A foor passenger ferry link between Swansea and Ilfracombe in Devon is planned to open in 2010. Click here for more details.

Sailings also operate between Rosslare and Fishguard or Pembroke Dock – both a 90 minute drive west of Swansea city.

 

Photo credits:

• Three Cliffs Bay: Chris West
• Proms in the Park: Swansea Bay Futures
• Swansea Marina: Swansea Bay Futures