Oxwich Bay on Wales' Gower Peninsula combines two-and-a-half miles of sandy beach with a Michelin-starred restaurant, a wood-fired sauna and a historic hotel. The bay is known for its sweeping sands and handy amenities, including a hotel with sea views and a beachside beer garden.
A Beach With Much to Offer
The beach is backed by sand dunes and woodland, with salt marshes further inland. The area is known for salt marsh lamb, which appears on menus around Swansea and beyond. It is suitable for swimmers and family days out, as well as watersports such as water skiing and diving.
Further down the sand, the Ty Sawna offers a bespoke wood-fired barrel sauna with views out to Oxwich Bay, allowing visitors to relax before taking a dip in the cool sea water.
Michelin-Starred Dining at The Beach House
Set at the edge of the sand, The Beach House restaurant has been at the location for 10 years in 2026 and is housed in a former coal store. Part of the Seren group and sister venue to Grove of Narberth, it gained a Michelin star in 2019. The menu, led by chef patron Hywel Griffith, blends authentic Welsh ingredients and flavours with culinary creativity. The restaurant's bara brith soufflé remains a signature dish, while Hywel's laverbread bread has achieved near-legendary status among returning diners.
Historic Hotel and Coastal Walks
Close by is the Oxwich Bay Hotel, originally built in 1788 as a rectory for Oxwich Village's St Illtyd's church. The hotel features centuries-old wood beams and ancient fireplaces, including one crafted within the trunk of a 300-year-old tree in the Chestnut Room. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner for non-guests, with Sunday lunches and high teas available. Accommodation options include historic rectory rooms, cosy cottages, garden pods and family caravans.
Several trails run around Oxwich, including the Oxwich Point loop walk, a scenic 4.3-mile (7km) trail tracing a wooded headland between Oxwich Bay and Slade. At low tide, visitors can walk across the sand towards Tor Bay and Three Cliffs Bay, but should be mindful of tide times.
