Three Cliffs Bay, a stunning beach on the Gower Peninsula in Wales, has been named one of the UK's best beaches by The Sunday Times, but its claim to fame extends beyond golden sands and limestone cliffs. The beach has served as a backdrop for major television productions, including the acclaimed BBC drama The Night Manager and Netflix's The Witcher.
Award-Winning Beach
The Sunday Times travel writer Chris Haslam visited 607 beaches in five weeks to compile the list of the UK's 50 best beaches. Eight Welsh beaches made the cut, with Broad Haven South in Pembrokeshire taking the top spot for Wales. Three Cliffs Bay, however, has been a recurring favourite on the list, praised for its "sheer, staggering magnificence."
Haslam wrote: "It's a long walk down from the free car park at Penmaen, but for the sheer, staggering magnificence of the place you must see Three Cliffs Bay at least once in your lifetime." He added: "You could wander the world for a lifetime, as I have, in search of another beach of such elemental beauty, but don't bet on finding one."
Filming Location for Hit Shows
Three Cliffs Bay appears in episode two of season two of The Night Manager, starring Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie. In the scene, Hiddleston's character Jonathan Pine meets allies at a cottage overlooking the beach. Wales Screen confirmed the location in a LinkedIn post: "We were pleased to assist the production with sourcing local location marshals for a couple of days of filming on the Gower - always good to see this stunning area showcased on screen."
The beach also featured in The Witcher Season 3, Episode 6 during a fight scene between Geralt and Vilgefortz, and in BritBox's Why Didn't They Ask Evans?, where it served as the fictional Welsh seaside town of Marchbolt.
Visitor Information
Three Cliffs Bay is open year-round and is about an 80-minute drive from Cardiff. The closest parking is at Cefn Bryn car park, with a 15-minute walk to the bay. Gower Heritage Centre also offers parking with a longer walk via Pennard Pill. The beach has golden sands, sand dunes, and the meandering Pennard Pill river, but strong rip currents and fast tides make sea swimming unsafe.
For overnight stays, Three Cliffs Bay campsite is Swansea Bay and Gower's only Visit Wales 5-star family campsite, described by The Sunday Times as having "the best beach view in the country." The site offers pitches and luxury yurts that sleep up to five people and are dog-friendly.
Nearby Accommodation
In nearby Swansea, Morgans Hotel is a 42-bedroom boutique hotel that won the Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice 2024 award. It is housed in a Grade II listed building and features a stylish bar-lounge, champagne bar, and events space. Oakland House in the Mumbles is a 5-star Victorian townhouse holiday rental that sleeps up to six guests.
