#porteynon — Public Fediverse posts
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GOWER: Only four locals took part last year — can Swansea’s own backyard event tempt more to take the plunge this June?
Hundreds of athletes will descend on Gower on 20 June for the third Gritty Rascals Swimrun Gower — an endurance event that takes competitors on a continuous journey of running and open-water swimming along one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline in Britain.
And yet last year, only four people from the local area entered — meaning the vast majority of those experiencing the Gower coast from the water and the clifftops were travelling from elsewhere in the UK or further afield.
Organisers are hoping to change that. “We have competitors travel from across the UK and Europe to compete and this year we’re keen to welcome more local athletes to enter,” said Gary Pavitt, founder of Gritty Rascals Events.
Competitors run along a Gower beach during the Gritty Rascals Swimrun event. (Image: Gritty Rascals Events)Unlike a triathlon, swimrun involves no transition. Competitors run in their wetsuits and swim in their trainers, alternating between cross-country running and open-water swimming throughout the entire race — without changing kit.
This year’s event offers three course lengths. The Sprint Course (12km) is aimed at first-timers and newcomers to the sport. The Gritty Course (21km) offers a half-marathon equivalent for those wanting a stiff challenge.
The Full Course (41km) — starting at Rhossili Bay and finishing in Mumbles — is the ultimate test, and has this year been designated an ÖTILLÖ Merit Race, allowing competitors to earn global ranking points towards the Swimrun World Championships.
Competitors pause on the rocky shoreline near Mumbles lighthouse during the Gritty Rascals Swimrun Gower. (Image: Gritty Rascals Events)The Full Course takes competitors on a route most locals will recognise stretch by stretch — a technical swim from Tears Point to Mewslade Bay, cliff top running to Port Eynon, a crossing of Port Eynon Bay, then on through Oxwich, around Tor Point, into Pwll Du, across to Brandy Cove, Caswell Bay, Langland Bay and Rotherslade before a final climb up Mumbles Hill to the finish line.
Competitor Stacey Bramhall, who is also involved in promoting the event, said the experience of seeing Gower from both the coastal path and the water was unlike anything else.
“There is honestly nothing quite like the perspective of seeing Gower’s beauty from the coast path and the water,” she said. “The sense of achievement when you finish the race makes it all 100% worth doing.”
A competitor swims underwater during the Gritty Rascals Swimrun Gower event, still wearing their race vest and goggles. (Image: Gritty Rascals Events)For those nervous about the swimming sections, the organisers point to an extensive water safety team who are in the water throughout. “We have a huge support team who are in the water for every stroke to support swimmers whether it’s their first swimrun or fifth,” said Pavitt.
Transport to the start lines is provided, with all courses finishing back in Mumbles. The event hub, registration and finish line are all based there, giving spectators a base for the day.
The Gritty Rascals Swimrun Gower takes place on Saturday 20 June 2026. Registration is open now at grittyrascals.com.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Gower news from Swansea Bay News
The latest stories from Gower and the surrounding area.Mumbles news from Swansea Bay News
#BrandyCove #CaswellBay #funRun #Gower #GrittyRascals #LanglandBay #Mumbles #MumblesHill #Oxwich #PortEynon #PwllDu #RhossiliBay #Rotherslade #SwimRun #TorPoint
All our latest coverage from Mumbles. -
SWANSEA: Four of Swansea’s beaches once again fly the Blue Flag — as the city’s marina picks up the award too
Swansea has once again proved it is home to some of the finest coastal locations not just in Wales, but in the world — with four of its beaches and marina picking up prestigious awards from environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy.
Caswell Bay, Langland Bay and Port Eynon — all on the Gower peninsula — have retained their Blue Flag status for another year.
Swansea Marina has also held onto its Blue Flag — one of just 20 sites across Wales to achieve the accolade in 2026.
Swansea Marina and the waterfront, showing homes, businesses and the National Waterfront Museum set against the city and bay.
(Image: Swansea Council)The Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised coastal awards. It’s not just about clean water — beaches and marinas must meet tough criteria covering amenities, sustainable tourism, environmental education, safety, accessibility and site management.
Bracelet Bay, on Mumbles Head, has also retained its Green Coast Award — one of 15 across Wales. The Green Coast Award celebrates hidden gems of the Welsh coastline, commending Bracelet Bay for its stunning scenery, rich coastal heritage and excellent water quality.
A total of 48 beaches across Wales were recognised in the 2026 Wales Coast Awards — the most coveted annual recognition of coastal quality in the country.
Bracelet Bay (Image: Visit Swansea Bay)The Blue Flag awards are presented by the Foundation for Environmental Education and are recognised globally as a symbol of quality — a guarantee to visitors that a beach or marina is clean, safe and well managed.
Owen Derbyshire, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said Swansea had once again shown it was home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
“We’re delighted to see this recognised in the 2026 Wales Coast Awards, which are a fantastic celebration of Wales’ beautiful and diverse coastline,” he said.
He added: “These awards recognise high and consistent standards and we would like to thank staff, volunteers and everyone else at sites across Wales who work so hard to protect and preserve our natural landscape in the face of increasingly challenging circumstances.”
He added that seeing the Blue Flag flying gave visitors confidence. “All of these places are beautiful but seeing that flag flying means visitors can be assured that they are clean, safe and well-managed with excellent facilities too.”
The awards have been managed by Keep Wales Tidy for more than 20 years and require beaches to meet and maintain the highest environmental standards, including tough water quality targets, year after year.
The awards are entirely voluntary — a testament to the huge effort of the staff and volunteers who maintain these sites to the highest standards.
Also picking up Seaside Awards in Wales this year was Aberavon in Neath Port Talbot — a UK-only award recognising clean, attractive and well-managed beaches with a good standard of facilities and water quality.
A full list of award recipients can be found at keepwalestidy.cymru.
More on Swansea’s beaches
Four Swansea beaches named among Wales’ best in the Wales Coast Awards
Last year’s awards — when the same beaches picked up their Blue Flag status.Beaches in Swansea getting ready for summer with Blue Flag awards
How the Blue Flag beaches prepare to welcome visitors each year.Three Gower beaches retain Blue Flag status
A look back at an earlier round of awards for Caswell, Langland and Port Eynon.Port Eynon: Blue Flag beach joins smoke-free campaign
#BlueFlag #CaswellBay #Gower #KeepWalesTidy #LanglandBay #PortEynon #SwanseaMarina
How Port Eynon has gone above and beyond to protect its award-winning status. -
Gower named one of the best places on Earth to stargaze as dark‑sky status confirmed
The announcement lands just ahead of Welsh Dark Skies Week (13–22 February 2026) and marks a major moment for the region, with Gower now joining a global network of protected night‑sky locations.
A coastline where the Milky Way still shines
With some of the clearest, least light‑polluted skies in Wales, Gower is now being hailed as one of the country’s most spectacular places to watch the night sky. On the darkest nights, stargazers can see the Milky Way stretching over the waves — a sight that’s vanished from most of Europe and the US, where 99% of people now live under light‑polluted skies, according to DarkSky International.
The new status means Gower is officially recognised as a landscape where the night sky is protected, celebrated and accessible — whether you’re a seasoned astronomer or someone who’s never pointed a telescope at the sky before.
And it’s not just stars. In summer, beaches like Caswell, Three Cliffs and Port Eynon glow with bioluminescent plankton, creating surreal, neon‑blue shorelines that draw photographers and night‑time walkers from across the UK.
A major milestone for Swansea Bay
The accreditation was awarded by DarkSky International, the global authority on night‑sky conservation. It follows years of partnership work between Swansea Council, Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales, the Gower Society and local communities.
Every street light on Gower has now been retrofitted with dark‑sky‑friendly LED lanterns, and new developments must follow strict lighting rules to protect the night environment.
The move puts Swansea Bay firmly on the map for astro‑tourism — a growing sector that brings visitors in outside the traditional summer season.
Where to find the darkest skies in Swansea Bay
Gower’s landscapes offer a mix of easy‑access viewpoints and remote, wild locations where the night sky feels almost untouched.
Port Eynon
A wide, open bay with huge skies and uninterrupted views across the Bristol Channel.Three Cliffs Bay
A dramatic, secluded spot where stargazers can watch constellations rise over the tidal estuary.Oxwich
Easy to reach, with facilities nearby — ideal for families and first‑timers.Rhossili Bay
One of the UK’s most famous coastal viewpoints by day; by night, a vast stage for meteor showers.Cefn Bryn
Gower’s sandstone ridge offering 360‑degree views and some of the clearest skies in Wales.A growing draw for visitors
Visit Swansea Bay says the new status strengthens the region’s reputation as a year‑round destination, already attracting more than 4.6 million visitors a year to its beaches, countryside, attractions and food scene.
The organisation works with more than 260 local tourism businesses and says dark‑sky tourism is becoming a major part of the region’s appeal.
#astroTourism #CefnBryn #DarkSkies #DarkSkyCommunity #DarkSkyInternational #Gower #GowerSociety #KingArthurSStone #LEDStreetLight #NaturalResourcesWales #OxwichBay #PortEynon #RhossiliBay #Stargazing #SwanseaCouncil #ThreeCliffsBay #VisitSwanseaBay