Paviland Cave Walk

4.2 miles (6.8 km)

This coastal walk from Rhossili explores the dramatic western end of the Gower Peninsula, leading towards Paviland Cave along clifftop paths with wide views over Rhossili Bay and the open waters of the Bristol Channel.
The route passes through open grassland and rugged limestone cliffs, with Rhossili’s long sandy beach gradually falling away behind as the coastline becomes more broken and exposed. The scenery here is among the most striking on the Gower, with steep drops to rocky shores and sweeping views towards Worm’s Head and across to the Carmarthen Bay coastline on clear days.
Paviland Cave lies set high in the limestone cliffs above the beach at Paviland, overlooking the sea.... Although not always directly accessible, the cave can be viewed from the surrounding paths and from the beach below at low tide. It is one of the most important prehistoric sites in Britain, made famous by the discovery in 1823 of human remains by the Reverend William Buckland. The burial, later known as the “Red Lady of Paviland”, was found stained with red ochre and accompanied by artefacts including ivory rods and shell beads. Modern dating has shown the remains to belong to a young man who lived around 26,000 years ago, making it the oldest known ceremonial burial in Western Europe.
The return from the cave area continues along the clifftops, where the sense of exposure and scale is heightened by uninterrupted sea views and the sound of waves far below. The landscape is largely open, with short turf and coastal plants clinging to the thin soils, and seabirds frequently visible along the cliffs. This walk combines exceptional coastal scenery with a site of international archaeological importance, making it one of the most historically significant walks on the Gower Peninsula.