Oxwich Bay
Oxwich Bay is one of the finest and largest beaches on the Gower Peninsula in Swansea, a broad arc of sand stretching for approximately three miles between the limestone headland of Oxwich Point and the dunes and marshes of the Oxwich National Nature Reserve. The beach is backed by extensive sand dune systems and a freshwater marsh that together form one of the most diverse coastal habitats in Wales, supporting rare plant communities, breeding birds and a remarkable diversity of invertebrates in the transition zones between dune, marsh, woodland and sea. The National Nature Reserve designation reflects the exceptional ecological quality of the Oxwich area, which is one of the most biologically rich coastal sites in Wales. The ruined medieval Oxwich Castle above the bay adds a heritage dimension to the natural attractions, and the Gower Peninsula as a whole, as Britain's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, provides a protected coastal landscape of exceptional quality.