Port Eynon

The village of Port Eynon in the heart of Gower is reached by a winding country road which descends sharply to a picturesque but distinctly holiday village. The name Port Eynon comes from an eleventh century prince who is said to have erected a castle here.

Port Eynon lies to the west of this large sandy bay and the village of Horton on the eastern side with plenty of sand and dunes between. See Port Eynon Bay for more information on the beach.

Port Eynon is a village that for centuries made its living from the sea - oysters (once the best in Britain) were a profitable industry until the beds were depleted in the late Nineteenth century and the Salt houses on far side of the beach at one time had their great cellars stocked with the illicit gains of piracy.

Nowadays the sea contributes in a more indirect way to the prosperity of the village and it has the feel of a place still rugged and wild but safe for children and families to enjoy and explore.

Inevitably the sea has claimed lives from the village and the striking marble statue of a lifeboat man dominates the church yard of the Sixth century church of St Cattwg. It stands to commemorate the loss of life of three members of the Port Eynon lifeboat crew in January 1916. They were returning home from assisting the Dunvegan when their boat capsized in howling gale off Pwll Du Head. Subsequently the Lifeboat station was closed and later an inshore lifeboat station was opened in nearby Horton.

St Cattwg's Church

St. Cattwg's Church

The lifeboat station is now a superbly located Youth Hostel just about as close to the sea as possible.

The village has the usual array of seaside shops offering fish and chips, fishing accessories, gifts and trinkets, a small boutique, and a surf shop.

The beach is patrolled by lifeguards during the summer and holds the Blue Flag award for water quality.

A walk past the Salt houses leads to Port Eynon Head and following the pathway will lead you to the well known but puzzling phenomena of Culver Hole.

It is a tall and narrow cave entrance which has been sealed by a brick wall which has various opening for windows. There is a flight of steps inside which connects these openings the lower opening being accessible at low tide. Legend suggests that it was a smugglers den and that a secret passage connected with the Salt houses but a more probable explanation is that doves and pigeons were housed there.

Map of Gower Site Map Contact Us