Swansea Bay sits on the south coast of Wales, stretching from the city of Swansea around the sweeping bay towards the Gower Peninsula. It’s a brilliant base for exploring the area, with beautiful beaches, countryside, coastal walks and the vibrant seaside village of Mumbles all within easy reach. With Swansea city on one side and the spectacular Gower coastline on the other, you get a lovely mix of coast, countryside, food and culture — making it a great choice for a dog-friendly getaway. Back in October 2025 we were invited to experience just how dog-friendly the area is with a complimentary visit in collaboration with Visit Swansea Bay. Read on to see what we got up to during our stay.
Our base for the trip was Clyne Farm Centre, where we stayed in the charming Old School Room Cottage, a roomy converted schoolroom with original features, sleeping up to 8 guests, secure garden and real log fire. Set in a peaceful countryside location, it proved to be the perfect place to slow down, with plenty of space to relax after days spent exploring the coast and countryside. You are immersed in the day to day life of their working farm, with horses, sheep and the resident pigs, Acorn and Truffle! And, of course, the spaniels were very much part of the adventure. On arrival we were greeted with very impressive doggy bags which included treats, toys and ID tags that they can wear while visiting – these had the details of the farm and their number in case one of the spaniels got lost. We thought these were really lovely touches. It’s no wonder Clyne Farm Centre are proud to be recognised as a Wales Finalist 2025 for Best Self-Catering & Best Dog-Friendly Business.
Day One: Woodland Walks, Gardens and The Secret Garden
Swansea Bay is quite a drive for us from the North East so we set off early for the 5 hour journey and headed straight to our first location ‘Penllergare Valley Woods‘, a beautiful historic estate with woodland walks, a waterfall and plenty of opportunities for exploring. It was an ideal first outing for the spaniels, with lots to sniff and investigate while we enjoyed the peaceful surroundings. We also had a lovely lunch at their dog friendly visitor centre. They also offer guided walks so you can learn more about the estate and it’s history.
Of course, we couldn’t visit Swansea Bay without spending some time on the beach itself. Swansea Bay Beach was a real hit with us and the dogs, with its huge stretch of sandy shoreline giving the spaniels plenty of space to run, sniff and explore. It was lovely to have somewhere so open and accessible where we could simply let them enjoy being dogs, while we took in the views across the bay.
From there, we made our way to Clyne Gardens. A beautiful, botanical gardens located only 5 minutes away from our accommodation. As we visited in autumn the colours were beautiful. The spaniels loved exploring the winding paths and we really enjoyed looking for the interesting features like the Tower Folley. Definitely a place we would visit again and is very popular with dog walkers and families alike. The park is known for its large collection of Rhododendrons so would be just as impressive in the spring/summer months.
On our first evening we ate at The Secret Bar & Kitchen After a day of walking, there is nothing quite like sitting down for good food — especially when you can do it without having to worry about leaving your dog behind. Dogs are welcome inside and we enjoyed a delicious Sunday lunch followed by incredible desserts. Their food is prepared fresh daily and all produce is sourced locally and it can all be enjoyed right on the beach front with the most perfect views.
Day Two: Rhossili Bay and Worm’s Head
The following morning started particularly well. Waiting for us at the Old School Room Cottage was a delicious breakfast hamper, which meant we could enjoy a hearty breakfast before heading out for a full day of exploring.
Our destination was Rhossili Bay, and this was where the trip really began to feel like a proper Welsh coastal adventure. After parking in the National Trust carpark, we set off on the coastal walk towards Worm’s Head, taking in the spectacular views along the way. The landscape here is breathtaking — dramatic cliffs, sweeping coastline and that feeling of being completely immersed in the outdoors. Rhossili Bay beach has been voted number one on numerous occasions and it is easy to see why after visiting! A highlight for me was the wild ponies, seeing them roaming across the landscape was one of those moments that made us stop and simply take it all in. For a dog-friendly trip, it was also a reminder that enjoying the countryside comes with responsibility — keeping dogs under control around livestock and wildlife is so important. After our walk, we headed to The View Rhossili for lunch. The name really does say it all. With the incredible landscape around us, we enjoyed a delicious freshly prepared lunch and the spaniels tucked into sausages. 10 out of 10 for dog-friendliness.
From Rhossili, we headed back towards Mumbles, and the atmosphere couldn’t have been more different. Where Rhosilli had given us wild, open landscapes and rugged coastline, Mumbles felt vibrant, stylish and almost cosmopolitan. We wandered around Oystermouth Castle, stopped for a famous Italian Joe’s Ice Cream, and enjoyed a drink while taking in the atmosphere. It was a lovely contrast to the morning’s coastal walk and another example of how much variety there is around Swansea Bay. You can spend the morning walking through some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in Wales and, not long afterwards, be enjoying ice cream and a drink in the lively surroundings of Mumbles.
By the evening, we’d certainly earned another good meal. We headed to The New Gower Hotel, where the atmosphere was much more elegant. After a day of walking, exploring and indulging in ice cream, it felt rather lovely to dress the day up with a sophisticated dinner at the hotel’s Monroe restaurant. Again the food was delicious and all freshly prepared using local ingredients. The spaniels were extremely welcome and the staff loved making a fuss of them.
After a busy day exploring Swansea Bay, there was something wonderfully cosy about returning to our own little cottage, lighting the fire and relaxing — and having the spaniels curled up with us made it even better.
Checking Out — But Already Planning Our Return.
The next morning it was time to check out, bringing our two-night Swansea Bay escape to an end. In just a couple of days we’d managed to experience woodland walks, gardens, spectacular coastal scenery, wild ponies, great food, ice cream, drinks, elegant dining and the buzz of Mumbles — all while bringing the spaniels along for the adventure. We’d say Swansea Bay is the perfect destination for a dog-friendly holiday, with plenty to see, do and enjoy together.
Spaniels By The Sea 