About Islandeering
Hi and welcome to Islandeering Islandeering is for people who want adventure in Britain’s wild blue spaces – our rivers, coast, lakes, canals and islands. You will find amazing walks, paddles and swims in the UK’s most special places, those recognised for outstanding natural beauty, incredible geology or special and abundant wildlife.
More About UsWe continuously find new islands, rivers, lochs, canals and coast to walk, SUP and swim in and meet plenty of great folks along the way. Join our community to get new routes and adventures, latest blogs and news by using the email box below. Tune in also to our Facebook and Instagram pages to see where we are going next.
Key Facts
- Location: Gower, Wales
- Size:
- Terrain: Scramble on rocky foreshore; easy paths on Inner Head, Devil’s Bridge, and Outer Head with rocky scrambles linking each; short, steeper scramble onto Outer Head
- Access: Tidal causeway, 2hrs either side of low tide
- Height gain: 90 metres
- Map: OS Explorer 164
- Starting point: Rhossili, NT car park, SA3 1PP. Grid ref SS 415 881
Worm’s Head marks the most westerly point of the Gower Peninsula, near Swansea. It was the first designated Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) in the UK. The island is joined to the mainland by a rocky causeway and is divided into three parts, each accessed by clambering over low-lying rocky sections. The first section is the steep-sided, 30-metre high, flat-topped Inner Head. Next is Middle Head, which is split into two by Devil’s Bridge, a spectacular natural rock arch. To reach the rocky summit of the third section, Outer Head, requires a steeper but easy scramble.
Look out for:
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- Scrambling up the spiralling Outer Head
- Exciting traverse of Devil’s Bridge rock arch
- Views of the award-winning Rhossili beach
- Listening to the blowhole on Outer Head
- Spectacular geological features
Read more about the best things to do on Worm’s Head, see our Worms Head activities tab above
Can you stay on Worm’s Head
Worm’s Head is an uninhabited island owned by the National Trust. Wild camping is not permitted in Wales unless permission is given by the landowner. The closest campsite to Worm’s Head is Pitton Cross Caravan and Camping Park https://www.pittoncross.co.uk
Food near Worm’s Head
The village of Rhossili offers a number of eating options from cafes and ice-cream parlours to a full menu at the Worm’s Head Hotel. The View Rhossili – link – https://theviewrhossili.com – is a personal favourite.
How to get to Worm’s Head Rhossili
Rhossili is situated at the southwestern tip of Gower and is a 40-50 minute drive from Swansea along narrow and often busy lanes in the summer. From Swansea, take the A4067 heading S, turn R onto the B4436 at Black Pill, keeping R at Pennard before turning L onto the A4118. At Scurlage, turn R, following the B4247 to Rhossili car park. Regular bus services from Swansea to Rhossili. (Monday–Saturday, Sunday (summer service only). Buses 118/119 (NAT) and 114 (Sundays, First Cymru). Additional services connect quieter parts of Gower with the 118 and 116 (Swansea–North Gower service). Always check the timetable first https://busimes.org/services/118-swansea-rhossili-via-killay
Worm’s Head Rhossili Tide Times
To plan the walk to Worm’s Head Rhossili aim to cross the causeway 2 hours before and after low tide. Check the Worm’s Head Tide Table for Swansea – link https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast-and-sea/tide-tables . The coastguard building on the headland just before you drop down on to the causeway to Worm’s Head usually posts the safe crossing and return times.
What to do on Worm’s Head
Walking Worm’s Head
About Islandeering
Hi and welcome to Islandeering Islandeering is for people who want adventure in Britain’s wild blue spaces – our rivers, coast, lakes, canals and islands. You will find amazing walks, paddles and swims in the UK’s most special places, those recognised for outstanding natural beauty, incredible geology or special and abundant wildlife.
More About UsWe continuously find new islands, rivers, lochs, canals and coast to walk, SUP and swim in and meet plenty of great folks along the way. Join our community to get new routes and adventures, latest blogs and news by using the email box below. Tune in also to our Facebook and Instagram pages to see where we are going next.
Key Fact
- Location: Near Swansea, Wales
- Terrain: Scramble on rocky foreshore; easy paths on Inner Head, Devil’s Bridge, and Outer Head with rocky scrambles linking each; short, steeper scramble onto Outer Head
- Access: Tidal causeway, 2 hours either side of low tide
- Height gain: 90 metres
- Map: OS Explorer 164
- Starting point: Rhossili, NT car park, SA3 iPP. Lat/Long 51.5693, -4.2885; Grid Ref. SS 415 881
Route description for the Worm’s Head Walk
More of an adventure than a walk, this route explores the many natural wonders of Worm’s Head and starts from idyllic Rhossili village. Initially following the coast path above stunning Rhossili Bay, the route crosses the rocky tidal causeway and ascends the spine of the island to reach the spiral-shaped Outer Head. From a distance this looks to be the preserve of mountaineers but the short scramble up it makes for a spectacular finale. Download the full route description for further details.
Special notes: Safe crossing 2.5 hours before and after low tide. The top of Outer Head is off limits between 1st March and 31st August owing to nesting seabirds.
- From the car park turn left (west), head through the hamlet of Rhossili, then follow the coast path for 1.2km to the coastguard station. Walk downhill past the sign with details of safe crossing times to the island. Drop down onto the beach at the lifebuoy post and find a route through the rocks and pools to the starting point of the causeway. Keep to the north side of the causeway to cross over to the island.
- Once on the island you can follow an easy path along the south coast or a steep path that ascends Inner Head for a short but thrilling ridge walk. Descend to Low Neck and scramble across the top edges of the folded rocks for a short section before reaching the grass and rock path that crosses Devil’s Bridge.
- Take the path immediately after Devil’s Bridge to keep to the spine of the island (or follow the easier south coast path). Immediately before the sign for Outer Head there is a rock window to the right.
- Just before reaching the tip of Outer Head find the fissure of the blowhole (7) to the north of the path and the cave beneath, which is only accessible from the coast. There is an easy rocky scramble to the right to reach a small plateau, then another shorter but steeper rock scramble takes you to the summit of Outer Head.
