Here’s a riddle: when is a worm not a worm?
Answer: When it’s a beautiful bit of coastal scenery in Wales, of course!
In April, I went to Wales to my nephew’s first birthday party. You can read about the cottage I stayed in in this post here.
I had a spare day to explore the area, so I went to see Worms Head, the most westerly point of the Gower Peninsula. Read on to learn about Worms head accessibility to wheelchair users.
Worms Head
Worms Head, which I think looks more like a slug, is a strip of land just off the coast next to the village of Rhossili.
In the past, it was probably connected directly to the mainland, but the link has since eroded away, leaving only “the worm” above water. It can be accessed by walking over a causeway at low tide, but only for two hours a day, so you must be careful not to get stuck there.
The poet, Dylan Thomas, apparently got stuck on it overnight once after getting caught out by the tide.
Despite being unable to get onto the worm, the area leading up to it is very accessible for wheelchair users. I managed to get all the way along the coast to the lookout station, which overlooks the worm.
There is a car park opposite the Worm’s Head Hotel, which was our starting point. From the car park, a path runs about half a mile all the way along the coast until you reach the westernmost tip of land. From here, you can see the worm/slug lying in the sea just off the coast.
Worms Head Accessibility
The path is compacted gravel, so I found it a bit bumpy when driving over. In fact, driving on the grass was a smoother ride as long as I watched out for the hidden dips and slopes.
I could easily drive most of the way there on the grass surrounding the path, which was great. There are large grass expanses with vegetation patches all along the coast. Sometimes, grass can be bumpy when driving over, but I was pleased to find that was not the case here. Wheelchair users should have no problem admiring the views along the cliff tops.
Rhosili Bay lies just next to the cliffs, and you can get stunning views over the three-mile-long beach. From Up on the cliffs, people look like ants wandering over the sand.
Next to the car park is a nice accessible pub. I went there to have lunch after seeing the worm, which was very pleasant. If it were less windy and chilly that day, I would have sat outside to admire the views.
Ponies graze on the grass near the cliffs, and you can walk amongst them. I didn’t get too close because I didn’t want to startle them, but they didn’t seem to mind me sitting nearby.
Conclusion
Worms Head is a beautiful and accessible place to enjoy nature. If you ever find yourself on the Gower Peninsula in Wales, then I definitely recommend coming here to see the stunning views for yourself.
