Wild swimming adventure: Broughton Bay + the Blue Pool, Gower Peninsula
If you’re after a quiet, scenic spot for wild swimming, Broughton Bay with it’s Blue Pool on the Gower Peninsula in South Wales is well worth the trip. With clear waters, great views, and a peaceful beach, it’s a great choice for a day out—especially if you plan ahead and time your visit for low tide.
Getting there + parking
There is a free car park next to Broughton Farm Caravan Park (postcode: SA3 1JP). It’s a big, well-kept space and was easy to find. One bonus we weren’t expecting was the great children’s playground too, which we made the most of after the walk - it’s amazing how excited we get about finding good playgrounds these days!
Views from the coastal path looking over the left, larger part of Broughton Bay
The Walk to the Blue Pool
The path starts by walking through the caravan site—just follow the signs for Broughton Bay and the Blue Pool. It’s about 1.5 miles each way, and while most of the route is fairly easy, you’ll want decent shoes as it gets steep and uneven towards the end.
The views from the top before you head down to the beach are brilliant—you get a proper look over the bay and out to sea. The final stretch is quite a steep, grassy slope with sandy paths and dunes, so take your time, especially if you're with kids or if it’s been raining. At the bottom, you reach the wide open beach at Broughton Bay. The Blue Pool is tucked off to the right of the bay in the rocks.
Head left through the caravan site
Coastal path views
Right, smaller part of Broughton Bay
First glimpse of the sea pool
Swimming in the Blue Pool
The Blue Pool is a natural tidal pool that fills with seawater. You need to visit at low tide—otherwise, it’s either underwater or not safe to reach. We checked the tide times in advance, which we definitely recommend doing before you set off.
When we went, it was really quiet—just a few other people on the whole beach. The water in the pool was clear and great for swimming or jumping off the rocks around it.
A few safety tips:
Check tide times before you go (there are plenty of apps or websites for that).
Leave enough time to get back before the tide comes in.
Wear good footwear for the walk.
Keep an eye on the sea—this area changes a lot with the tide.
The beach
The beach at Broughton Bay is huge, especially at low tide, with loads of space to spread out and explore. The Blue Pool itself is off to the left, around the headland – it’s a separate little cove often referred to as Blue Pool Bay. It feels quite hidden compared to the main stretch of beach and because you have to access it via the coastal path on the cliffs this adds to the adventure.
There are plenty of rocky features, including small caves and ledges that are perfect for kids to play in or to grab a bit of shade on hot days. When we visited, the water was calm and crystal clear, great for paddling and swimming. But being a natural spot, the conditions can change quickly, so it’s always worth checking the forecast and tides before you go.
Circular walk back
Instead of heading back the same way, we took a looping route back through the dunes and higher footpaths. It was not as pretty as the walk there but added a bit of variety and length to our adventure with a sleeping toddler in the backpack. It might be worth checking out the route ahead of time as the path was not that clear so we made it up in places.
Time at the park
After the walk, we spent a while at the children’s playground next to the car park, which was a great way to finish the day. It’s well-kept with loads for kids to climb, swing, and slide on and benches dotted around for parents and picnics. Whilst closed when we visited, there appears to be a crepe van for refreshments open at certain times of the year.
Final thoughts
This was a brilliant wild swimming adventure—peaceful, scenic, and not busy at all when we went. The swim itself was the highlight and better than expected, but the walk, the beach and scenery made it a proper day out.
If you're planning to visit, just make sure to time it with the low tide, wear sturdy shoes, and bring everything you need with you. It’s a beautiful spot and well worth the effort to get there just keep an eye on what the sea is doing and stay safe!
Tide coming in as we climbed back up the rocks to leave
