Park Wood, near Swansea

Welcome

Park Wood is on Gower, just nine miles from Swansea, and was once a medieval deer park of the de Breos, Lords of Gower.

It has several nationally important archaeological sites including a Neolithic burial chamber, caves and lime kilns.

Park Wood is made up of majestic oak, ash and conifer trees and has some of the oldest plantations in South Wales (the oak, ash and sycamore were planted in 1851).

The woodland is home to buzzards, woodpeckers, nuthatch, lesser and greater horseshoe bats and a wealth of other wildlife.

Visiting Park Wood

There is a welcome panel in the car park with a map and information about what to see.

Follow the wide gravelled forest road to reach the archaeological features – each one has an information panel nearby including:

• Long Cairn where archaeologists have discovered the remains of up to 40 men, women and children.
• Cathole Cave, a natural feature in the limestone with an entrance over 15 metres high.
• The lime kiln which was built in the mid 19th century to produce lime for improving the land and for use in mortar.

The picnic area is at the car park entrance and there is a bench along the forest road.

The network of footpaths leads through the woodland and further afield if you would like a longer walk.

Gower Way

The Gower Way goes through Park Wood – look out for the waymarkers.

This long distance route runs 35 miles (56 kilometres) from Rhossili at the extreme south-west of the Gower Peninsula, through to Penlle'r Castell in upland Mawr.

For more information go to the Long Distance Walkers Association website.

Gower Heritage Centre

The Gower Heritage Centre is located on the A4118, ½ mile from Park Wood.

This rural life museum is based around a working 12th century watermill and has a tea room.

For more information go to the Gower Heritage Centre website.

Visiting safely

We want you to return home safely after your visit here.

You are responsible for your own safety as well as the safety of any children and animals with you during your visit.

For advice and tips to help you plan your visit here go to Visiting our places safely.

Horse riding

You need a permit to horse ride in Park Wood.

Changes to visitor facilities

See the top of this webpage for details of any planned closures or other changes to visitor facilities here.

For your safety, always follow instructions from staff and signs including those for trail diversions or closures.

We may divert or close trails whilst we undertake maintenance work or other operations and we may need to close other visitor facilities temporarily.

In extreme weather, we may close facilities at short notice due to the risk of injury to visitors and staff.

Organising an event on our land

You may need permission from us to organise an event or to carry out some activities on our land.

Check if you are allowed to use our land.

How to get here

We recommend you follow these directions or use the Google map below which has a pin on this place’s location.

Park Wood is 9 miles west of Swansea.

Take the A4118 from Swansea towards Gower and Port Enyon.

Go through the village of Parkmill and after ⅓ mile turn right, following the brown and white signs to Parc Le Breos.

Continue along this minor road for ½ mile and the car park is on the left.

The Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for the car park is SS 538 896 (Explorer Map 164).

The postcode is SA3 2HA. Please note that this postcode covers a wide area and will not take you directly to the entrance.

View this place on the What3Words website.

Public transport

The nearest mainline railway station is in Gowerton.

For details of public transport go to the Traveline Cymru website.

Parking

Parking is free of charge.

Overnight parking is not permitted.

Contact details

There are no staff at this location.

Contact our customer team for general enquiries during office hours, Monday to Friday.