About Us

DUNVANT AND US

A little background


 

Our family lived in South Wales for nineteen years, firstly in Killay and then in Dunvant.  We came to know and love the area around the Gower Peninsula after moving here for work. Both our boys were born in Swansea – so are proper Swansea Jacks. They lived their young lives at Gower Edge until we had to move away for work in 2005. We hope one day that we will be able to return and we are running our house as a holiday let in the interim. We would like to share with you the laid back rhythm of the people and places of Gower and Swansea Bay and to provide for you a home from home from which to explore and enjoy your holiday.

Louise, a work colleague helps me run the booking side of the business and we have a couple of friends who live locally who can usually help to sort out any immediate problems. We have a professional cleaner and our gardener mows the lawns fortnightly during the summer, so you may see him around during your stay. I mainly look after the advertising of the property, and I still pop down to keep an eye on things when I can. We both enjoy taking self-catering holidays all over the UK with our families and have tried to provide the sort of accommodation and experience we would hope to have ourselves. If you choose to stay with us we hope you will have a lovely time.

DUNVANT

Dunvant started life as a mining community, as you can see from the rows of miners cottages in the area, but these days it is a district on the western edge of the City and County of Swansea and right on the edge of the Gower Peninsula. All roads lead to Dunvant Square, at the bottom of the hill, and the green provides an area for the children to play football and a play area for toddlers. There is a car park set back from the road which gives access to the Swansea Bike path. To the right, this leads down through Clyne Woods and comes out on the promenade around Swansea Bay at Blackpill. To the right you can cycle largely on cycle routes to Pembrey Country Park. The route is part of National Cycle Network Route 4 which runs its full length from London to Fishguard.

You will find a memorial for the 5 miners killed in the Killan mining disaster of 1924 in the car park and although there is little evidence remaining of the mining activity in the area, there is a signposted route to the ruins of the local brickworks in the woods if you turn left along the cycle path from the car park. This is a good example of how nature reclaims things when humans have finished with them, and now an important roost for bats. I notice on a recent visit that there is now also an orienteering route in this area.

The route followed by the cycle track was originally a railway line which at its height carried up to 80 trains a day between Blackpill and Gowerton. Now the regular visitor will find orchids, blackberries and the occasional grass snake, depending on the season, as well as numerous other wild flowers, birds and insects.

There is a small row of shops opposite the green which includes two takeaways (Indian and Chinese). Set back in the same area is the Community Centre which holds occasional farmers markets. More shops are available in nearby Killay and Gowerton has a fantastic local butcher set back from the roundabout, whose delicacies are not to be missed (the sausages, and the lamb kebabs are the Mawby favourites).

The lane on the far side of the shop near the house links into a number of walking routes onto both North and South Gower including access to the Gower Way. The path can be muddy at the start, but provides a peaceful circular walking routes through the countryside right on your doorstep.

Picture of the Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Take a family weekend break on the Gower when you come and support your team.

Ceri Richards, artist and friend of Dylan Thomas, lived in the village and is buried in the graveyard of Ebeneezer Chapel in the Square.  This chapel also provided the first home for the internationally renowned Dunvant Male Choir, and remains a hub for community events. The village is also home to the Dunvant Rugby club, which can be seen from the cycle track when walking towards the sea. If you are a rugby fan, the Ospreys are also based in the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, so go along and give them your support!

Sylvia Mawby (Owner)