Wales' capital city Cardiff has a thriving heritage and cultural scene, and is surrounded by the beautiful vale of Glamorgan, with its coastal fringes, pleasant villages and industrial tradition. Gower, lying to the west of Swansea, offers superb scenery, glorious sandy beaches, wooded valleys, open moorland and pretty villages. It is a fascinating and uniquely interesting area with superb and varied walking country that comprises a mixture of open moorland, steep hillsides, wooded valleys, fertile lowlands and a magnificent coastline. Added to this are medieval castles, picturesque churches and attractive villages and towns. The tremendous variety offered by the area is reflected in the interesting routes included within this guide.