Three Cliffs Bay (from the foreshore)

Three Cliffs is the pin-up of Gower — a triple limestone fin rising out of a dune-backed bay where Pennard Pill meanders across the sand — and from the air it is even better, because only altitude reveals how the river, dunes, castle ruin and cliffs interlock. The catch is land ownership. The clifftops and much of the surrounding common at Pennard are National Trust, and the Trust does not permit take-off or landing from its land, which is why you will hear claims that flying here is banned outright. It is not — but you must be disciplined: walk down to the beach and TOAL from the open foreshore below the high-water line, keep well clear of the cliff faces, and do not launch or land anywhere on the NT-managed clifftop, Pobbles or the Southgate car park area. Overflying Pennard Castle from a beach launch is fine airspace-wise. Swansea Airport at Fairwood Common is only about 4.5km north — outside its ATZ down here, but light aircraft do circuit over Gower, so keep height sensible and eyes up. The tide sweeps in fast across this bay and the river mouth has notorious currents, so plan your launch point above the incoming water line. Early morning gives empty sand and soft side light on the cliffs; summer afternoons are heaving.