Whiteford Sands
Whiteford Sands and Whiteford Point Lighthouse is located on the north-western tip of Gower. This is a vast two mile expanse of beach leading out along the edge of the Loughor Estuary. This walk is varied and includes the sand dunes of Whiteford Burrows, that are backed by pine trees. This area is a nature reserve owned by the National Trust.
Despite having been abandoned in 1933, the Whiteford Lighthouse on the Gower Peninsula has stood the test of time. It is the only structure of its kind left in the UK, standing 61 feet tall prominently in the middle of the loughor estuary.To designate the south side of the channel leading to the port of Llanelli, it was built in 1865 by the Llanelli Harbour and Burry Navigation Commissioners, replacing a previous wooden structure built in 1854. It overlooks Llanelli from a solitary position on a two-mile stretch of beach extending out from the Loughor Estuary.
The decommissioned cast iron lighthouse found at the furthest northern tip of the beach is believed to be the last remaining cast iron lighthouse found in British Isles. The Llanelli Harbour and Burry Navigation Commissioners constructed the lighthouse in 1865 to mark the south side of the channel to the port of Llanelli; it replaced an earlier wooden structure of 1854. The lighthouse remained in use until 1933; more recently the Nature Conservancy Council took up the lease from the Llanelli Harbour Trust.
The name Whiteford is considered to derive from the Danish ‘Hvit-Fford’. The northern boundary runs along the limit of the sand and shingle bank upon which a lighthouse is situated. Fishing in the area has continued until the present day, you may well come across fishing boats during your walk. Across the estuary is Burry Port and Llanelli harbours.