Gower's hidden gem
When people think of Gower, they think of a stroll on Mumbles seafront, watching the surf at Langland Bay or the drama of Rhosilli Down and Worms Head.
But when I think of Gower, I think of home. A tiny little village on the peninsula's southern edge; picturesque, cosy, self-contained and still not quite discovered on the main tourist trail.
Southgate is about 15-20 minutes drive out of the relative hubbub of Swansea city in South Wales. It's one of my favourite drives in the world, across a mixture of wide open common land, through the suburban villagey roads of Murton and Kittle, past the quaint norman church at Pennard and into the beautiful windy country roads which will take you almost to the cliff edge.
Visit in Winter, and enjoy the wild
Having spent 20 years of my life living and growing up there, and the last 7 visiting for Easter breaks, Christmas gatherings, lazy and fun-filled weekends - I can honestly say that even now, this sleepy corner of Wales is still a revelation to me.
While spring and summer bring with them plenty of delights for beach-lovers and general outdoorsy-types alike, in many ways this time of year is just as beautiful. Winter on Gower, and in Southgate in particular, means less tourists and more locals - and the landscape feels much more wild.
Circular walks with the best views in Britain
It's perfect for a unique romantic outing or Sunday afternoon stroll; Southgate is the gateway to a breathtaking circular walk (of the wondrous, rather than over-exerting kind). You can park pretty much anywhere in the village, but if you can, leave your car in the village centre near the Post Office and head back towards the village entrance.
Turning left at Pennard Golf Club will lead you onto a little sandy pathway and out to a spot with one of the most amazing views on Gower (or anywhere in the UK for that matter): from Three Cliffs Bay all the way across to Oxwich. It's the kind of view you could never tire of.
The rest of the walk is simple: you can either follow the path all the way down to the beautifully secluded beach at Pobbles (always full of locals, not a tourist in sight - and incredibly peaceful at this time of year); or follow the pathway all the way around the edge of the cliffs.
A sweet ending
The walk in total (assuming you follow the cliffs and don't enjoy some time soaking up the views on Pobbles) will take 1 hour at a steady pace. And culminates at the other edge of the village, where you'll find Pennard Stores and Three Cliffs Coffee Shop.
I defy anyone to find a prettier spot, or a place with better cakes on all of Gower! Family-owned, freshly-baked and bigger cake-slices than I'm sure are suitable for just one person - you can relax after your walk, cosy up over a good old cuppa, and if you find you love this place as much as I do, perhaps pick up one of the fantastic photographs from locals Mark Button and Clive Jenkins.
This has all the makings of a V-day, or any day, to remember.