Ocean and Earth

Swansea & Gower News

Rock Climbing Photo Gallery

If you are looking for adventure outdoor activities and  activity ideas then take a look at these photos of rock climbing in Wales. This is one of the best adventure activities in the UK. Visit our website to find out why rock climbing  is so popular activity weekends

Rock Climbing Photo Gallery

What's On in the Brecon Beacons in 2010

The Brecon Beacons National Park is in  Wales. It has become an extremely popular location for stag outdoor adventure activity weekends. The park covers almost 519 square miles of spectacular countryside. The highest point is Pen y Fan standing just over 2,900 feet above sea level, and is one of the iconic features of the Park.

Not just famous for the stunning landscape and outdoor activities it's also famous for its events and festivals. You may want to combine a visit to the the Brecon Beacons try some activities and then visit and experience one of the following festival and events:-

1. Hay Book Festival

The book festival in the UK.

2. Brecon Jazz

One of the largest jazz fetsivals in the UK. Book early as this is an extremely busy weekend.

3. The Royal Welsh Show

This is a great week long show which has something for all the family to enjoy.

4. The Green Man Festival

The alternative music festival set in the heart of the Brecon Beacons.

5. The Abergavenny Food Festival

One of the biggest food festivals in Wales

6. National Eisteddfod

A celebration of Welsh culture, language and music.

Indoor Surfing lessons with Gower Surf Development

One of the only facilities of it's kind in Britain is the indoor surfing at the LC2 in Swansea.

For more information on adventure activities in swansea, Gower and Brecon beacons visit the Ocean and Earth website.

Euphoria Sailing

For more information on adventure activities visit the Ocean and earth website

Canyoning and Caving with Call of the Wild

Here's a video showing a canyoning session and a caving session taking place in the Brecon Beacons National Park.

For more information on adventure activities such as canyoning, caving ,surfing and sailing visit the Ocean and Earth website.

Halloween Ideas in Swansea

Visit Swansea for halloween. Here are some ideas for you. Gower Heritage Centre for instance are having a Halloween event including a spooky disco, apple bobbing, swamp dip, broomstick races, puppet making, pottery workshops, witches trials, meet our special guests and lots more. You may even be one of the lucky few who discover the Mill's resident ghosts.

Don't forget to don your finest Halloween costume as there will be prizes for the best dressed children and adults.

The evening is suitable for the whole family and booking is essential as the events sell out quickly. Children must be supervised at all times.

The bar, BBQ and tearooms are open throughout the night.

The Gower Heritage Centre is situated in the village of Parkmill eight miles west of Swansea on the A4118.

For more information on activites in the swansea area visit the Ocean and Earth website.

Ideal summer wetsuits and surfboards for beginners

I went out Crab Island today for a paddle, had some fun waves. The only downer being having such a thick winter suit on. I felt like there was a prop forward sat on my shoulders whilst paddling...yuk.. can not wait until the water is warm enough to wear my new summer suit courtesy of Circle 1 wetsuit company. (more detail about this suit can be seen here > Circle one wetsuit company)

In the above picture, Simon from C1 is showing me the new zip free wetsuit which is great. Easy to get in and out which is a bonus as you get older! These suits are available online from the surf shop.

We are also becoming a test centre for the surfboards seen below which are the next step surfboards after learning to ride waves on a softboard, these boards start at £250 for a 7ft 2' which is a credit crunching deal! To try the boards before you buy simply contact us > Try before you buy surfboards

Swansea and Gower surf weekend for Women only 4th and 5th of April

Book your places now for the forthcoming indoor and outdoor surfing weekend for Women with SurfGSD.

The weekend will aimed at beginner surfers up to intermediate level, come along by yourself or with a group all are welcome.

The weekend will include a talk on  'what surfboard should I buy?'  and surfing coaches will be available to give other valuable tips to help progress your surfing.

You can choose to do a days surfing or both days, up to you.

We provide all the equipment needed.

A days surfing (Indoors and Outdoors)  £50

Two days surfing (Indoors and Outdoors)  £80

Hotel rooms start from £40 p.p including breakfast and use of health suite.

Useful links:

Contact Us

Places to eat Swansea

places to stay here in Swansea 

Swansea hosts excellent curry houses and cheap beer in pubs

Forgot to mention on an earlier post that to get to Paris for the rugby we flew out of the midlands as the flights were much cheaper.

We stayed up there the night before and went out for a curry as they are rated as the best region in the UK.

Well to cut a long story short am back in Mumbles and just had a much better curry at Chutneys on newton road, mumbles.

Swansea has plenty of excellent curry houses,  so, when you come for a surfing weekend why not add a curry to your agenda and head out for one after or before your beer.   Beer? yep 3 pints here for the price of one in Paris and most other rip off european countries.

Visit Swansea > places to stay Swansea   Learn to surf Swansea/Gower

Forgot to mention on an earlier post that to get to Paris for the rugby we flew out of the midlands as the flights were much cheaper.

We stayed up there the night before and went out for a curry as they are rated as the best region in the UK.

Well to cut a long story short am back in Mumbles and just had a much better curry at Chutneys on newton road, mumbles.

Swansea has plenty of excellent curry houses,  so, when you come for a surfing weekend why not add a curry to your agenda and head out for one after or before your beer.   Beer? yep 3 pints here for the price of one in Paris and most other rip off european countries.

Visit Swansea > places to stay Swansea   Learn to surf Swansea/Gower

Swansea surf school owner asks the question,is it spring?

Crab Island  was breaking today, the tide was a bit high so not slamming in on the rocks, the surf was super fun today and certainly easier to line up and surf than last Thursday when I was out there by myself getting marmalised. The swell felt slow but the Gill and Frenchie assured me it was probably due to the fact that I had just been on the North Shore for a month.

Which reminds me, I had a good laugh last night, when Amos was flicking through Carve surf mag issue number 94 and on page 60 which was telling some story about a trip to Hawaii in the shoulder season and she shouted out in disbelief listen to this a surfer states '..it's not as big and powerful as everyone thinks...'      Do I need to comment on this! I can assure you the North Shore can seriously test your ability, fitness, equipment,skill and breath holding ability. 

Surf looking good for Sunday again with light south easters.... Enjoy

Crab Island  was breaking today, the tide was a bit high so not slamming in on the rocks, the surf was super fun today and certainly easier to line up and surf than last Thursday when I was out there by myself getting marmalised. The swell felt slow but the Gill and Frenchie assured me it was probably due to the fact that I had just been on the North Shore for a month.

Which reminds me, I had a good laugh last night, when Amos was flicking through Carve surf mag issue number 94 and on page 60 which was telling some story about a trip to Hawaii in the shoulder season and she shouted out in disbelief listen to this a surfer states '..it's not as big and powerful as everyone thinks...'      Do I need to comment on this! I can assure you the North Shore can seriously test your ability, fitness, equipment,skill and breath holding ability. 

Surf looking good for Sunday again with light south easters.... Enjoy