The pretty village of Oxwich with its thatched cottages lies at the western end of Oxwich Bay, where the sandy beach is a magnet for watersports enthusiasts. At one end of the village is St Illtyd'sChurch, a site originally dating from the 6th century. The chancel is believed to be a 6th century cell, while the font is alleged to have been brought there by St Illtyd himself. According to local legend the churchyard is haunted by a white 'ceffyl dwr' (water horse), which has been seen disappearing into the well at the top of the churchyard. The other notable building in the village is Oxwich Castle, built by the Mansel family from Tudor times. The family's coat of arms can be seen on the gateway. One of the features of the castle typical of those times is the long gallery, built high up with fabulous sea views. The property is run by Cadw and is open to visitors. Last year a prehistoric site was discovered on a headland in Oxwich. The site was exposed by the uncharacteristically dry weather which had prevailed during the summer, although the experts investigating the site had to take to the air to properly discern the shapes in the ground which indicated that there was something there. For nature lovers there is a National Nature Reserve with a dune system and cliffs offering habitats for a range of wildlife as well as flora such as orchids. Birds found there include several varieties of warbler and bittern as well as overwintering teal and gadwall.
Map of the area
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| St Illtyd's Church, Oxwich - geograph.org.uk - 46956. Photo by Pip Rolls, via Wikimedia Commons |
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