https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifest...rable-20937592


This gorgeous Gower cottage is a classic escape to the country property for sale

The UK's first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Gower peninsula has been named as the area most desirable and popular with house hunters through 2021, beating over 600 contenders to the top spot.

Of course anyone who lives in the area or who has ever visited Gower peninsula knows how glorious it is, with its miles of unspoilt coastline, sandy beaches and undulating countryside attracting regular visitors and holidaymakers and people looking for a new home in one of Wales' most stunning coastal settings.

It's no surprise to anyone who loves the area to find out it was voted the best AONB in Wales by readers of Which?, which is an achievement because as a nation we have so many to choose from.

But it seems the word might have got out to the rest of the UK, which can only result in the continuation of the increase in property prices on Gower and the surrounding area. According to property portal Zoopla, house prices in the area have increased by 12% over the last 12 months, equivalent to around £36,000.

The current average value of a home on Gower peninsula is £335,742, a staggering £120,043 over Wales' national average of £215,699, which itself has seen an overall 10% rise in the last year - with most estate agents attributing the boom in the property market as a reaction to the coronavirus pandemic.

Gower peninsula, a distinctive coastline that jets out into the sea between Swansea Bay and Llanelli saw 334 completed sales within the last 12 months - that's impressive for a 19-mile or so slice of coastline.

Gower's latest achievement is based on a list of 10 criteria that includes: house price increase, property search demand, number of good schools, crime rates, the positivity of the news in each area and even choice of restaurant to achieve a landscape of the lifestyle in each of the 600 areas analysed by property website Boomin.

Their research discovered that there had been a 20% increase in people searching for a move to Gower on Google in just the last three months.


Worm's Head at the Gower, just one of the many amazing coastal features of the area


Rhossili is one of the best beaches in the world


Beach and promenade at Mumbles

Michael Bruce, group CEO and founder of Boomin says: "We wanted to go beyond just house price increases as an indicator of how 'sought after' an area is, and look at what the modern home owner really wants.

"It's no surprise to see Gower heading up the list in the UK, playing home to one of the most 'bucket-listed' beaches in the world. Rhossili Beach it's always been a hotspot, but with the rise in workplaces offering remote working following the pandemic, it's made Gower even more inviting than it already was.

"Over the past year, many people have taken stock of what they want from their lives and the answer for many has been a better quality of life, without the constant hustle and bustle of a city and the need to live somewhere within quick commutable distance.

"Gower offers a beautiful remote setting, without leaving you feeling isolated. In under half an hour, you can be in the city of Swansea, which itself is undergoing heavy investment.

"Life in Gower provides you with the best of both worlds, which seems to be what everyone is after in 2021!"

If you're in the market to find yourself a new home that's on the market on and around Gower Peninsula, here's a range of properties for sale in this stunning corner of Wales.

Penclawdd: £130,000


To find a house for sale at the lower end of the market within the Gower area, you will probably need to step just outside the boundary of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty but you'll still be very close to the beached and rural landscape inside that particular section of the peninsula.

This two bedroom mid-terrace home is located in the popular area of Penclawydd, a village which is situated in the north of the Gower Peninsula and just a drive away from Swansea.

Penclawdd is most famous for its local cockle industry which goes back for many years with the Loughor estuary nearby as well as the lovely Gower beaches.

The traditional stone terrace can offer a new owner a living room, dining room and kitchen to the ground floor with solid oak flooring and doors and two bedrooms and bathroom upstairs.

The estate agent states that the property has double glazing throughout as well as an enclosed rear garden and decking area with views. It also has views of the estuary to the front where the car can be parked too, but reverse into the space so it can enjoy those distant estuary views too.

The house is for sale with Peter Alan, call their Gorseinon branch on 01792 894422 to find out more.

Mumbles: £275,000


Stylish by the seaside, this two-bed end of terrace is 'move-in ready' so all you need to do is unpack and then go and explore all that this very popular Gower coastal town can offer from cafés and bars to restaurants and retail therapy.

The house is ideally situated on a quiet lane in the centre of Mumbles and has been updated throughout and recently fitted with a new kitchen which opens out into the lounge, providing a versatile living space.

On the first floor the two bedrooms and a bathroom are waiting to be discovered, and the top floor can boast a converted space ideal for a home office, man-cave, hen den or teenager's hang-out.

The estate agent states that there is a small outdoor space available, but with the vast Swansea Bay literally on your doorstep, maybe it's not an issue to not have a vast garden too.

The terrace is for sale with John Francis, call their Mumbles branch on 01792 713351 to find out more.

Langland Bay: £279,995




Meander down the roads and lanes of this popular part of the Gower peninsula, past Norton, Mumbles and through Langland and this apartment complex called The Osbourne emerges on the horizon, standing proud on a prime position on the cliff above the beach.

This apartment is located in an idyllic elevated position and offers an entrance hallway, bathroom, double bedroom and a spacious open-plan kitchen, dining and living area boasting elevated coastline views from the balcony, the perfect spot for all day alfresco dining.

As well as a sea view from the balcony, the beautiful beaches of Rotherslade and Langland are just a short stroll away, accompanied by a coffee from the local cafe and within walking distance of Mumbles for even more eating, drinking and shopping choice.

This flat with a partial sea view (if you want full sea view you need to double your budget) is on the market with Belvoir, call them on 01792 825995 to find out more.

Burry: £490,000



A white-washed cottage nestled in the countryside and yet just a few miles from the beautiful beaches and coves around Rhossili is surely an escape to the country, classic dream property.

This three-bed offering is in the centre of the lower end of Gower, so a choice of beaches along any of the 19 miles of coastline is an option, with most of them just a 15-minute drive to seaside paradise, although it might be hard to leave this peaceful place, surrounded by a pretty garden and countryside and only found by wandering down a dead end country lane.

It's the road to nowhere that actually takes you somewhere special - to a dreamy cottage that is waiting for the next owner to put their stamp on it.

Called Frogmoor Cottage, the property dates back to the 1700s and has been restored and extended by previous owners offering comfortable accommodation of much character - now you just add your own to it.

The cottage is for sale with purplebricks, call them on 0800 810 8008 to find out more.

Gowerton: £750,000


This swanky home in the north Gower village of Gowerton is a posh pad that would be at home welcoming a top sports star or celebrity home every evening or when they're back from a match or a foreign tour.

But it's not just a distinctive and highly-desirable new-build house, it's a home that has oodles of clever design ideas and surprising features that sets it apart from its contemporaries.

As well as being mesmerised by the interiors, you'll find it's a house of surprises as well as thoughtful design and layers of luxury.

There's a home office with a curved wall, a floating staircase, clever lighting design, intriguing alcoves to add interest and even a downstairs beautiful bog surrounded by gold glitter wallpaper.

The ground floor open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge area is a triumph for socialising as well as looking gorgeous.

The use of high quality natural materials such as marble, glass and exposed brick adds to the luxury styling of the house as well as bringing tactile surfaces and texture to the property.

See more and find out more about this glamorous abode's brilliant design here.

This five-bed, four bath house in this popular village is on the market for £750,000 with Dawsons, call their Mumbles branch on 01792 367301 to find out more.

Rhossili: £940,000



Step out onto the balcony that is accessed from the first floor landing of this Gower property, and the panoramic sea views on their own are mesmerising, but add the instantly recognisable rugged, rocky feature of Worms Head and the coastal view is arguably one of the best in Gower, if not in Wales.

The distinctive coastal formation is a series of rocky islands at one end of the beautiful Blue Flag-awarded three mile sandy stretch of Rhossili beach, arguably one of Gower's most outstanding areas.

With uninterrupted sea views, that brilliant bit of rock is the focal point that attracts the eye from the front balcony of this contemporary coastal home called Meadowside.

This recently renovated dream home can boast only two walls of the original, dated coastal home remaining and a huge amount of design thought, character, room layout and connection to the views added.

Each window, whether an old opening or part of the new extension, are now bi-fold doors out onto the front veranda or Juliet balconies ensuring the maximum connection to the great outdoors and the great views that this specific house design can offer.

You can find out more about living at this Gower peninsula location and this particular home here.

To make that balcony your home and Worms Head your neighbour, and if you have the budget of £940,000, contact estate agent Tom Edmunds at The Good Estate Agent Sales & Lettings on 01792 940473 for further details.