300 or so ageing hippies; Maddy Prior and Steel Eyespan-like sounds drifting across the campsite and Gaelic brogue at 10 paces…Terry, John and I greatly enjoyed the Gower folk festival, which takes place annually on the beautiful Gower Peninsula at the award winning Greyhound Inn. “Gower Power” is its most famous brew! The festival is unique in that both performers and audiences become members of an exclusive musical party. Here Terry and John are learning steps in a Swedish folk dance…

Festival performers introduced a variety of unusual musical instruments (bouzouki, bodhran, bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy, electric sitar) in their repertoire as well as using the more traditional fiddle and guitar. Festival organisers selected an electric array of performers from the British Isles, Australia and New Zealand, with absolutely stunning voices and who demonstrated incredible technical mastery of their instruments. The audience was completely wowed.

The James Brothers brought Antipodean-steeped folk music; the Carrivick (twin) sisters achieved tight harmonies that only siblings can achieve; Ninebarrow had breathtaking vocal harmonies as well – 16 artists in all over the festival program. There were also workshops for audiences to practice dance steps; their instrument playing and vocal harmonisation.

 

Each morning before the festival program started, I had fun exploring the southern and western coast of the Peninsula. Three Cliffs Bay and Rhossili Bay were dramatic beachscapes.

Gorgeous villages of Horton, Overton and Landimore.

 

 

I stayed at the impressive Parc Le Breos estate, a large 19thC hunting lodge steeped in history and set in 70 peaceful acres, once the deer park of William de Breos. Approached by a mile long drive that meanders through ancient woodland glades from the picturesque village of Parkmill, the charming old house and gardens were the perfect retreat.

On the last night, we had a delicious dinner at an award winning restaurant, Beach House, with lovely views over Oxwich Bay.