Mumbles Pier

Swansea, Wales

About

Mumbles Pier opened on 10th May 1898 and, costing £10,000, was originally designed as an overflow for cargo headed to Swansea Docks. Before long the pier became a major terminal for paddle steamers unloading tourist from routes along the Bristol Channel and River Severn. Mumbles Pier stands as a tribute to Victorian architecture, stretching 225 meters out into Mumbles Bay. It was once the only way to visit Swansea in style. The White Funnel Steamers would dock on the end unloading tourists who would then make the journey to The Mumbles via the worlds first passenger railway. Nowadays the Pier is used as a popular fishing point or to enjoy the finest views of Mumbles Bay, The Lighthouse and Port Talbot. The Pier still carries a fully functioning lifeboat station and one of Mumbles Piers best kept secrets is it's private beach. Offering spectacular views of The Mumbles Lighthouse the secluded stretch of sand is one of the finest in the Gower. Facing south it catches the sun nearly all day. You can explore the many rock pools, brave the cliffs or simply relax on the golden sands. The pier is undergoing a huge refurbishment program and will be re-opening to the public in the summer of 2014. A new RNLI boathouse and slipway is being built on the end of the pier and will accommodate the faster and bigger 25-knot Tamar class lifeboat.There have been lifeboats stationed at The Mumbles for over 175 years and during this time, more than 800 lives have been saved and many more people rescued. When Mumbles Pier re-opens, it will also have new fishing platforms along each side of the pier head.