An 1850s walk on Mumbles Hill

How very pretty the walk up to and over the Mum­ble [sic] Hill.

You ascend a narrow, steep, road, com­mencing in the middle of the village, turn round a rocky, rough, sharp corner, and following a fence, separating some fields from the down, skirt round the brow of the hill, look forth! On your left Swansea Bay with Swansea in the distance meets your gaze; on the right you see Langland and Caswell, and before you Bracelet Bay, the very name is pretty. They are a circlet of bays—‘Each adds to each a double charm.’ Descending a little lower you come to the lime Slade or slide, a narrow bay or gully, divided by a rocky mound from beautiful, sheltered, Bracelet Bay, at the extremity of which stand two bold detached rocks. On the last is placed the light­house, there is a cave beneath it through which you can pass at low water.

I sit here on the sunny hill side, when sky and sea seem to breathe of hope and happiness, watching the vessels as they emerge from Swansea Bay, gliding behind the lighthouse, passing Bracelet Bay, and steadily moving on, leaving a long line of blue in the shining water, while my imagination pictures the different objects and fate of each, the prosperous voyage and happy return, or the fate of those who will return no more.

From Our village wants a new Church, 1859