The Swansea Bay area has a comprehensive network of
Public Transport, Cycle Routes and Walking Routes
No need for a car though for those who have, there are easy to use alternative ways of getting around
Plan your journey to the locations below with the Traveline Cymru Journey Planner
Trains
Frequent train services run between Gowerton, Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot with lesser frequencies at Llansamlet, Skewen, Briton Ferry and Baglan. The Heart of Wales line with a basic service of 4-5 trains per day each way, serves Pontarddulais.
Timetable for South West Wales (includes Transport for Wales & Great Western)
Timetable for Heart of Wales
Buses
Local buses will get you directly to over 90% of attractions and the comprehensive network covers all of Swansea City, Mumbles, Gower, Neath, Port Talbot and the Valleys. Cymru Clipper express buses link Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot with each other and to most of the valleys.
Swansea Metro
Route 4 runs at 10 minute daytime frequency (4A less frequent evenings & weekends) linking Morriston Hospital (A&E) with the University Bay Campus via the Liberty Stadium, train station, city centre, Guildhall/St Helen’s, Singleton Park and Singleton Hospital.
Mumbles Metro
Routes 2/2A/2B/2C between them run at a 15 minute frequency (less frequent evenings & Sundays) linking the city centre with Oystermouth via St Helen’s, Singleton Park and Blackpill (with extensions to Langland, Caswell and Limeslade Bays and Mumbles Pier at least hourly).
Neath Port Talbot Metro
Route 87 runs at 20 minute daytime frequency (less frequent evenings & Sundays) linking Neath town centre with Margam* via Briton Ferry, NPT Hospital (A&E) and Port Talbot town centre/train station.
*not Margam Country Park served by Cymru Clipper X1/X4
Gower Explorer
A fine network of services covers most of the Gower Peninsula with year-round weekday service and a special late Spring and Summer Sunday service.
Route 14 between Swansea and Pennard Cliffs via Blackpill and Bishopston
Route 116 between Swansea and Llanrhidian via Gowerton and Penclawdd
Routes 118/119 between Swansea and Rhossili via varying routes; limited Sunday service until 30 August 2021
Routes 115 and 117 for connecting services to Llanmadoc, Llangennith, Oxwich Bay, Horton and Port Eynon
Cymru Clipper
A network of routes takes you quickly around the area
Route X1 between Swansea & Bridgend via Port Talbot & Margam Park
Route X3 between Swansea & Maesteg via Port Talbot & Bryn
Route X4 between Neath & Bridgend Port Talbot & Margam Park
Route X6 between Swansea & Ystradgynlais via Pontardawe & Ystlyfera
Route X7 between Swansea & Glynneath via Neath & Resolven
Route X8 between Swansea & Banwen via Neath & Crynant
Route X13 between Swansea & Ammanford via Penllergaer & Pontarddulais
Swansea Unibus
Changes will be made to services in mid-September, for information, see our News section’
Route 8 between Fabian Way (junction 42 M4 & A48), Swansea City Centre, Singleton Campus & Bay Campus
Route 8X Express linking the Student Village & Singleton Campus to Bay Campus via Fabian Way Park & Ride and the Civic Centre
Route 10 linking Singleton Campus & Bay Campus via the Train Station
Swansea Park & Ride
Route 501 between Landore (junc 45 M4 & A4067) and Swansea City Centre
Route 502 between Fabian Way (junc 42 M4 & A48) and Swansea City Centre
Route 34 between Landore (junc 45 M4 & A4067) and Swansea City Centre
Route 8 or 9X between Fabian Way (junc 42 M4 & A48) and Swansea City Centre
General Bus Information
First Cymru buses operate most routes in Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot
New Adventure Travel operate Gower routes 114-119 and T6 Traws Cymru Swansea and Neath to Brecon
South Wales Transport operate a number of local routes in Swansea, Neath and Swansea Valley
Bus tickets for you to travel around the area
There will be details of all-day and other ‘rover’ tickets and prices as soon as up to date information becomes available
First smartphone app for buying tickets on your phone: First Cymru bus tickets using their new First smartphone app. Available on Apple and Android.
All Day Travel Tickets – hop on, hop off
Gower Day Rider: New Adventure Travel Day, Weekly & Monthly all-day travel tickets (inner zone £4.50, outer zone £7.50). Under-16 and small group fares available
First Day Swansea Bay: All routes in Swansea, Mumbles, Neath, Port Talbot & the Valleys operated by First Cymru: £4.70 adult (£4.20 on iphone); £3.10 16 & under and My Travel Pass holders up to 25; discounted family tickets available.
Explore Gower Day: All routes in the city of Swansea, Mumbles and Gower with an all-day, go anywhere ticket on all First and NAT buses: £7.50 adult; £5.00 16 & under.
Information on 2019 bus times from Gower – we can provide you with a copy of the local bus departure poster for selected villages and bays in Gower; click to get the PDF for
Horton
Llangennith
Llanmadoc
Llanrhidian
Oxwich
Parkmill
Port Eynon
Reynoldston
Rhossili
Scurlage
Cycling
The Swansea Bay area has a good strategic network of cycle routes as part of the National Cycle Network (NCN) with a number of key local off-road and minor road routes giving fairly comprehensive coverage except in Gower.
For more detailed information, details of cycle hire, and other useful resources visit the cycling page
View the Swansea Bay Cycle Map
Recommended routes
Swansea City and Mumbles
The most popular and useful routes are NCN 4 from SA1 via the Marina to St Helen’s, Blackpill, Killay, Dunvant and Gowerton; and the local connecting route from Blackpill to West Cross, Oystermouth and Mumbles. Both routes are traffic free throughout their length. Cycling is permitted throughout Singleton Park and these off-road routes are linked to NCN 4 at the Oystermouth Road entrance to the park.
Gower
Not many Gower routes are traffic-free though some are lightly trafficked. Less experienced cyclists are advised not to use the B4295 north Gower road except between Pont-y-Cob road and the Rake & Riddle, where there is a break in the off-road cycle track; nor should the A4118 be used between Upper Killay and Reynoldston; a quieter and safer alternative is the B4271 mid-Gower road. See the Cycling page for some recommended routes in more detail.
North Swansea and Mawr
Apart from NCN 43 at the eastern edge through Morriston and Clydach, there are no completely off-road cycling routes in this area, However, the network of country roads bounded by Craig Cefn Parc to the east, Llangyfelach, Pontlliw and Pontarddulais to the south and west are quiet and very scenic (though steep in places) and good cycling country.
Swansea, Neath and Afan Valleys
There are a number of NCN routes, with substantial off-road sections:
NCN 43 Swansea Valley
NCN 46 Vale of Neath
NCN 47 Afan Valley
There are also a number of local cycle routes.
Mountain Biking in Afan Forest Park
Afan Forest Park is world renowned for its mountain biking trails and facilities, is close to NCN 4 and NCN 47; bisected by NCN 887. For those wishing to come by train, it is easily reached by travelling to Port Talbot Parkway, from which there is a connecting cycle trail to the Afan Valley via NCN 887
Find out more by consulting this cycle map
Swansea information provided by Wheelrights www.wheelrights.org.uk, a local cycling campaign group whose website is a very useful source of information.
Walking
A number of local organisations provide walks information and some organise local walks programmes.
For more detailed information on walking, visit the walking page
Swansea Ramblers
Helps local people enjoy walking and protect the places we all love to walk; has a programme of weekly walks of varying lengths led by local experts.
Neath Port Talbot Ramblers
Has a programme of walks varying each week, from local walks around the area to walks further afield.
National Trust
Has a range of ‘Top Walks on Gower’ which you can download from its website.
Gower Society
Organises walks on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year, some of which are joint events held with the local Ramblers; there are also mid-week walks.
This is Gower
The Gower app which contains details of the coast path and other walks in the peninsula.
Go to the Walking Page for full itineraries of seven coastal walks on the peninsula. To find your local bus and train times, as well as information about walking, cycling, community transport and park and ride, visit Traveline Cymru; 0800 464 00 00.