Salt House Mere Beach

Salt House Mere is set among the flat rocks that make up the headland just south of Port Eynon. Above the high water mark there is usually an area of shingle, but as the tide drops an expanse of rocks is revealed.

The name of this little cove comes from the “Salt House”, a ruined building which sits just behind. The name is a clue as to the nature of this 16th century structure; it was the site of salt production and some of the stone-lined basins still remain. 

There is another version of this history involving a local smuggler named John Lucas. This was his base, and according to this story an underground tunnel linked the house to Culver Hole on the other side of the headland. In this story, the name came from the salt of the sea which washed over the house.

Culver hole is well worth a visit, although you probably won’t be getting there by tunnel! It consists of a cave entrance in front of which an 18 metre tall wall has been constructed. Dating back to medieval times it is thought the structure was some kind of giant dovecote, built in a time when dove eggs and the birds themselves were a coveted food source.