By Sarah Mukherjee
BBC environment correspondent |
 Mother Nature could provide the greatest long term pressure |
The reaction is the same from everyone as they park in the little parking space at Rhossili Bay. They get out of the car, walk a little way along the path that leads down to the beach and everyone has a sharp intake of breath.
"Oh how stunning," they say, "what an incredible view".
And indeed it is. The majestic arc of golden sand that sweeps in a perfect semicircle, surrounded by emerald hills studded bright yellow with gorse.
And if you look out to sea in the other direction the warm spring sunshine has turned the waves to liquid sapphire.
Breathing space
It is one of the iconic views of Britain and has been protected for the last 50 years by legislation that has its roots in the Second World War.
Politicians felt that soldiers returning from bloody campaigns abroad should have more access to the land that they fought so hard to protect and defend.
 |  Recent legislation has given these areas the same status in planning law as National Parks although they get a fraction of the funding.  |
There are now 49 areas of outstanding natural beauty in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the jewel in Britain's countryside crown.
From the undulating heather moorlands of the north Pennines to the Scilly islands, scented with flowers, these are lands that not only provide a breathing space for tourists but economic value to those lucky enough to live in them.
This of course is one of the challenges that faces these areas in the next 50 years - how to combine the economic benefits of tourism often in areas where there is little else in the economy and not inadvertently destroying the very countryside, peace and tranquillity that people come here to enjoy.
It is a difficult balancing act, but one they feel they have got just about right in Gower.
Development pressures
It was not always like that.
In 1948 Billy Butlin wanted to build a holiday camp along one of the most beautiful stretches of bay at Rhossili.
He was stopped by members of the Gower Society.
But the people who are members of the Gower society today are all too well aware of the pressures from development on this part of the country.
| Your pictures of gorgeous Gower 
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"As you can imagine, there are huge development pressures from nearby Swansea," says Malcolm Ridge from the society.
But he is optimistic that those who have the duty to protect the areas of outstanding natural beauty are in a stronger position than ever to maintain these beautiful landscapes.
Recent legislation has given these areas the same status in planning law as National Parks, although they get a fraction of the funding.
But one of the most potentially serious long term pressures on these areas could not come from man but from Mother Nature herself.
Climate change is being talked of as having potentially devastating effects on these areas.
As one of those involved in the celebrations in Gower pointed out to me, there is not much benefit in defending these areas from developers if they have been destroyed by radical changes in climate.
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