Walk No. 29 & 29a, Ogmore-by-Sea

Cliffs, Dunes andCommon

Distance: 7 miles, shorter walk 4 miles.

FOLLOW THE COUNTRYSIDE CODE

• Be safe, plan ahead and follow any signs

• Leave gates and property as you find them

• Protect plants and animals and take your

litter home

• Keep dogs under close control

• Consider other people

WALK FEATURES

• Merthyr Mawr Warren

• Ogmore Castle

• Ogmore Down

• St Bride’s Church

• Pant Mari Flanders

• Heritage Coast Centre

• Walled Gardens

• Magnificent Views

Heritage Coast

WALK LOCATION IN RELATION TOTHE GLAMORGAN HERITAGE COAST

GLAMORGAN’S HERITAGE COAST

Here the meeting of land and sea hascreated a rich variety of special habitatssuch as sand dunes, cliffs, rocky andsandy beaches and estuarine silts.Whilstthese scenic locations are fascinating toexplore they can hold hidden dangers; cliff fallsare common and many beaches are tide traps as the BristolChannel has the second highest tidal range in the world..

This 14 mile stretch of coastline was designated as one of thethree pilot “Heritage Coasts” in the early 1970’s with the aimof conserving its unique character with sensitive managementby a professional ranger service.

The Heritage Coast team are part of the Vale of GlamorganCouncil, and are locally based at the Heritage Coast Centre.Facilities include a small shop and information centre and it is wellworth a visit for anyone wishing to know more about the locality.

For more information on any aspect of the coast, contact theHeritage Coast Centre, Dunraven Park, Southerndown,TheVale of Glamorgan, CF32 0RP.Tel: (01656) 880157/880646 or Fax: (01656) 880931

Choughs

Valeways

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River Ogmore

Stepping Stones at Ogmore

Another view of Ogmore Castle Sunset behind Ogmore Castle

Temple Bay

Photograph © A.Wilson

Photograph © Vale of Glamorgan Council

Photograph © Paul Dunn

Photograph © A.Wilson

Photograph © Paul Dunn

Photograph © Vale of Glamorgan Council

Photograph © A.Wilson

Photograph © A.Wilson

Valeways is a registered charity working in partnership with thecommunity to reopen existing footpaths to create a network of

enjoyable circular walks across the Vale of Glamorgan, linkingtowns and villages to the surrounding countryside and points ofinterest.We are indebted to the many volunteers who give up

their time freely to provide this walk for your enjoyment.

Valeways

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Registered Charity No. 1062031 Registered Company No. 3330088

Valeways Partnership - Many thanks to the Vale of Glamorgan Counciland the Countryside Council for Wales for their continued support.

Valeways, Unit 7, Barry Community Enterprise Centre,Skomer Road, Barry CF62 9DA

Telephone/Fax: 01446 749000E-mail: info@valeways.org.uk

Website: http//www.valeways.org.uk

The Pond at St Brides Major

Ogmore-by-Sea

Southerndown

St Brides Major

Ogmore

Pant Quarry

Pont Alun Quarry

Heritage Coast Centre

Merthyr-mawr Warren

Ogmore Down

Heol-y-mynydd

Ogmore Castle

River Ogmore

B4265

reach the beach car park there is theoption of turning left through a gate andwalking through the walled gardens � tothe cliff top to enjoy one of the finestcoastal views in Britain). Behind the beachbuildings find the steps giving access tothe footpath which ascends parallel tothe steep exit road.At the cliff top carpark bear left through a steel kissinggate to turn right along a straight grassytrack.This passes a substantial stonewall, collapsed in places, on your right.Leave the open land at the second oftwo access points to the road, eachmarked by lines of short concrete posts(this point is at the head of a small steepvalley marked by cliff warning signs).Turn left along the wide verge then justbefore a sharp bend in the road turnleft again to join a footpath downanother small limestone valley.At thebottom turn right and follow the coastpath. The final mile to the startingpoint is an easy level stroll along thetop of low cliffs, at low tide fringed bya long sandy beach.

2 Short WalkFrom the Fox & Hounds cross theroad and head for St Brides Church �.Follow THE SHILLY to the right andcontinue uphill across a cattle grid.Veer left along a track leading to StBrides Court where you cross a stonestile to the left of the gate and followthe right hand boundary of the field tothe corner. Cross a second stile andkeep to the left hand boundary of thenext two fields. Continue ahead acrossa final stile and a metalled track.Bearing slightly to the right go gentlydownhill following the line of fenceon your right. Just after passing abroad level grassy track on your rightdescend to the right past limestoneoutcrops into a steep-sided sandydry valley (Pant Mari Flanders �).Take the easiest line all the way downthe valley bottom, bearing right toarrive at the roadside (B4524).Turnright up a steep sandy path whichsoon levels out and follow the mainroute directions (from the pointmarked**) to return to St BridesMajor via Ogmore Castle.

Walk No. 29 & 29a, Ogmore-by-SeaCliffs, Dunes and CommonThese walks feature the Glamorgan Heritage Coast and hinterland in all its variety.Although climbs are few and relatively short, in clear conditions superb vistas can beenjoyed from many viewpoints along the route. Mainly the paths cross well drainedunfenced land uninterrupted by stiles and free of mud even after prolonged rain. Thephysical geography of the area provides a wide variety of scenic features and wildlife habitat.Nature lovers will delight in the chance to observe the rare but conspicuous Chough whichnow breeds locally. Both walks link the medieval landmarks of Ogmore Castle and St Bride’sChurch. On fine summer weekends and public holidays the areas close to the coastal carparks can become very crowded so are not for seekers of solitude!

Distance Main walk 7 miles; Shorter(inland) walk 4miles.Map OS Explorer 151 Cardiff and Bridgend.Parking Large car parks at Ogmore by Sea and Dunraven Bay (pay in the Summer). By village store in StBrides Major.Public Transport Buses Nos. 45 & 46 Bridgend - Llantwit Major, where there are railway stations.Refreshments & Toilets Pelican in Her Piety (Ogmore Village), The Farmer’s Arms and The Fox &Hounds (St Brides Major),The Three Golden Cups (Southerndown). Public conveniences and occasional

refreshments counters at Dunraven Bay and Ogmore-by-Sea car parks.

START - several options The route guide below starts from the car park at the mouth of the Ogmore River (main walk) or the Fox and Hounds in St Brides (shorter walk). Both are described in a clockwise direction. PLACES OF INTEREST

� Merthyr Mawr WarrenThe sand forming these extensive dunesoriginated from glacial debris carrieddownstream by meltwater and wassubsequently moved inland by the fiercetides and prevailing winds of the BristolChannel. At its highest point the sandextends beyond the 70 metre contourof the bordering limestone ridge.Between the 12th and 16th centuries thenearby village of Kenfig, just a few milesaway, was buried under the drifting sand.

� Ogmore CastleWilliam de Londres established the firstNorman earth and timber fortificationson this site in 1116 to guard a majorfording place into the south of Wales.Construction of a permanent stonecastle commenced a few years later.Therectangular great tower originally stood40 feet high. There is public access tothe impressive ruins which are in thecare of CADW. The stepping stonesacross the Ewenny River are a wellknown feature of the site.

� Ogmore DownThe limestone heath of Ogmore Downtogether with the adjacent Old CastleDown is a very rare form of heathland.It is one of very few remaining sites inWales for the High Brown Fritillarybutterfly.This common land is a popularrecreational area criss-crossed withbridleways and the northern part is usedby the Southerndown Golf Club.Thereare two large working quarries extractinglimestone from the western edge of theDown.

� Heritage Coast CentreSituated in Dunraven Park, this is thebase for the Glamorgan Heritage CoastProject which was set up in the early 70sand aims to conserve the uniquecharacter of this 14 mile stretch ofcoastline. A visit is stronglyrecommended for anyone wishing toknow more about this coast.

� Walled Gardens & ViewpointThe walled garden dating from the 16thcentury and the castellated ice house inDunraven Park were adjuncts ofDunraven Castle, the imposing 19thcentury mansion which dominated thesite until it was demolished in 1962. Atthe cliff top immediately east of thegarden is an information board whichinterprets the remarkable coastal viewfrom this point.

� St Bride’s ChurchBuilt in the early part of the 12thCentury although most remainingarchitectural features are 14th or 19thCentury. One of several churches insouth Wales dedicated to the 5thCentury Irish Saint Bride (Bridget).Contains several interesting effigiesincluding an unusually well preservedrepresentation of 13th Century militaryuniform.

� Pant Mari FlandersThis is a small steep valley cut into thelimestone of Ogmore Down, the bottomcovered with deep deposits of sand.Whoever Mari Flanders was her localhistorical significance is forgotten. In thevalley bottom is a sturdy renovated stonestructure covering an ancient well whichonce provided drinking water for thelocality.

Photograph © Vale of Glamorgan Council

SCALE (APPROX):

1 Kilometre

1 Mile 5

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THE ROUTE

Main WalkWith the estuary on your left leave thecar park and head inland along a levelgrassy area to pick up a narrow sandypath. Carry on in this direction choosinga fairly direct line between river androad towards an isolated house infront of large concrete bridge. On aclear day the Brynna Gilfach Gochwind farm is conspicuous on thedistant skyline. Pass close to the rightof the house to join a surfaced lane.Follow this to the main road, turn leftand walk along the left hand verge .Cross the road where you see a ‘NOMOTOR VEHICLES’ sign on theopposite side. Just before you reachthe sign, turn left up a steep sandypath ** which levels out and becomesparallel with the river.To your left,beyond the Ogmore River you willsee the ascending dunes of MerthyrMawr Warren �. Continue along thepath, weaving between gorse bushesto join a tarmac lane immediatelybehind the unusually named pub,The

Pelican in Her Piety. Descend left tothe main road which you cross, thenturn right and follow the grass vergefor about 200 yards with OgmoreCastle � to your left. Re-cross theroad to a pavement and continue untilyou reach a colourful sign reading‘OGWR OGMORE’.Ascend a steepmetalled lane curving uphill to theright.This becomes a rough stony trackleading to Ogmore Down �. As youapproach the top of the hill you willsee the wooden poles of a powertransmission line to the left. Aim aheadfor the one pole with a conspicuousbox attached. Pass between this and agolf course green then immediatelyturn 90º right. Follow a well-usedbridleway, separated from the golfcourse on your right by a continuousbarrier of gorse. Maintain your directionfor 1/4 mile to arrive at a post markinga junction of bridleways. Turn 90º leftand soon arrive at the corner of ahedge separating the open commonfrom the fields beyond. Continueahead with the hedge (soon to be

superseded by a fence) on your right.Maintain the same direction past thepoint where the fence turns away tothe right and bear very slightly left foryour next target, a small cluster ofwhite houses and a conspicuousevergreen tree. Ignoring any tracksleading to the right, arrive at thehouses and descend a lane to thepublic road where you turn right.Follow the main road all the waythrough St Brides Major. Pass thepicturesque pond and arrive at theFarmer’s Arms. From the pub car parkcross the road, a broad grass vergeand a stone stile signed ‘SEAMOUTH’.Climb a wooden stile (or use thegate) in front of you and cross a stonestile into the field on your left. Followthe right hand boundary of this andthe next field. Exit the following fieldand bear left through a gateway thencontinue in the same direction asbefore. Descend through a woodedvalley and follow the track straight onpast the Heritage Coast VisitorCentre � at Dunraven Bay. (When you

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Walled gardens at site of Dunraven Castle

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Golf Course

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